How to Discourage Egg Laying in Pet Birds

Chronic egg-laying is a common problem in certain species of pet birds. Although any female pet bird can lay eggs, this is mostly seen in the most prolific species of parrots. Cockatiel hens, in particular, tend to lay eggs even when kept as single pets. Discouraging egg-laying is very important, because pet birds that begin to lay eggs often continue to lay clutch after clutch for years on end. This can deplete their bodies of calcium, causing serious health problems. Egg-laying also causes behavioral problems, since the hen will often be very aggressive in defending against any potential threat to her eggs.

Things You'll Need

  • Cage cover
  • Low-fat pellets
  • Small cardboard box
  • Pine shavings
  • Cuttlebone
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Instructions

    • 1

      Be certain you are not sending your bird mixed signals when you pet it. Touching your bird's underside and lower back can trigger a hormonal response, as your bird thinks you are offering yourself as a mate. The safest way to pet a parrot is by gently scratching the back of her neck.

    • 2

      Make sure your pet bird does not have anything in her cage that reminds her of a nest. This includes sleeping tents, boxes and other small, dark areas your bird could hide in. You should also avoid letting your bird play with similar items, such as shoeboxes, while outside of the cage.

    • 3

      Increase the amount of time your bird spends in darkness. Most birds breed during the spring and summer months, when days are longer. Ideally, you should keep your bird in the dark for 12 hours at night. You can increase this to 14 hours if she continues to lay eggs.

    • 4

      If possible, reduce the fat and protein content of your bird's diet. Wild parrots often go into breeding condition when a rich diet is available, since it makes it easier to feed their young. A low-fat-pelleted diet, fed with fruits, vegetables and sprouted seeds, will discourage egg-laying. Avoid feeding dry seeds and nuts to a chronic egg layer. Cuttlebone should be available to all pet birds, but it is especially important to birds who lay eggs.

    • 5

      If your bird lays eggs, place them in an open container, such as a small cardboard box within her cage. Line the box with pine shavings to prevent the eggs from breaking. Do not give her a nest box, as this will encourage her to continue laying eggs. Do not remove the eggs right away, as she will simply lay more to replace them. Instead, wait until she has stopped sitting on the eggs, then remove both the eggs and the container.