Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    1.	Do you have a nestbox (or something similar) in the cage ?  I believe
    	this would bring on egg-laying.
    
    2.	How 'friendly' is your husband with her ?  I have had our Grey
    	laying eggs after 'mating' with my hand (ie. after a few days). 
    	Needless to say, that was the first and last time I allowed it.
    
    3.	She uses (and needs) the cuttlebone to replenish the calcium.
    
    Hope this is some help.  Best of luck with your new wee friend.
    
    Jim Burke
    

    
    Jim,
    
    	Since I don't know what a nestbox is I don't think we
    	have one, although we did remove the grate from the
    	bottom of the cage when we first got it.  She would
    	shred the paper at the bottom and then lay her egg.
    	
    	We now have the grate back on the bottom and she is
    	laying her eggs in her food dish.  Surprise! Surprise!
    
    	She lovesssss my husband and maybe she is 'mating' and
    	we just don't know it. 
    
    	Have you ever heard of hormone pills for a bird?  If
    	so are they helpful.
    
    	I was under the impression that they only laid eggs during
    	the spring time, like the rest of the birds.
    
    	Joanne Boland

    	I'm only guessing, but I reckon that the liaison with your hubbie
    is what has upset the bird's metabolism. Perhaps the sudden change of
    new home/environment/partners also has something to do with it. In any 
    case, you'll have to stop her. 
    
    	In principle, I'm against using any drugs/chemicals with a bird,
    unless there's absolutely no choice. If she continues to lay, then I
    suppose you must try this hormone additive (assuming the vet recommends
    it). 
    	All birds react to illness is a similar way: they try to mask it,
    as a natural defence against predators. The upshot of this is, that if
    the bird displays signs of illness, then it is *very* sick indeed - you
    have about two days to do something about it. A general maxim is: if
    the bird sleeps on one leg, then it is healthy. This one-leg sleeping
    is almost always the first behavioural change brought on by illness.
    
    	I'll explain the hand-mating ritual, so that you may recognise it	
    (our Grey is called Lucy; I'll assume that cockatiels do it in a 	
    similar fashion). Note that I (semi-unconsciously) allowed this once, 	
    but certainly no more - it's playing with nature. 
    	After a petting session, Lucy scuttles round in small circles around 
    	my hand, preferably held palm-down on the floor. Her wings are 
    	partially open; in a crouched position; makes little throaty sighs; 
    	lowers & rubs her bum on the back of my hand; the 'tickly bit' is 
    	signalled by a longer sigh and raising of the head. The whole process 
    	can last 20 mins.
    
    
    	I hope I'm not alarming you - you're doing a great job. Since the
    bird is laying eggs, then she must be basically healthy. I don't think
    you have a serious problem.
    
    Hope this is of some help,
    Jim Burke (Edinburgh, UK).
    

    Catching up on old notes to gain new information.  The last reply has a
    contradictory statement in it that is confusing me.
    
    Jim said that "If a bird sleeps on one leg, then it is healthy.  This
    change in sleeping patterns is brought on by illness."
    
    Nothing in the previous notes mentioned a change in sleeping patterns. 
    My tiels both started sleeping on one leg -- shortly after the bout with
    sinus infection and immediately after I got my Senegal, who already
    liked to sleep on one leg.
    
    Is this a sign of health or a sign of illness?  I thought it just meant
    they were comfortable....
    
    Mary

    When a bird sleeps on two legs, it can be an indicator that it is not
    strong enough or have enough balance to sleep on one.

    Thanks.  I found a passage in my cockatiel book that said that very
    young and old birds sleep on 2 legs.  It also said that in their prime 
    they sleep on 1 leg and that if they switch to sleeping on 2, it can
    indicate illness.
    
    Mary