New rescued hen - egg laying

[Kinny]

I have just taken in a 6 year old Eclectus hen who 6 months ago lost her mate, and she keeps laying eggs and sitting on them. Have put an order in for calcium powder to go in her food, however I would love to hear other peoples suggestions on how to help the poor girl out. I've had my eye on her for a long time, and wish to help her out. I've been lookingfor compatible males but they are all 2 years old and under.

I'd love to hear your ideas, she is normally a great friendly girl, but desperately wants babies so is getting a bit narky. I am intent on helping her, as her previous owners were not fit to care for her. I just had to get her out of there.

 

[MikeyTN]

Eclectus does not tolerate supplements very well! They get their nutrient through the food they eat. Are you supplying her with an area to lay? Usually won't try to lay if you don't have the nest box or stuffs to make nest with, or a dark area like underneath furniture, blankets, etc. If she already laid eggs, let her sit on them until she's tired of it. They lay anywhere from 1-3 eggs usually.

 

[Robinrae]

I have an 18 yr old red sided hen. She has never had a mate but likes to lay several times a year. She has done this for as long as I can remember. She doesn't need a specific area in which to lay, when the mood hits she just does it. I reduce the amount of egg laying by letting her sit on her eggs as long as they are intact. My vet suggested putting in fake eggs from the craft store. But she gets pretty ferocious sitting in her "nest". So I just let her do her thing. I find once an egg gets broke, it's time to end the cycle. She gets back to her normal routine then. Like I said it happens a few times a year. I agree with the previous statement not to supplement unless your vet advises. Eclectus are very sensitive in that respect. Dark green foods have lots of calcium as do almonds and maybe some plain yogurt. Good luck! A laying eclectus hen is hard to stop! They are very determined.

 

[Kinny]

Eclectus does not tolerate supplements very well! They get their nutrient through the food they eat. Are you supplying her with an area to lay? Usually won't try to lay if you don't have the nest box or stuffs to make nest with, or a dark area like underneath furniture, blankets, etc. If she already laid eggs, let her sit on them until she's tired of it. They lay anywhere from 1-3 eggs usually.

Her previous owners (only got her yesterday) have kept her in a small aviary with a nesting box, and she only has come out to eat and drink..

Our new big aviaries will be done before the end of this month however, so she will son have some space.

I have an 18 yr old red sided hen. She has never had a mate but likes to lay several times a year. She has done this for as long as I can remember. She doesn't need a specific area in which to lay, when the mood hits she just does it. I reduce the amount of egg laying by letting her sit on her eggs as long as they are intact. My vet suggested putting in fake eggs from the craft store. But she gets pretty ferocious sitting in her "nest". So I just let her do her thing. I find once an egg gets broke, it's time to end the cycle. She gets back to her normal routine then. Like I said it happens a few times a year. I agree with the previous statement not to supplement unless your vet advises. Eclectus are very sensitive in that respect. Dark green foods have lots of calcium as do almonds and maybe some plain yogurt. Good luck! A laying eclectus hen is hard to stop! They are very determined.

Ah alrighty. I will just feed her what my other eclectus get: Vetafarm Nectar Pellets, some seed mix (i make up myself) and lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts every day. Perhaps I shall invest in some almonds That should do the job.. Thank you! I will need it :S

My husband wants to put our quail eggs under her... lol. I told him they'd probably break... Or put her eggs in with our other pair... however I don't think they'd become fertilized. And would it not just encourage the hen to lay further? Advice for my husband anyone? I've done so much reasearch but have been unable to actually find a site where it says definitely HOW the males fertilize the eggs.. if it's through 'mating' or 'spraying'..

 

[MikeyTN]

It is through mating!

 

[Kinny]

It is through mating!

Ah! Thought so! Thank you! A definite answer finally! I've asked other breeders and all they'd tell me is, "You need a male to fertilize eggs." well of course we do.. >.> Thank you MikeyTN. ^^

 

[MikeyTN]

LoL....that's kinda required for babies to happen.... your welcome!

 

[Kinny]

LoL....that's kinda required for babies to happen.... your welcome!

Hahaha exactly! Was starting to drive me nuts...

 

[MikeyTN]

They weren't answering your questions directly! It seems like they got lost in the middle some where??? LoL....

 

[Kinny]

They weren't answering your questions directly! It seems like they got lost in the middle some where??? LoL....

...... there was no middle to be lost IN! Lol

 

[MikeyTN]

Funny!!! :18::18::18::18::18:

 

[MonicaMc]

You know, if you have a male bird and it suddenly lays an egg, it must be fertile!

It's not true by the way but I've seen some crazy questions out there about egg laying males and how to fertilize an egg after it's been laid! LOL


You may find that a diet change and a new environment is all you need to discourage her from egg-laying. If she lays eggs once she's in her new setup after two or more weeks, I would suggest asking the question again!

 

[Kinny]

You know, if you have a male bird and it suddenly lays an egg, it must be fertile!

It's not true by the way but I've seen some crazy questions out there about egg laying males and how to fertilize an egg after it's been laid! LOL


You may find that a diet change and a new environment is all you need to discourage her from egg-laying. If she lays eggs once she's in her new setup after two or more weeks, I would suggest asking the question again!

LOL! Yes, yes I'm sure...

Bahaha I didn't believe you for a second! So don't worry! ... O.O Hahaha...goodness...

Ah, will do. ^^

 

[Kinny]

Oh my gosh! I got a call from a lady a couple of days ago. Her male Eclectus lost his mate a number of months ago and is lonely and wanting to breed. The lady also lost her husband some years ago, and since the birds were his, it's too painful to keep them all. She's sent me photos etc. and I'm almost certain he's a Solomon Island Eclectus. Will probably go check him out today. He is 10 years old. My new girl is 6.. i doubt it would, but figured i'd ask anyway... will 4 years make any difference between the two concerning mating?

Thanks ^^

 

[MonicaMc]

Males of certain species have been known to try mating with their own offspring...



Nope, really doesn't matter! Birds don't have the same morals and ethics as we do!

 

[Kinny]

Males of certain species have been known to try mating with their own offspring...



Nope, really doesn't matter! Birds don't have the same morals and ethics as we do!

Oh how pleasant.. :S

Haha Thank you!

 

[MonicaMc]

I meant to say mating with their own offspring before their chicks are even weaned! Ya... there's some frisky males out there! LOL

I even got the pleasure of seeing that myself... not only did the male mate with his adult daughter but tried mating with one of his unweaned chicks!

And I've seen brother/sister mating, too... not that they were bonded in that kind of way! (mate pair bond)

 

[Kinny]

I meant to say mating with their own offspring before their chicks are even weaned! Ya... there's some frisky males out there! LOL

I even got the pleasure of seeing that myself... not only did the male mate with his adult daughter but tried mating with one of his unweaned chicks!

And I've seen brother/sister mating, too... not that they were bonded in that kind of way! (mate pair bond)

Oh goodness! :S Unweaned chicks TOO!? Sure makes me glad I'm not a bird! lol Those males must be pretty desperate to make babies... >.> brother/sister is better than father/baby daughter haha. *shudders*

I remember I had a Jenday Conure pair that would just, you know, GO FOR IT right in full view of everyone... @.@ I felt sorry for the female lol

 

[MonicaMc]

Ya... birds definitely think differently than we do! Unless you have parent raised birds or birds not used to human contact... those birds are more likely to hide what they do rather than do it in plain site! LOL