egg-sitting

Question
QUESTION: Hi there.  I consulted you recently on my sun conure who, after 10 years, laid some eggs (5!!).  I have managed to get 3 away allow her to sit on the remaining 2 without laying more.  Your advice (and others) was to, among other things, wait until she loses interest.  How long does it take for these birds to lose interest?  She is just as vigilant as ever, sitting all day, only breaking to eat and occasionally drink.  Cries all day long in that little chirping voice.  and exhibits all the juvenile behavior:  twitching wing, begging head.  I'm patient, but just don't know how long to wait.  Also, I need to change the bedding, but what do I do about the eggs?  Help!!


ANSWER: Incubation for the conure is up to 28 days. She should lose interest before this time, but some go longer. At least she's not laying more, which she'd likely do if she didn't have these.

You should be able to change the bedding without her putting up much fuss. At the very worst, she'll stop sitting and if you have her on a regular 12 to 13 hour "sleep"/night schedule hopefully she won't be laying more.
 Her behavior sounds like she's viewing you as her mate, expecting you to feed and care for her while she's on the nest.  This could also be a contributing factor to her laying after so many years.  Between too much daylight and feeling safe, secure and bonded to you (perhaps being pet under her wings and at her lower back/tailfeathers) she could think she mated. Of course she could also have 'mated' with a toy in her cage, who knows.

 Remember, along with the rest of the changes, make sure that after this she doesn't have any 'nesting' material.

 www.4AnimalCare.org (click "birds")


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: so should i put the eggs back when i change the bedding?

Answer
if it's been less than 28 days since she laid them, I'd put one back for her.  You can also try a 'fake' egg from a craft store if you'd like.  A wooden one or plastic - just as long as it's not painted or decorated should be fine. We don't want the bird to end up picking at it and ingesting anything toxic.

Of course you can try to remove the eggs and remove her nesting materials - change her perches around and increase her out of cage time and interaction to distract her from what she's been doing.  This along with an increase in nighttime hours (12-13 hours) should curb future egg laying.

 You know, if this happens again - it would be worth an avian vet exam to make sure there's nothing else going on.  In that she began this after so many years without doing it could mean that an underlying disease is happening which effects hormone levels, etc..

 But for now - let's just assume it's a passing thing and your environmental modifications rectifies it.