Help! My Grey laid an egg!

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Help! My Grey laid an egg!

Postby merlin » Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:52 pm

I have two grey’s … 31 and 26 years old. They are in separate cages but the cages are kept right next to each other. When cleaning up the 26yr. olds cage this morning I found a broken egg. Much to my surprise, this is the first time. Is it normal for them to go this long before having their first egg? Is there anything I need to do for her? She happy today, talking, signing etc., no problems I can see. Do I need to provide her with a nesting box?

Thank you in advance for your guidance.
Teri
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Re: Help! My Grey laid an egg!

Postby merlin » Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:54 pm

Hi Teri,

It is perfectly normal for your grey to lay an egg at her age. In fact, you are lucky that it has not been years earlier. She may stop at this one... or she may lay one or two or three more. I understand that the first time it happens, it may only be one or two eggs.

If she lays more, prepare a little cardboard box and put some soft rags or papers in it and put the egg there. She is going through a hormonal phase and the body must be allowed to work through the entire process of laying and sitting on the nest. Otherwise, it (the body) will keep laying eggs. No doubt the egg is infertile. This does NOT mean your 'little girl' wants to breed... it is only an instinctive and hormonal process that the body goes through.

Let her sit on the egg(s) for about 4 weeks and then take them away. Try NOT to touch her back or anything like that that could be construed as sexual. Keep her food near her. She will either get into it and focus incessantly on sitting/caring for the eggs... or she will pay 'passing attention' to them.

This is normal and okay. Please keep me informed. Another egg may show up in a day or two... or not.

Blessings,
Maggie-
www.AfricanGreys.com
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