How to Treat Chronic Egg Laying

Chronic egg laying occurs when a bird lays eggs more often than most birds of that species. Typically, this excessive egg laying occurs in smaller species of birds, such as cockatiels and lovebirds. Chronic egg laying can even occur without the presence of a male. This condition can become life threatening to the hen due to a number of complications.

Causes of Chronic Egg Laying

There are many factors that can stimulate a hen to begin laying eggs excessively. Some of the most common causes of chronic egg laying include the length of the day, rain fall, and competition for nesting sites. Certain behaviors from the mate, as well as the availability of food, can also cause a hen to begin laying eggs excessively. In many cases, a mate doesn't have to be present for the hen to lay eggs.

Complications of Chronic Egg Laying

It's important to correct chronic egg laying because serious and life threatening complications can occur if the egg laying continues for a prolonged length of time. Complications of chronic egg laying include the depletion of calcium, which increases the bird's risk for osteoporosis and egg binding. This can also lead to seizures. Complications of chronic egg laying also include malnutrition and even death due to the progression of the complications.

Treatment for Chronic Egg Laying

The most effective treatment for chronic egg laying involves hormone injections. In some cases, changes to the bird's environment and lifestyle can cease the egg laying, or at least decrease the occurrence, but if that's not enough, hormone injections may be needed.

Treatment for chronic egg laying involves leaving the eggs in the cage. Sometimes a bird will stop laying eggs if she's permitted to sit on the eggs. If the eggs smell or break, craft stores sell small wooden eggs, that can be used in place of real eggs. If this doesn't work, remove all materials in the cage that can be used for nesting, such as bedding and newspaper. If the bird has no where to nest, she's less likely to lay eggs.

Birds often begin nesting when days become longer. You can try to mimic shorter days by placing your bird in a dark, quite room for 2 to 3 weeks. Allow her to have 8 to 10 hours of regularly scheduled "daylight" to try to reset her breeding hormones. Changes to the environment, such as these, are vital for the treatment for chronic egg laying. Change cages, rearrange perches and toys, and even place the bird in another area of the house. Remove the mate as well. The idea is to make her feel uncomfortable, as if in a new home, so she will be discouraged to lay eggs.

Make sure your bird's receiving proper nutrition. This includes minimal amounts of fatty foods, such as seeds, and adequate levels of vitamins, protein, and calcium. Avoid giving your bird mushy foods that encourage regurgitation and breeding.

References:

"Breeding Challenges" AvianWeb
"Chronic Egg Laying" Vin.com
"Excessive or Chronic Egg Laying in Birds" PetEducation