Like all other birds, parakeets reproduce for the continuity of their existence. At some point, a parakeet will lay an egg even without a mate since birds are oviparous. This may prompt questions like, Why did my parakeet lay an egg? Therefore, it’s important to understand the phenomenon of egg-laying and how to help a bird during the breeding season.
The following are eight reasons why a parakeet would lay an egg:
1. It’s The Breeding Season
A parakeet is likely to lay an egg during the breeding season. The favorable weather conditions with mild temperatures will trigger the reproductive hormones, and the bird will start to produce eggs.
2. Plenty of Food
The availability of food will also stimulate egg-laying behavior in birds. When a bird sees that there is plenty of food, she will have a feeling that it’s the right time to get chicks, as there is enough food to feed them.
3. Your Bird Has Reached the Reproductive Age
Most female parakeets in good health are likely to lay eggs once they attain reproductive age. Hence, it’s normal for your female bird to lay eggs 2-3 times a year if she has sexually matured.
4. Safe Environment
If your bird lives in a secure environment that is protected from predators and other household pets, she will be comfortable laying eggs and raising chicks.
Birds are known to be sensitive and will not give birth to offspring if they feel that their chicks will not be safe.
5. Availability of a Nest
The presence of a nest box or any hollow items, such as a water bowl and food dishes, in the cage can trigger egg-laying in birds.
6. Access to Lots of Light
Keeping your bird awake late at night makes it think it’s breeding season. Due to the change in the light pattern, the parakeet’s endocrine system signals it’s time to release an egg, and the bird starts laying.
7. Presence of a Mate
If you have a pair of male and female parakeets, you are likely to have an egg in the cage at some point during the year. This is because your birds will mate during the breeding season to give birth to young ones.
8. The Presence of Hiding Places in the Cage
If your bird has access to dark corners in the cage or within the house, it is likely to start laying eggs.
What Do You Do If Your Parakeet Lays an Egg?
Egg laying can be taxing on a bird’s body as it requires a lot of energy as well as minerals and nutrients to form the eggs.
Hence, once your parakeet starts laying, ensure that you:
1. Feed your bird a balanced diet consisting of nutritional food rich in vitamins and other minerals with plenty of fresh water.
2. Provide a comfortable nest box for laying.
3. Minimize handling your bird.
4. Move your bird cage to a low-stress area.
5. Provide your bird with enough calcium for egg formation.
6. Monitor for illnesses such as egg-binding and nutritional deficiencies.
So, should I take my parakeets eggs away?
No, you should not remove eggs laid by your bird, as the bird will lay more to fill her clutch, and this can lead to chronic egg laying, which can be harmful to your parakeet’s health.
What to Do With Parakeet Eggs
Once your bird has laid eggs, you can leave them in the nest for your bird to incubate once she finishes laying the whole clutch.
However, if you don’t want baby parakeets, you can destroy the embryos by boiling, freezing, or shaking the eggs and then returning them to the nest.
Your bird will give up on the eggs if she perceives that they won’t hatch.
You can also break the eggs and throw them away.
Can Parakeets Lay Eggs Randomly?
Yes, some parakeets can lay eggs randomly at any time of the year.
Usually, parakeets lay eggs during the breeding season, which begins in the spring and continues through the summer when the environmental conditions are favorable.
However, some birds can lay eggs throughout the year, especially those in captivity.
Can a Parakeet Lay an Egg Without a Mate?
Yes, a parakeet can lay an egg without a mate. This is because egg production will occur if the environmental factors are favorable and the bird is in good health.
So, even if a male bird is not present, the female can lay eggs. However, the eggs will be infertile and will not hatch into chicks.
How Long After a Parakeet Lays Eggs Do They Hatch?
After laying all the eggs in a clutch, a parakeet sits on them for incubation that lasts between 17 and 20 days.
The eggs are hatched in the order they were laid. If the eggs don’t hatch after day 23, they may be infertile and should be thrown away.
You can also consider using an incubating machine to hatch the chicks.
Will Parakeets Eat Their Eggs?
Yes, parakeets can sometimes eat their eggs. Egg-eating occurs mostly if:
1. The bird feels that it’s nutritionally depleted.
2. Lacks enrichment and will eat the eggs to entertain themselves.
3. Unprepared to have chicks. Your budgie can lay an egg and fail to sit on it if it’s infertile or damaged.
How Do I Stop My Female Parakeet From Laying Eggs?
1. Rearrange the Cage
Changing the position of items in the cage will give it a new look, thus discouraging the bird from laying in a new environment.
2. Limit the Amount of Light Exposure
Reduce the number of hours your bird gets exposed to light to 8–10 hours a day.
The best way to achieve this is by covering the cage early in the evening.
3. Limit Petting
Birds love petting and can perceive it as part of the courtship ritual. Regularly petting some body parts, such as the back and below the neck, can trigger a hormonal response, which can result in egg-laying.
Thus, you should limit the number of times you pet your bird as well as avoid touching some body parts.
4. Regulate the Amount of Food You Feed the Parakeet
Plenty of food triggers the reproductive cycle as the birds think that they have more food to feed their babies.
The amount of food offered to your bird should be enough for your bird without having leftovers.
5. Place Fake Parakeet Eggs in the Cage
A female bird lays 4–8 eggs in a clutch and can tell when she has laid all of them since she can feel them.
Adding fake eggs will make the clutch complete; hence, the bird will not have to lay any more eggs.
6. Use a Hormonal Shot
Let your veterinarian give your bird a hormonal shot or implant to stop it from laying.
The shot will help switch off the hormones that trigger egg laying.
What Do You Feed a Parakeet That Is Laying Eggs?
A parakeet that is laying should be fed soft, fresh food.
The bird needs calcium and protein for egg production. Regulate the amount of protein to avoid the formation of large eggs, which can lead to egg binding.
Hemp seed, calcium, nuts, and seeds can be fed to the bird, as they have high nutritional value.
My Parakeet Laid an Egg on the Cage Floor
If a bird has difficulties when laying an egg, it will result in egg binding, and the bird can sometimes be unable to get to the nest to lay as it struggles to walk, thus laying on the floor.
Also, if a bird lacks a nesting box, it will end up laying at the bottom of the cage.
When Do Parakeets Lay Eggs?
Parakeets in the wild lay eggs during the spring and summer, while those in captivity can lay all year.
A bird usually begins to lay after 1-2 years of maturity. Reach sexual maturity at 2 years old.
How big are parakeet eggs? Parakeets’ eggs measure 1-2 cm wide and 2-3 cm long. Most eggs are sub-elliptical in shape, with one side wider than the other, while others can be circular.
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