Sprite laid an egg...

[DesertBird]

So. I woke up this morning, uncovered the cage, let Sprite and Marshmallow out. Sprite wanted to play so I was standing by the cage playing with her, I looked down, and saw a strange white object at the bottom of the cage. At first I though it was a piece of toy, because Sprite has been going nuts on a bird kabob the last few days (rip bird kabob, lol). But the object was way too smooth and shiny. I bent down to get a closer look, and it was an egg. Sprite laid an egg. There was no warning at all. She wasn't being hormonal, not looking for a nesting spot, nothing.
Honestly I'm not even sure that she knows she laid an egg. The egg was laying broken at the bottom of the cage. Judging by the way it was broken and the location, I think Sprite must have been sitting on a perch towards the top of the cage and just pushed it out like a big poop.
She acted completely disinterested in the egg too, which supports my theory of her not even realizing.
So now my question is, what next? Will more eggs come? How do I make sure she doesn't get egg bound? What about nutrients, is there anything I need to give her (like extra protein, calcium, etc.)? I've only ever dealt with egg laying in chickens, so this is completely new to me, lol.



Bonus photo of the egg layer. This was right after I told her she was silly for laying an egg, and that she shouldn't be doing that. She has no regrets, and neither does Marshmallow.

 

[Pixiebeak]

You might get a whole set laid one to two days apart you might not. For budgie I would leave the egg if wasn't broken.

If she eats healthy , with veggies, or veggies and pellets she should be fine.
I offer mine boiled egg shells her and there as part of their diet

 

[Emma&pico]

Are the eggs fertile with you having a male and budgie

 

[DesertBird]

You might get a whole set laid one to two days apart you might not. For budgie I would leave the egg if wasn't broken.

If she eats healthy , with veggies, or veggies and pellets she should be fine.
I offer mine boiled egg shells her and there as part of their diet

Okay, will do. Can I ask the reason for leaving the egg? Just curious as I'd like to learn for the future.

She gets fresh vegetables and Harrison's pellets every day. I've never given egg shells before, but I can try adding some to their vegetables tomorrow.

Are the eggs fertile with you having a male and budgie

They should be. I saw the two of them mating the other day (which in hindsight probably led to this egg). But I'm definitely not going to be letting them hatch anything anyway.

 

[Emma&pico]

I get you although a baby sprite and marshmallow would be gorgeous

Okay, will do. Can I ask the reason for leaving the egg? Just curious as I'd like to learn for the future.

She gets fresh vegetables and Harrison's pellets every day. I've never given egg shells before, but I can try adding some to their vegetables tomorrow.


They should be. I saw the two of them mating the other day (which in hindsight probably led to this egg). But I'm definitely not going to be letting them hatch anything anyway.

 

[orphansparrow]

No advice, but goodness, they're soooo beautiful.

 

[DesertBird]

I get you although a baby sprite and marshmallow would be gorgeous

I know, but I'm trying to be reasonable! Don't tempt me!

 

[DesertBird]

No advice, but goodness, they're soooo beautiful.

Thank you!

 

[Emma&pico]

Sorry

I know, but I'm trying to be reasonable! Don't tempt me!

 

[Icey]

Sorry

Watch out!! @Emma&pico is a bad influence.

 

[Emma&pico]

Watch out!! @Emma&pico is a bad influence.

Me never

 

[Icey]

Me never

 

[DesertBird]

Sprite just laid another egg a few minutes ago. I didn't actually see her lay it, but I came into the room seeing her panting, wings out, and on the ground under her was another broken egg, shell still wet from being laid. She seemed pretty tired, panting, legs spread apart for a bit. She seems a better now though, chirping, stretching, hopping around in the cage, and grooming Marshmallow. The only thing I'm a little concerned about is that there was a small streak of blood on the egg shell. I know in chickens this is common, especially for new layers, but is this an issue for her? There is no blood on her vent, at least that I can see.

This is her right after laying the egg.


2-3 minutes later


The egg with the blood on it.

 

[Mizzely]

My guess is that is would be normal for parrots too I would just keep an eye on her but sounds pretty normal right now!

 

[DesertBird]

My guess is that is would be normal for parrots too I would just keep an eye on her but sounds pretty normal right now!

Okay, sounds good!
I've got to say, after this second egg, I'm freaking out a little. I don't know how breeders do it . But I'll be sure to keep a close eye on her and update if anything else happens.

 

[Icey]

Poor wee thing. It sure takes alot out of them. Hopefully she will take a break from it.

 

[Pixiebeak]

So I always learned budgies lay a set number of eggs, if you remove, then they will let another egg to replace.( determinate layers)
They are also prone to chronic egg laying. So by leaving the eggs, dummy egg replacement ( or boiled ) if you don't want babies, the hope is they will complete the hormone cycle and stop . They will brood for a period of time , then give up as infertile clutch .

Chronic Egg Laying in Birds | VCA Animal Hospitals

Chronic egg laying occurs when a female bird lays more than the normal number of eggs or, more commonly, lays repeated clutches of eggs, especially in the absence of a mate. The persistent laying of eggs may lead to malnutrition induced by the chronic depletion of calcium from the body for the...

vcahospitals.com

Talks chronic egg laying with some tips

Continuous egg laying | World Parrot Trust

I’m very worried about my budgie. For less than a year she’s laying eggs continuously! I’ve tried everything, putting her in a cage only with her...

www.parrots.org

 

[DesertBird]

Poor wee thing. It sure takes alot out of them. Hopefully she will take a break from it.

I hope so too!

So I always learned budgies lay a set number of eggs, if you remove, then they will let another egg to replace.( determinate layers)
They are also prone to chronic egg laying. So by leaving the eggs, dummy egg replacement ( or boiled ) if you don't want babies, the hope is they will complete the hormone cycle and stop . They will brood for a period of time , then give up as infertile clutch .

Chronic Egg Laying in Birds | VCA Animal Hospitals

Chronic egg laying occurs when a female bird lays more than the normal number of eggs or, more commonly, lays repeated clutches of eggs, especially in the absence of a mate. The persistent laying of eggs may lead to malnutrition induced by the chronic depletion of calcium from the body for the...

vcahospitals.com

I see, makes sense. What do I do if she breaks all of them, and there's none I can leave for her? And even if she shows no interest in brooding like she does at the moment, can she still continue to lay eggs?

 

[Icey]

I hope so too!


I see, makes sense. What do I do if she breaks all of them, and there's none I can leave for her? And even if she shows no interest in brooding like she does at the moment, can she still continue to lay eggs?

You may want to order some "dummy eggs". But, if she's not bothering anyways, you should be okay. Does she go to look at it at all?

 

[Pixiebeak]

You can order dummy eggs.
We are going to need the budgei experts to weigh in. As that just about taps out my knowledge on budgie egg laying. I was taught they lay a set number and for this species not remove , or replace with dummies .
As for laying and leaving, in regards to budgies Im not sure. My Quaker can lay and leave and stop laying for the season or a time period .

You can re arrange the cage and move it a few feet. The " environment stress" can be enough to stop the cycle

The parrot trust article gave some suggestions too