Between January and April yearly we get all sorts of emails from people with hormonal birds.

Some are females laying eggs, others are males who have gotten aggressive and are lashing out.

Thankfully that time is almost up and our birds will usually return to normal.

But some do seem to hang onto their hormonal behavior longer and it can affect their health.

Between the calcium used for egg production and other bodily resources used to replace feathers pulled at this time of year, it can be physically hard on them.

Yes, a calcium supplement added to your bird’s water is a very good idea. And if your bird is eating a seed-based diet, then a good Multivitamin may also be a good addition.

If you feed mainly pellets, then a multivitamin is really not needed. But the calcium is.

Vitamins

We have had our own experience with a chronic egg-laying cockatiel which after dealing with Lupron shots and dummy eggs,

We found a real solution. LIGHT.

Most of the pet birds in our home don’t get much light.

Parrots are tropical and as such, their brains are used to having a bright light (the sun) on them a minimum of 12 hours a day.

Less than that and their brains feel it is time to find a mate and raise a family.

Yes, they can still lay eggs without mating if their brains have triggered this action.

We have found with the research by Harrisons and Hagen (both major bird food producers) that if a bird is placed under a bright light for 72 hours straight, the pineal gland is affected through the eyes and it helps to reset the circadian rhythm and the birds lose their interest in broody behavior.

The bulbs do not need to be pricey UV bulbs, they just need to be bright, daylight types.

We take the bird and put her in a small cage (to best offer bright light) place the light directly over the cage, as close to the bird as possible, and leave it one for 3 days and nights.

The bird can eat, sleep, play, etc as normal.

They just must remain under the constant light.

After 3 days (72 hours) the bird usually loses interest in nesting, eggs, etc. If not, it can be repeated up to 7 days.

It sounds drastic, but it isn’t.

The bird does not have to be injected with anything, and afterward, will go back to normal behavior.

However, after the treatment, you must keep the light above their cage and set it on a timer for 12 hours on and 12 hours off, forever.

This will help keep the hormones in check. You are replicating the Australian sunshine in the summer, year-round. Birds don’t mate, breed in the summer.

You can find lighting options here.

Please let me know if you have any questions and please let us know how it works out.

 

Hi Catherine,

Dear Janet

 

Hi Catherine,

Dear Janet

Yes, it looks like the male GCC is the catalyst that has caused Kiwi to become hormonal.

Birds do not have to be the same species or in the same cage to affect each other hormonally.

He may have been near her before without issue, but something has caused it all to click, and boom, she is responding by producing an egg.

By the way, she may lay a couple more before her cycle ends. Just keep removing them.

That you have a male near her, may continue to trigger egg laying.

I DO recommend light treatment for her.

But as she is near the male, over time, her hormones will kick back in resulting in another clutch.

We know birdkeepers who do have to repeat the treatment a few times a year.

Be sure to get that calcium into her water daily.

Best of luck

Catherine