You may have noticed your birds eating their eggs after laying, and you may want to find a solution to curb the situation. It is, therefore, important to first know why your birds eat their eggs and then find a solution. This article has the solution to all your questions and more. Stay tuned!
Birds eat their eggs for the following ten reasons:
1. Calcium Deficiency
When breeding birds lack calcium in their bodies, they eat their eggs to satisfy their calcium requirements. Birds mainly lose a lot of calcium and proteins when forming and laying eggs.
Once they feel like calcium is depleted in their bodies, they eat their eggs to replace it.
2. Infertility
When birds lay infertile eggs, they usually eat them up to avoid wasting energy laying eggs that will not hatch into chicks.
Mostly, infertile eggs are caused by breeding problems, especially when the male birds have reduced sperm production.
3. Stress
A stressed bird is usually inactive. Causes of bird stress include poor diet, noise, an unfriendly environment, and infestations of pests and predators. Once a breeding bird is stressed, it eats up its eggs.
4. Boredom
Birds are active and social beings, enjoying engaging with people and outdoor activities. Pet birds like finches and parakeets typically eat their eggs when bored, especially when left in their cages for a while.
5. Illness
Illness is also among the factors that cause egg cannibalism. This happens to birds, like lovebirds. Once they feel sick and weak, they tend to eat their eggs so that they can attend to their needs first.
Once you notice egg cannibalism in your pets, consider having them checked by avian vets for treatment.
6. Lack of Water
Since eggs are usually full of fluids, birds usually crack them up when thirsty. They use their beaks to break the shell and drink the contents inside.
It is, therefore, important to provide clean water for brooding birds.
7. Inexperienced Parents
Birds that are new to laying and hatching eggs can practice egg cannibalism. Primarily, these birds can lay eggs with weak or thin shells.
They easily eat them up since they cannot hatch into young ones. But, with time, these birds will learn parenting skills.
8. Hunger
Sometimes, birds will eat their own eggs when they face hunger problems. They eat their eggs to at least have something in their stomachs.
It is, therefore, important to have your pet birds fed a well-balanced diet to avoid egg eating.
9. Too Much Light
Birds like laying their eggs in a dark, private area where they feel safe. Once you expose these birds to too much light, they get attracted to their eggs and start pecking and eating them.
They also feel uncomfortable having lights around them.
10. Overcrowding
Birds laying eggs should have a large, dark, and quiet place where they feel safe. Overcrowding can only lead to birds having difficulties with their eggs, which frustrates them and leads them to end up eating their eggs.
Ensure your birds have enough space to lay eggs.
Which Birds Eat Their Eggs?
Below is a list of ten birds that eat their eggs:
1. Finches.
2. Hens.
3. Jackdaws.
4. Ravens.
5. Jays.
6. Magpies.
7. Crows.
8. American Dipper.
9. Boat-Tailed Crackle.
10. Hood Mockingbird
How Do You Stop Birds from Eating Their Eggs?
If you want to stop birds from eating their eggs, consider following these six tips:
1. Offer Calcium in Large Amounts
Birds need more calcium in their breeding phase for strong egg formation and retain some in their bodies after laying eggs.
It is, therefore, important to feed birds diets rich in calcium to ensure they are healthy and avoid eating their own eggs.
2. Providing Plenty of Clean Water
Sometimes, birds eat their own eggs due to thirst. When laying eggs, birds use more water in their bodies, dehydrating them.
Thus, providing clean water in their cages will help prevent them from eating their own eggs.
3. Avoiding Bright Light in Their Laying Nests
Too much bright light causes birds to peck on their eggs. They see eggs as shiny substances and are attracted to eating them. Thus, ensure that birds lay their eggs in a dark, private cage to prevent cannibalism.
4. Keeping Birds Engaged
Keeping birds engaged will help kill boredom. They become so active in outdoor activities that they do not remember eating their eggs.
You can have them outside their cages to keep them preoccupied after laying eggs.
5. Treating Ailing Eggs
Birds, like finches, never like showing their illness or weakness. Therefore, they start eating their eggs to care for their needs. Thus, treating them once you notice such behavior will help prevent egg eating.
6. Proper Breeding
Birds need males with good breeding characteristics, such as adequate sperm production, to increase their chances of laying fertilized eggs. This will help prevent bird egg-eating.
Do Birds Eat Their Own Eggshells?
Yes, birds eat their own eggshells specifically to gain calcium for their bodies. Calcium plays a key role in bird egg formation, structural strength and support, and other biochemical reactions.
Also, when birds are in their breeding phase, they usually lose more calcium and protein. Therefore, eating their own eggshells will boost their calcium intake to avoid calcium deficiency.
Can Birds Eat Egg Yolk?
Yes, birds can eat egg yolk. Egg yolk is very nutritious, with nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, and calcium. Birds can eat raw and cooked egg yolk to fulfill their nutrient requirements.
In addition, birds usually peck at their own eggs to get the egg yolk.
Can Birds Eat Eggs Boiled?
Yes, birds can eat boiled eggs. They can have boiled eggs plain or mixed with other foods to supplement their diet.
Besides, boiled eggs should be offered in moderation to avoid feeding too many proteins that will be harmful to birds, like obesity, heart conditions, etc.
Why Do Birds Eat Their Babies?
Birds eat their babies for the following reasons:
1. For nourishment.
2. To protect other babies from contracting illness.
3. Inexperienced parenting.