Green Cheek Lays Egg First in 21 years!

[missd]

Hi, I have been on a few sites asking the same question. My GCC Micki is 21 years old. I never had "him" sexed, he just always seemed like a boy to me. Years went by and Micki never laid any eggs, which supported my theory that Micki was male. Well on Saturday April 20, 2013 Micki shocked me! SHE laid her first egg ever! My question is simply, is this rare? Has anyone ever heard of a bird laying her first egg at 21? I would not have been shocked if this happened years ago, but now it seems so strange to happen at her age. Thanks so much for any info!

 

[Melandkids]

I don't know about conures but my friend has a macaw and thought it was a "He". Has had the bird for about 15 years. And this last year "She" laid an egg. We were all shocked.

 

[birdpassion620]

It's actually quite normal for a macaw to lay an egg at 15 since they can live anywhere from 60-80 years. But for a GCC to lay an egg at 21 is extremely unusual.

 

[missd]

Thank you for your responses. I thought the same thing since Macaws live much longer. But I know that GCC only live to about 25... So I guess this is just really strange!

 

[legal_eagle]

I had always thought my GCC was a male, but she laid two eggs when she turned 12. It was because I was letting her sit on my chest and stroking her back during the late winter months, which triggered her reproductive cycle. So I stopped doing that because the egg-laying process didn't seem like a lot of fun for her. She's not laid any eggs since.

 

[MonicaMc]

Nope! Not unusual! Other conures have done the same! Maybe not same species, but other conures nevertheless!

My mitred conure is 19 years old and so far he hasnt laid any eggs! His behavior and lack of eggs makes me assume he's male! Someday I'll get around to DNA sexing him.... lol