parakeets laying eggs

Question
ok, i confess, i guess i'm uneducated about house birds.  I've had (and absolutely ADORE my parakeet) for about 7 years. She's one of the most entertaining pets i've ever owned.  Tonight we discovered 4 eggs in her cage.  Absolutely knocked out to discover she (we never knew if Jangles was a he/she, lol) can lay eggs without breeding! But upon researching it on the net, now know she can produce eggs without having 1st had contact with a male.  Will the eggs be unfertile? Upon discovering the eggs, we immediately pulled out a "toy" from her bucket of toys, a soft furry nest-like scoop and put it in the cage.  Minutes after carefully placing one of the unbroken eggs on it (thinking she would "mother" it and keep it warm) she pushed it out onto the bottom of the cage.  Why do they lay eggs? I'm guessing it won't hatch since there's been no male contact.  We're still awed that this happened......didn't know birds have immaculate conception.....LOLOL

Answer
Hi Rita,

Well, yes female birds can lay eggs without a male's help. The only thing is, it will not be fertile unless a male mates with her. Anyways, the eggs you have are not fetile. Don't encourage her to lay more eggs (like putting the toy there and the egg on it as if a nest) because she will end up changing her personality. My budgie had layed an egg (unferitle) and she was perched on a mirror thing for about a week. When we removed it, she was very happy again and was nice to us again. Well female birds lay eggs sort of like female human's have "periods". You know, the egg drops and all that stuff. Well it isn't exactly the same, but if you think about it, it is a little. So yes, you bird is fine and normal, and the eggs will not hatch. It's okay that you don't know too much about birds lol. I hope I have helped you out!

Austin