Chronic egg-laying occurs when a female bird lays one egg after another or lays repeated clutches of eggs. This is particularly common among pet birds that live without mates and that therefore lay infertile eggs.
Chronic egg-laying may lead to malnutrition from the chronic depletion of calcium from the body for the production of eggshells. In time, calcium depletion may result in egg binding (see handout “Egg Binding in Birds”).
Finding a place to breed
Most birds use the duration of the day to determine the season throughout the year. When the number of daylight hours surpasses a particular threshold, birds undergo physiological adjustments that prime them for procreation. The majority of birds, particularly those found in temperate climates, also schedule their mating seasons to feed their young during the times when food is most plentiful. However, birds must choose a breeding area well in advance of the arrival of nestlings. Non-migratory species have two options: they can either create a new territory in the spring or keep their current one through the winter. As soon as migratory birds arrive in the spring, they start searching for and defending a territory. Good territories offer safe havens from predators, dependable food sources, and possible nest sites.
Do certain bird species tend to be chronic layers?
Cockatiels, lovebirds, and budgerigars (budgies) often become chronic egg-laying birds. Any species of bird can become a chronic egg-layer, but Amazon parrots and macaws are particularly capable of doing so. Because hand-raised birds are more likely to form a close bond with their owners, hand-raised birds who view their owners as potential mates tend to develop the issue more frequently than wild-caught birds.
What causes chronic egg- laying?
The answer is not fully known. Still, there’s something that encourages these birds to lay more eggs or more frequently than usual. Chronic egg-laying birds most likely lack the hormonal feedback to their brains telling them to stop laying eggs. Depending on the species of bird, removing previously laid eggs may encourage them to lay more.
Some birds, such as budgies, are called determinate layers. This implies that, in the event that they are intended to lay four eggs per clutch, they will always lay just four eggs. Some, like cockatiels, may lay an egg every few seconds, especially if they are not sitting on freshly laid eggs or if the eggs are taken out of their nest. These birds are called indeterminate layers. The amount of eggs laid is determined by the bird’s brood patch, which is the exposed skin on its abdomen where the eggs receive body heat during incubation. The layer knows she has reached the right number of eggs because of the tactile sensation in this transfer.
FAQ
Do all birds constantly lay eggs?
What birds lay an egg every day?
How often will a bird lay eggs?
Are there any birds that do not lay eggs?