Cockatiel unfertilized egg laying

Question
Our female had her first laying experience disrupted by an unexpected, emotional trip with hotel stays and then when she layed again a few days later it was not a pleasant environment for her.  Since then she has adjusted to a new home become secure and showed signs last month of getting ready again.  This time she even had a brooding box (sp). She has done everything by what I have read so far on your site here.  Three=four days ago she started really wanting to be out and for long periods of time but would still go back to the 4 eggs, and she still is, but for the last 2 days, she is doing the same pattern in the cage of==eat, water, salt/calcium, treat, then repeat.  She even started to make the soft chirping noise she did before she layed.  

Why would she lay more now before becoming disinterested in the 4 she already had?  Should we take these first 4 away now or wait until we see if she has another one and how will we know which one is the newest?  She is real antsy again too, like her hormones are running wild.  I know this is a long entry but I am her adopted auntie and her human mother is getting ready to go south for a while and leave my new little one with me...we have spent hours! bonding and she is the same with me as with her mother. I want to do what is right for her.  I like how you took your time with others.  Please help me.

Answer
Hi, Leslie.  Thanks for posting!

If I understand correctly, your tiel started laying eggs, then ended up having to go on a trip, so her egg-laying was disrupted.  When you got her to her destination, she started laying again?  

Based on my understanding above, I believe her first clutch of egg laying was disrupted by the trip and move.  So she stopped, then resumed with another clutch when she settled down again.  This is known as double-clutching.  

You should leave all the eggs just where she has laid them and allow her to abandon them on her own when she is ready to do so.  When she abandons them, you can then remove them and throw them away.  She still may lay more eggs, so be sure she has plenty of cuttlebone available to replace calcium.  Hopefully, you have her on a healthy diet, as egg laying takes a lot out of a female.  She'll probably act a little different due to hormones raging, but she'll return to herself when she's done.  She's preparing for babies that will never come, but right now, she doesn't know this.  It's perfectly normal.  

After she abandons her eggs, remove the nesting box in order to discourage her from continual laying.  If she just continues to lay and lay and lay, you can take her to an avian veterinarian for an injection that will stop her from laying for about 9 months.  This is important, as continual egg laying can be detrimental to a female's health.  

Come back with any additional questions.

Chrys