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Post by lisamarie on Feb 15, 2014 20:27:06 GMT
Is the newspaper shredded? This may make it look like nesting material. That's all I could think of for the reason why :/
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Post by santinoandmondo on Feb 16, 2014 0:44:38 GMT
Hi Lisamarie, the newspaper is just folded to fit the cage. It lays flat. Just like the paper towels. Can't get any flatter. Our house is not heated real warm either so it's not feeling like summer indoors here. Totally perplexed.
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Post by lisamarie on Feb 16, 2014 1:40:19 GMT
Yes that is odd :/ I also use newspaper I've never had an issue. I have male/female pair. Hmm this really is odd. Well I know you take good care of her. It's just odd behavior compared to the norms
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Post by Pammy on Feb 16, 2014 5:26:14 GMT
Yes, this little hen really, really wants to be a mother. She's got the instinct real bad. I'm beginning to wonder whether you will ever be able to get her to stop laying eggs. Her poor little body has to be so depleted by now.
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Post by Sarah on Feb 16, 2014 6:31:30 GMT
Cases of chronic egg laying can be difficult to stop, and may even be caused by a hormonal imbalance related to her physical health. I can't suggest anything more than covering her for 12+ hours a night and limiting her food intake, seeing as you are doing that and more already I'm pretty much stumped, unless you would consider moving their cage to a totally different part of the house they are not familiar with as a last ditch effort.
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Post by sabaton28 on Feb 16, 2014 6:45:06 GMT
And make sure she is getting calcium also so she doesn't get egg bind
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Post by santinoandmondo on Feb 16, 2014 12:33:02 GMT
Santino gets cuttlebones regularly and has a mineral block. We replace her cuttlebones often and loves to chew her kebob pieces Her cage got moved to the other side of the same room not long ago - before round three of the eggs. I would hesititate to move them to another room as another room would not get the foot traffic/interaction that they get now. I wish we could get her to stop as she gets so aggressive toward poor Mondo when she wants to lay an egg, we have to separate them. They will sit near each other and try to "kiss" through the bars in their adjoining cages  . When they are let out, they flock call to each other and kiss when reunited. Thanks for all the suggestions. Thinking of finding an avian vet. Maybe she has a hormonal imbalance... |
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Post by Pammy on Feb 16, 2014 21:45:32 GMT
I agree that it's time to bring an avian vet into this. I hope you can find one reasonably close to home.
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Post by santinoandmondo on Feb 18, 2014 17:16:19 GMT
Just an update. Two more eggs this past week. I think we're up to 6 in this round but have been removing them.
I found a vet right in our town who has avian patients! How lucky is that? I searched online first. I spoke with the receptionist saying that I wasn't sure I wanted to make an appointment if he couldn't follow up with a shot if necessary. The vet called back and left me a long message anyways. He didn't sound concerned about the egg production as he said that it means that she is healthy and her environmental conditions are good. He suggested that we leave the eggs for her and let her sit on them. He said the eggs should stop between 4 and 6 eggs. He did mention keeping the birds in the dark (which we have been doing). Also, he said we should give her a TUMS dissolved in a quart of water as her water source to help with her calcium. But I called back for an appointment appointment to see the vet anyways with both birds for a nail trim, well visit and more questions about our egg princess. He did say that shots are only needed in extreme cases after we tried other options.
How often do you take a budgie in for a well visit??
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Post by Pammy on Feb 18, 2014 18:48:37 GMT
So, is this vet a licensed avian vet, or does he merely have some patients who are birds? I am a bit concerned that he is unconcerned about the excessive egg laying. Maybe he's just thinking that if a chicken can lay an egg a day, then so can a budgie.
Some people take their birds for a yearly check-up. Me personally? I will only take my birds to the vet if they are in such bad shape that it's worth the risk of them catching other illnesses while in the vet's office. To me, exposing them to illness just so the vet can tell me they are in good health doesn't balance.
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Post by santinoandmondo on Feb 18, 2014 19:02:56 GMT
Didn't know that there are licensed avian vets . Maybe I should not have said he was unconcerned but he wasn't saying "bring her in immediately" in his phone message. It's snowing hard today (again) so I may not be able to go. Maybe I will re-consider finding a specialist. |
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Post by santinoandmondo on Feb 18, 2014 19:19:27 GMT
I found a licensed avian vet about 30 minutes away and there was an article about "chronic egg laying" on their website. I thought I entered "avian veterinary" with my town yesterday online but maybe the search brought up only the closest vets, without finding "avian + veterinary". I think I will follow one of their suggestions to (as suggested by the other vet as well) let her sit on the eggs to let her become broody, rest and recuperate. At the end of that time, the eggs may be removed, one at a time, every 1-2 days. If she starts up again after that, I'll take her in. Thanks for pointing that out, Pammy.
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Post by Pammy on Feb 18, 2014 19:55:10 GMT
I'm glad you found an avian vet. I'm not saying the other guy wasn't a great vet, but birds are way different than the dogs and cats most regular vets see, and they usually don't know a whole lot about avian veterinary medicine if it's not their specialty. I think you and Santino will receive better advice from someone trained in avian care. I am impressed that the avian vet you found offers free advice on his/her website. I hope Santino gets the help she needs.
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Post by santinoandmondo on Feb 18, 2014 21:09:20 GMT
Wow. Just called the avian vet's office to make an appointment and told the receptionist that I didn't want to go out tonight in the snow with our parakeet. But after more questions, she suggested that I talk to the vet first. He decided that I should try shortening her daylight hours to only 8-10 hours (!). I could try letting her sit on the eggs too but suggested that I try the daylight first. We also discussed the shots which typically take about 3 visits depending on whether egg laying stops. He also mentioned a hormonal implant that was done for a macaw but he would have to research whether it has ever been done on a parakeet. He asked me to try the daylight hours reduction and to keep our hens apart for now. He said we need to discourage the "kissing" that they do as that might be stimulating her. He said that with birds, sometimes the oddest things will stimulate a bird to lay eggs - could be a person in the household, another bird of the same sex, or a toy. He said that he had a case where the male fiance moving in and spending more time with the female macaw stimulated the bird to produce eggs. He also said that some people ask for surgery to remove the ovaries but he would not recommend it as it is very drastic.
Possibly make an appointment in a couple of weeks if egg laying hasn't stopped. I'm impressed with the doctor and I'm not even a client (yet) !
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Post by rdkntriker on Feb 18, 2014 21:14:36 GMT
I am glad you found a good Vet to work with
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. When they are let out, they flock call to each other and kiss when reunited. 
