Darn!! It's an egg

[PeachyDoll]

As many of you know when we adopted Rosie she had been laying quite a few eggs in her previous home of 4 years. In her last year with her previous owner she laid 5 eggs. We researched endlessly and sought out advice from professional bird caretakers on how to reduce her hormonal behavior and have a great relationship with our cockatoo. She laid her first egg with us 14 months ago. Last night something jarred me from my sleep, I went into the living area to check on the noise and heard Rosie climbing down and walking on her grate. I whispered to her asking if she was ok, she clicked her tongue and grinded her beak, letting me know she was good. I went back to bed thinking Uh Oh we may have an egg tomorrow morning. Sure enough this morning I slowly pulled back her cover, Rosie flares her cheek feathers and runs towards me. We have an egg.

Her first egg with us we were told to just let her have the egg for 4 - 5 days because if you take it away too early they may produce another too quickly. Last time she ignored it the first day, sat and cuddled with it for 2 days, and she carried it around with her until she dropped it over the side of the cage on day 4 or 5. When the first egg fell she didn't even notice, we cleaned it up quickly and returned to our normal schedule. I will say this, last time she was cranky and I couldn't go near her cage. A year later we've come a very long way, I changed her papers, her dishes, gave her breakfast and it was like any other morning. I guess we will see how the rest of the week goes.

I made a thread not too long ago about Rosie reaching out to me, shortly after that we noticed that as soon as she would see my hubby she would start quivering. He wasn't even holding her, she would just see him in the room. I guess we have been having too much cuddle time this past month and an egg is our result.

[spiritbird]

How big is a Cockatoo egg? You know what to do. Letting her go through the process is the best for her. Should we introduce her to Amigo?

[kendrafitz]

Oh, I'm sorry. I know you have been doing everything possible to prevent it. Hopefully she will lose interest quickly and get back to normal.

My Rosie is young yet, so I haven't dealt with this. But it must be so stressful for you and your husband.

[PeachyDoll]

Dianne a cockatoo egg is about half the size of a small regular egg. I guess that is based on Rosie size too, she is on the small side for a female Moluccan. I'd take a photo for you but she's already broken it!! She was walking around the grate all morning, happy and quiet and I went out 20 minutes ago to make lunch and it is broken. I'm sure Rosie would love Amigo!

I'm hoping this won't make her produce another egg soon.

Kendra yes we have been doing everything possible but hubby said, "It's gonna happen". Just have to bump up the calcium.

[Mare]

Oh, wow, an egg! Gosh, I'm in the dark when it comes to one of the birds laying an egg, im glad I have you to follow, PeachyDoll! Sassy does the wing quiver when she see's Tim but she always has and has never laid an egg..thank God! My fear would be egg binding but it sounds like Rosie has no problem, that's good :)

Haha :) Sorry girls, Amigo is already taken and I don't share my boyfriends! :). I hope Rosie stays well, keep us up to date, please!

[spiritbird]

It may be time for dummy eggs. If she starts laying again you give her the whole lot of eggs they send you in the bowl they usually send so she will not lay any more. It works!

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[Lady]

Wow Peachydoll,
Could this also be the season for her as well? How was Rosie the rest of the day? How long would it be before she could lay another one? As you can tell, I'm clueless as Lady has never laid any.

[PeachyDoll]

Alice I don't know how long it takes for them to produce another egg. I've been looking online but can't find a thing. I can only find incubation period from when the egg(s) drop to when they hatch. Rosie was at the bottom of her cage looking for her egg :( We redirected quickly to change her mind. She slept the better part of the day, it has to be exhausting laying one of those.

She was again on her grate this morning when I lifted her sheet and I got her up and out quickly and gave her almonds. Right now she is one footing it on her playtop, quiet as a mouse.

Thanks Dianne, I am looking at getting some of those faux eggs in the appropriate size.


Mare, are you sure Amigo wouldn't drop you like a hot potato if he met Rosie? :th_LOL: Can you imagine a salmon crested umbrella?

[spiritbird]

:th_laughing8:

[Mare]

No, no, no, nope..I can not imagine a salmon crested U2!! Actually,,I can...and would love every minute of it :)

Bring it!

[PeachyDoll]

OMG they are real....



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[Mare]

Wow! Very cool bird, the under wings are yellow like an Umbrella but his crest is peach color, like a Moluccan,,very cool! But..no thank you, anyways :)

[Lady]

aaaaaww so cute!

[PeachyDoll]

Thankfully Rosie did not produce another egg. Within 2 weeks she went into molting for the second time this year and lost many beautiful tail, wing, shoulder and head feathers. I collected all the clean ones, as usual. An idea struck me the other day, to create a large shadow box of the tiniest feathers all the way up through to her largest tail feathers. I'll probably have to wait for another 2 molting seasons to add to the collection in the shoe box that we already have of Rosie's feathers. I just have such a hard time throwing any of her feathers away and thought it might me a neat way of displaying them instead of leaving them in a shoe box. Perhaps with some navy velvet fabric background to make the colors of her feathers pop.

[Cedardave]

Typically if a bird is preparing to lay a full cluch of eggs there will be one every second day until they are done.If you have access you can get oaster shells...cook at 250degrees for 1/2hour...put in blender and blend to a powder.Add a small amount to her daily feed...about 1/4 teaspoon.This helps replace the calcium her body loses by producing the eggs.The more she produces..the longer you feed the calcium.Stop with the calcium 3 or 4 days after shes lays her last egg.You can also save chicken egg shells in the freezer until you have enough to cook up,but oddly enough they have a lower rate of calcium.Sometimes almonds and other nuts can stimulate the egg laying process as well.You may consider replacing some of that with a piece of fruit for a while.

[spiritbird]

I buy crushed sterilized egg shell from Mysafebirdstore. It's very fine like salt.

[Lady]

That sounds like it would be a nice display for Rosie's feathers. I have thought about doing something in the same idea but in a circle pattern, kind of like a wreath from small to large. I don't get many feathers that are totally intact but I can keep collecting till something comes to mind.