Decrease her intake of birdseed, since this is typically high in fat. Consult with your avian veterinarian for guidance on making her diet more healthy without cutting out any important nutrients.
Keeping her in her cage more often will reduce the chances of her finding places in your house to nest.
Another option is to partially cover her cage with a towel or piece of bed linen during the day to keep out the direct sunlight.
Talking to your cockatiel and having her in the room with you are ways in which you can bond without her seeing you as her mate. [4] X Research source Cockatiels are very vocal and enjoy talking, so she may even start talking back to you. [5] X Research source Your cockatiel may also see an inanimate object, such as a stuffed animal or mirror, as a potential mate. Remove these items from her cage.
If you have a male and female cockatiel, trying to breed them to stop her from laying eggs is not recommended for several reasons. First, they simply might not be a good match for each other. Also, there is a risk of disease transmission if you do not know their disease statuses. In addition, your relationship with your female cockatiel may suffer, especially if you try to mate her and something goes wrong. [9] X Research source www. petplace. com/article/birds/general/when-your-bird-is-sick/egg-binding-and-chronic-egg-laying
Place the mock eggs in the nesting site when your cockatiel happens to stand up and move away from the nesting site. Mock eggs are also available at your local pet store.
She may also need a multivitamin to add more vitamins and minerals to her diet, especially if she primarily eats birdseed. [13] X Research source www. petplace. com/article/birds/general/when-your-bird-is-sick/egg-binding-and-chronic-egg-laying If your cockatiel is on a pelleted diet, she may not need additional calcium supplementation. [14] X Research source www. petplace. com/article/birds/general/when-your-bird-is-sick/egg-binding-and-chronic-egg-laying Over-supplementation is not good for your cockatiel. Consult with your avian veterinarian to determine what supplements your cockatiel may need to keep her healthy for laying eggs. [15] X Research source www. petplace. com/article/birds/general/when-your-bird-is-sick/egg-binding-and-chronic-egg-laying Make sure that she also has access to plenty of fresh water. [16] X Research source
A female cockatiel, whether wild or captive, will typically abandon her eggs three weeks after she has finished laying them. [19] X Research source Remove the eggs gradually–one at a time and every other day–until you have removed all of them. Removing them slowly will help her understand that the eggs are not fertile. Consult with your avian veterinarian on what to do with the eggs that you have removed.
Eggs that are broken or cracked should be removed immediately, since they are more susceptible to bacterial growth. [21] X Research source Replace these eggs with mock eggs so that your cockatiel does not sense that she has not laid enough eggs.
Other signs of egg binding are difficulty breathing and blood coming from your cockatiel’s vent (where the egg passes through). Excessive egg laying can also lead to your cockatiel’s reproductive tract being pushed through her vent. [23] X Research source This would also require immediate veterinary treatment. Your cockatiel could also develop hyperlipidemia, which means that too much fat is in her blood. This is caused by extra fat and protein being in her blood during egg development. Her blood could thicken if there is too much circulating fat, which could lead to a stroke. Your cockatiel may also have broken bones as a result of excessive egg laying, due to the loss of calcium.
