Nozempje
Moving in
- Joined
- 8/29/23
- Messages
- 10
Freckels was supposed to be a boy and was for the last 31/2 years when almost 2 months ago an egg in the bottom of her cage told me differently, lol.
Now, 2 months and 2 clutches of 5 eggs each later I am very concerned for her health: 10 eggs in 2 months is not sustainable of course.
I have devoted much time reading and educating myself on this subject and have implemented as much of the things I've learned on this forum and elsewhere as is feasible.
A) Have rearranged her cage, have taken away toys she was "mating" with and turned her cage to face a different direction.
B) When it comes to changing her diet I find myself in a conundrum.....less protein, less fat, no extras, mash etc., remove her food dish to indicate food isn't plentiful. According to what I've read all this is a correct course to take but feels so counterintuitive. Her body needs to keep up it's strength so I do give her extra calcium, extra veggies, broccoli sprouts. She has food on top of her cage and in my kitchen as well, both places she can get to any time since her cage door is always open so I have removed the food from her cage.
C) I have limited her baths but since it has been over 100° here for several weeks I haven't eliminated it altogether.
D) I haven't changed her night-day schedule also due to the heat. I could not bring myself to cover the cage with this heat. However, my strategy for dealing with heat is to black out all my windows in an attempt to keep it cooler which darkens everything considerably.
Now about her brooding. I let her sit on her 1st clutch of boiled eggs hoping she would give up when she realized the eggs would not hatch. Did not happen. Instead she laid 5 more eggs so now she sits on 7 eggs. I removed 3 after she punctured one and I accidentally broke 2. No nesting box but I did give her a bowl with some shreds to brood.
E) Much to my chagrin I have even eliminated our scratches and cuddles and only pet her on the head occasionally. She does spend time on my shoulder preening.
She seems to be in great health and acts "healthy" but I can't help worrying about her and whether I'm doing all I should so I hope and would be grateful if someone here could chime in. Thank in advance and sorry for the length of this post.
Now, 2 months and 2 clutches of 5 eggs each later I am very concerned for her health: 10 eggs in 2 months is not sustainable of course.
I have devoted much time reading and educating myself on this subject and have implemented as much of the things I've learned on this forum and elsewhere as is feasible.
A) Have rearranged her cage, have taken away toys she was "mating" with and turned her cage to face a different direction.
B) When it comes to changing her diet I find myself in a conundrum.....less protein, less fat, no extras, mash etc., remove her food dish to indicate food isn't plentiful. According to what I've read all this is a correct course to take but feels so counterintuitive. Her body needs to keep up it's strength so I do give her extra calcium, extra veggies, broccoli sprouts. She has food on top of her cage and in my kitchen as well, both places she can get to any time since her cage door is always open so I have removed the food from her cage.
C) I have limited her baths but since it has been over 100° here for several weeks I haven't eliminated it altogether.
D) I haven't changed her night-day schedule also due to the heat. I could not bring myself to cover the cage with this heat. However, my strategy for dealing with heat is to black out all my windows in an attempt to keep it cooler which darkens everything considerably.
Now about her brooding. I let her sit on her 1st clutch of boiled eggs hoping she would give up when she realized the eggs would not hatch. Did not happen. Instead she laid 5 more eggs so now she sits on 7 eggs. I removed 3 after she punctured one and I accidentally broke 2. No nesting box but I did give her a bowl with some shreds to brood.
E) Much to my chagrin I have even eliminated our scratches and cuddles and only pet her on the head occasionally. She does spend time on my shoulder preening.
She seems to be in great health and acts "healthy" but I can't help worrying about her and whether I'm doing all I should so I hope and would be grateful if someone here could chime in. Thank in advance and sorry for the length of this post.
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