|
|
|
flufferbean
Egg
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Hong Kong |
| How do I stop my Senegal from continuing to lay eggs? |
 |
|
This is my firsts post. I have a nine year old Senegal named Magnolia (Maggie) and she's been quite busy this week. She laid two eggs on two separate days.
Back in 2004 she laid an egg after I had let her 'nest' in my husband's sock drawer (not knowing what the results would be)! The vet encouraged me to stop her from nesting because laying eggs can drain her physically and lower her vitamin levels.
This time I had been letting her play in the blankets that we use as her cover. It is hard to stop her because she is so cute when she hides under the blankets and she gets all FLUFFY...my little flufferbean! I knew she might lay an egg with this behavior so I took the blankets away. It has been at least 3 weeks since I last let her 'nest' and two eggs have now arrived. I guess I was too late. Now I feel very guilty.
--Is there other behavior I should be looking for and trying to curb?
--I give her vitamins in her water every day. Should I do more while she is recovering?
--She seems so tired and sad that she doesn't have her nest and eggs. Can I console her in any way?
And, yes, if you were wondering, parrots can lay eggs without a partner!
Thanks, Lissa from Hong Kong |
Monday June 4, 2007 1:40 pm |
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
|
|
|
Hi Lissa, welcome to fluffies 
Though laying eggs can be draining on the body, it will only seriously deplete Maggie of vitamins and nutriends if she is constantly laying, meaning like 6-7 or more clutches a year. Laying once or twice, and so far apart is definitely not going to be harmful to her, given that she already has an adequate diet. It is recommended that you provide extra calcium in the diet while they are laying, but otherwise, if you already provide her with a healthy and nutritious diet, then she'll be absolutely fine. Laying eggs is a natural event for birds and their bodies are well equipped to handle the stress.
Now, if she lays a clutch, the best thing to do is let her keep the eggs until she gets bored of them and realizes that they're not going to hatch. Taking the eggs away will only induce more egg laying.
You can take away all nesting materials and soft things that induce mating behaviour, so that she doesn't lay frequently, but honestly, you can't stop a female bird from laying eggs completely, and when they do lay, it's not the end of the world. It's perfectly natural.
Yes, birds do indeed get sad when their eggs are taken away, or when they don't hatch  Unfortunately that's one of the realities of keeping birds in captivity. |
|
Monday June 4, 2007 3:50 pm |
|
|
|
|
jletaz
Experienced flier
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 1286
Location: CA, USA |
quote:
Originally posted by shirin
Now, if she lays a clutch, the best thing to do is let her keep the eggs until she gets bored of them and realizes that they're not going to hatch. Taking the eggs away will only induce more egg laying.
You can take away all nesting materials and soft things that induce mating behaviour, so that she doesn't lay frequently, but honestly, you can't stop a female bird from laying eggs completely, and when they do lay, it's not the end of the world. It's perfectly natural.
Yes, birds do indeed get sad when their eggs are taken away, or when they don't hatch Unfortunately that's one of the realities of keeping birds in captivity.
I've heard of people's house pet parrots who lay eggs, then get very territorial when they are sitting. I guess this is normal? I've never had a mature female. Some say that they get so territorial that they can't even clean the cage for a while. 
Julie |
|
Tuesday June 5, 2007 7:18 am |
|
|
flufferbean
Egg
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Hong Kong |
thanks for your (quick) responses. I plan to go out and get more calcium for her this week and to continue to hide her blankets. As for giving her the eggs, one broke when she laid it and the other has been out of her cage for a few days so I have decided to see how she does without it this time. She seems to have more energy today and has been asking for more neck scratches (a sign that she is moving out of her nesting stage)!! I am relieved that this is natural and not necessarily damaging to her health.
I really enjoy using this site.....I feel a little isolated here in Hong Kong. There are no bird experts here, according to my vet. It is very different from NYC where there was a nationally recognized 24 hour pet hospital with several bird experts on hand at all times. |
|
Tuesday June 5, 2007 2:07 pm |
|
|
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
quote:
Originally posted by jletaz
I've heard of people's house pet parrots who lay eggs, then get very territorial when they are sitting. I guess this is normal? I've never had a mature female. Some say that they get so territorial that they can't even clean the cage for a while.
Julie
Yes, this is true in all bird species, I'm sure it's not desirable, but it's normal  Even my doves, when they're sitting on eggs, if I put my hand in their cage, they peck me really hard Just like human parents will do anything to protect their child, so will animals. |
|
Tuesday June 5, 2007 2:37 pm |
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
|
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by flufferbean
thanks for your (quick) responses. I plan to go out and get more calcium for her this week and to continue to hide her blankets. As for giving her the eggs, one broke when she laid it and the other has been out of her cage for a few days so I have decided to see how she does without it this time. She seems to have more energy today and has been asking for more neck scratches (a sign that she is moving out of her nesting stage)!! I am relieved that this is natural and not necessarily damaging to her health.
I really enjoy using this site.....I feel a little isolated here in Hong Kong. There are no bird experts here, according to my vet. It is very different from NYC where there was a nationally recognized 24 hour pet hospital with several bird experts on hand at all times.
Will you be staying in Hong Kong permenantly? Do you speak the language? I know it's never easy to relocate to a whole new place.
Oh, as far as the eggs breaking, if you want you can buy fake eggs, made of plastic or wood, that are the same size as senegal eggs, and just replace her eggs with the fake ones. |
|
Tuesday June 5, 2007 2:44 pm |
|
|
jletaz
Experienced flier
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 1286
Location: CA, USA |
quote:
Originally posted by shirin
Even my doves, when they're sitting on eggs, if I put my hand in their cage, they peck me really hard Just like human parents will do anything to protect their child, so will animals.
At least you can stand when your doves peck you really hard better than being ripped into by a parrot trying to protect eggs! I'm sure that is much scarier! 
Julie |
|
Tuesday June 5, 2007 8:00 pm |
|
|
|
|
shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
quote:
Originally posted by jletaz
quote:
Originally posted by shirin
Even my doves, when they're sitting on eggs, if I put my hand in their cage, they peck me really hard Just like human parents will do anything to protect their child, so will animals.
At least you can stand when your doves peck you really hard better than being ripped into by a parrot trying to protect eggs! I'm sure that is much scarier!
Julie
Ouch! I know! I'm not looking forward to Bunny laying eggs! |
|
Tuesday June 5, 2007 8:19 pm |
|
|
flufferbean
Egg
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Hong Kong |
|
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by shirin
quote:
Originally posted by flufferbean
thanks for your (quick) responses. I plan to go out and get more calcium for her this week and to continue to hide her blankets. As for giving her the eggs, one broke when she laid it and the other has been out of her cage for a few days so I have decided to see how she does without it this time. She seems to have more energy today and has been asking for more neck scratches (a sign that she is moving out of her nesting stage)!! I am relieved that this is natural and not necessarily damaging to her health.
I really enjoy using this site.....I feel a little isolated here in Hong Kong. There are no bird experts here, according to my vet. It is very different from NYC where there was a nationally recognized 24 hour pet hospital with several bird experts on hand at all times.
Will you be staying in Hong Kong permenantly? Do you speak the language? I know it's never easy to relocate to a whole new place.
Oh, as far as the eggs breaking, if you want you can buy fake eggs, made of plastic or wood, that are the same size as senegal eggs, and just replace her eggs with the fake ones.
|
|
Wednesday June 6, 2007 1:01 pm |
|
|
|
|
flufferbean
Egg
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Hong Kong |
Thanks, Shirin....I never thought about fake eggs! Maggie is still doing fine. A little tired, but eating and playing.
To answer your question, English is an official language in Hong Kong, so it is relatively easy to get around. We've lived abroad before in Europe but this is our first time in Asia. Things are very different but sometimes eerily the same! We've been here a year and plan to stay a couple of more. We love to travel and living here offers us so many options. We are so excited that Maggie could join us. If she couldn't, we wouldn't have moved.
Maggie's cage overlooks these amazing green mountains that burst with white waterfalls when it rains. And I always know when the resident hawks are circling above her window--she has a certain squawk that she makes and she holds her beak open a bit while she peers out...I try to tell her it is ok but they still get to her! Thanks again for your support. |
|
Wednesday June 6, 2007 1:13 pm |
|
|
Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
|
| Re: How do I stop my Senegal from continuing to lay eggs? |
|
|
Hi there.. About the vitamins in the water: What kind of diet do you feed her? Vitamins aren't always ok, especially when they're on good diets. Too much vitamin is just as bad as too little. (With most vitamins)
I think you can take her on tour around the house to console her. Give her something to do: Training her is very good. Chances are she might abuse your sympathy, just like my pink monster here. |
|
Saturday June 9, 2007 1:21 pm |
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is Friday May 25, 2012 11:22 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
