Cockatiel egg again!

Question
Hi Chrys,

I wrote to you before about my cokatiel laying her first egg. She didn't seem interested, so I removed it. That was 2 days ago. Today she layed another one. this one was bigger than the other and had a trace of blood on the shell. Is this normal? Should I remove the egg even if she doesn't seem interested?

Thanks again!
Karla

Answer
Hi, Karla.  I suspected your tiel would lay again.  They usually lay 1 egg every other day or 2 until there are about 6 eggs.  This is so when they start hatching, they don't all hatch at once (they hatch every other day or so).  This is why I recommend you not remove any eggs.  Your tiel will continue to lay until she has a full clutch.  If you remove them, her full clutch will never come and she'll keep laying and laying, eventually requiring an injection from a bird vet to stop the laying.

A trace of blood on an egg shell is not something to be alarmed about (particularly since you said it was larger than the other).  Just keep watch in the next couple days...you can expect your tiel will lay again.  Watch to ensure she does lay an egg and doesn't become egg bound.  I doubt this will happen since she's laid 2 eggs already, but it's something that should be watched with any egg-laying female.  

Leave the eggs in the cage where they've been laid.  She may become interested in them after she's laid 2, 3, or 4.  Removing them will only cause her to lay more.  Let her abandon them completely after all have been laid before removing any.

Chrys