Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 12/27/2007

Question
Hi Chrys
I have a female parakeet--not a budgie, but a Bourkes--who continually sits on her nest even though she has no eggs.  4-5 weeks ago she layed eggs (not the first time she's done that) and I took them away, as I always do, because I don't have a male and they're infertile.  This happened once before, where she continued to sit on the nest even though it was empty, but after several days, she got up and went about her usual business.  
I'm concerned because she's doesn't appear to be eating as well as usual, and as you may know, if she's sitting on the nest all day, she not pooping.  In the past she would get up at least once a day and excrete a huge, yet healthy looking, dropping.  She is now spending an entire day or two just sitting (I should mention her nest is not a nest at all; it's just the bottom of the cage in one corner).  If I pick her up, which she does not like) she poop then.  

What's going on?  I don't think she's egg bound, but I could be wrong.  From reading past questions, I now know I should probably shorten her days by covering her sooner at night.  What else?  I would appreciate any advice.

Answer
Hi, Patsy,

Don't remove the eggs when she lays them.  Just leave the eggs right where they are laid and let her abandon them in her own time when she is ready to abandon them.  This is most likely why she just sits on her so-called nest.  Perhaps she is defecating when you are not watching her.  

If you don't want her to continue to lay and lay and lay, don't remove the eggs when she lays them.  Allow her to go through the process until she abandons them on her own.  Do away with her nest in the cage corner.  To help curtail egg laying, only allow her to have 10-12 hours of light per day, 8-10 if necessary.  Egg laying can be detrimental to the health of your bird, so ensure she has a cuttlebone available in case she needs calcium.  

If she were egg bound, you'd most likely see part of an egg protruding from her vent, she'd sit/lay/stand on her cage bottom and you would definitely know something was wrong, she'd likely be panting, and would be in pain.  Egg binding occurs when a bird doesn't have enough calcium and she tries to lay soft-shelled eggs...birds can't expel soft-shelled eggs.  Egg boundness is an emergency situation for a bird, therefore, certified avian vet assistance is required immediately.  Sounds to me like your bird may just be thoroughly confused about what is going on.  However, you know your bird better than anyone else does.  If you think she is ill, by all means, seek avian vet assistance ASAP.

Chrys