Quaker, two, laid an egg (no other birds here)

[space0matic]

How do you know when the bird has laid all the eggs she has? It’s been 20 hours since egg #1, and I’m worried, but vigilant. Frightened she might get x, y or z. Does anyone know? Thanks in advance!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

When in egg laying mode, they generally lay an egg every 36 to 48 hours. Occasionally the interval is 24 hours.

 

[LaManuka]

Welcome to the forums, @space0matic! Quakers can apparently lay anything between 5 and up to 12 eggs in a clutch, although that number may vary where there has been no involvement from a rooster. You can get pretty good faux eggs from a website called www.dummyeggs.com. Best thing to do is to remove your hen's eggs and replace them with dummy eggs so she can work off her maternal yearnings on those. Alternatively, you can boil your hen's eggs too - obviously they are already infertile so won't hatch, but if you boil them it will make them more durable while your hen is sitting on them, and while you get yourself some of those dummy eggs

 

[space0matic]

O. I might need some valerian root to calm my nerves. This parrot is not listening to my explanations. Not having it. “This is normal. Relax.”

 

[space0matic]

Thank you. I bought some ‘dummy eggs’. I have to get some liquid Calcium per the suggestion found here. I only have powder, but I would rather be prepared. Calcivet.

 

[LaManuka]

O. I might need some valerian root to calm my nerves. This parrot is not listening to my explanations. Not having it. “This is normal. Relax.”

I've had a cockatiel and a lorikeet hen lay infertile eggs, and they were more than happy just to sit on the one faux egg although that may differ with a quaker. Once she has finished with this cycle, do remove anything that she may perceive as a nesting site, such as any tents or huts and/or access to anything she may consider a good place to lay, hopefully to lessen the chance of this happening again. Having said that, some birds can get VERY determined about laying those eggs, like the cockatiel hen I had some years ago who would lay on the bare floor of her cage with ZERO stimulus whatsoever. Valerian root may help you, my avian vet used to (jokingly) offer me "client Valium" for myself too!

 

[space0matic]

I've had a cockatiel and a lorikeet hen lay infertile eggs, and they were more than happy just to sit on the one faux egg although that may differ with a quaker. Once she has finished with this cycle, do remove anything that she may perceive as a nesting site, such as any tents or huts and/or access to anything she may consider a good place to lay, hopefully to lessen the chance of this happening again. Having said that, some birds can get VERY determined about laying those eggs, like the cockatiel hen I had some years ago who would lay on the bare floor of her cage with ZERO stimulus whatsoever. Valerian root may help you, my avian vet used to (jokingly) offer me "client Valium" for myself too!

It’s STRESSFUL! It’s like my Baby. XO
I’m not sure where I saw this, but some vets will suggest ‘fixing’ a bird if it’s a danger to their lives, but since then I read there is a chemical component that does the same thing. I should probably not read those stories, but it’s good to know in Worst Case Scenario. My Vet is close, too.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Surgery to "fix" a bird is known to be very risky because of the location of the sex organs and risk of injuring other structures. Especially in a small bird (as in most parrots on down). It would be wonderful if it was an option.

Lupron is a long acting injectable drug that's used in humans to reduce sex hormones in men with prostate cancer. It can be used in parrots to prevent egg laying and stop excessive sexual behavior. It's sometimes effective to stop plucking.