Punky has laid 5 eggs over the last two weeks. Well, plopped 5 eggs. She lays them while sitting on her perch. So they break, so I take them out. I got her a cuttle bone to replace all the calcium she is using, but NOW she is pulling feathers and depositing them on the bottom of the cage where she polps her eggs. She still plops them, just now she has feathers there too. She has managed to thin her tummy out and get a small bald spot started. I dont think she is plucking really, I think she is nesting and since she is producing so many eggs and breaking them she is getting carried away. Other wise she acts fine.
My plan is to take her in tomorrow to the avian vet. Am I overreacting? Is this normal? Will she stop laying on her own? Anybody had experience with this?

Doreen, Punky, Patrick and Shelby

I think its good you are taking her in to an avian vet and the vet will make suggestions to help cut down on her egg laying.

Do you have any nesting materials in her cage? I know that you shouldn't encourage nesting but if she is plucking her feathers to nest, it may be a better if you provided something that she can nest with so that she doesn't resort to plucking her feathers. Let us know what the vet says.

I think a vet check will help you understand what she's doing. The one hen that I had didn't just "plop" them down from a perch but she would lay them at the bottom of the cage willie nillie. She laid 4 or 5 I don't remember for sure now...its been years ago. But 4-6 is normal for them in a "clutch" Its also not uncommon for a hen to pluck a spot to expose a spot on her lower belly for brooding, not all birds do it. This spot is so she feels that her full body temp is against the eggs to incubate them. Obviously since she's by herself, these eggs won't be fertile so even if she incubates them, they won't hatch.

How many hours of daylight does she get a day? If its 13-14 hours a day you may want to try lessening that amount to where she gets 10-12 hours. MOST birds need 14 hours of daylight either natural and or artificial to stimulate egg production. This is where talking to your vet to see what they suggest comes in. Also you might want to ask about signs and symptoms of egg binding so since you know she lays, you can be aware if she starts having problems.

Good luck and let us know what the vet has to say.

Thanks Andies Mom-that makes me feel a little better to know this may be "normal" even if not desirable.
I dont cover her cage so she gets as much sun as the day produces. Should i cover her? I hate to because I want her to be part of the household, but if her health is at stake.....
Maybe uncover her when i get up? Then cover her 12 hours later?
thanks again
Doreen

We are back from the vet.....and she said basically what you said plus more.
Her exam went fine-not only has she not lost weight (like I was afraid of) but has GAINED since her visit a month and a half ago. Almost 30 grams gained. I got a pat on the back for her diet (thanks guys for the advice) of pellets and fresh food variety, plus limiting seeds, but she says to limit more if I can. Her skin looks great, her feathers look great (except where she pulled them out) no mites, poops are fine.

Now I have to cover her cage though. She says limit her to 8 hours of daylight at first to stop the cycle, then gradually increase to about 10-12 hours...where have I heard that before? Oh yeah here. She also said to increase the stuff in her cage and add MORE stuff to tear apart. Maybe add nesting stuff, and to make her work for her food. Keep a cuttle bone in.
If that doesnt work, she says give her a nest and let her lay in that. Yeah it encourages, but in her case if she has something to sit on she may stop laying.

Good news is, she looks very healthy the vet says.

Thanks for the advice!
Doreen and Punky (the QUEEN of eggs)

Glad to know everything is fine with Ms. Punky...

Thanks for sharing what the vet had to say. Now we all know more than we did!

But now I miss her when she is covered. Although she is in there making VERY VERY quiet little noises. Its kind of cute actually.
Doreen

Glad to hear everything turned out okay at the vet's. It can be traumatic to see our birds lay eggs. But as Connie and the vet said, 5 eggs over two weeks is pretty normal. She may do this again in the fall and/or spring, so be prepared to cut down her daylight hours during those times as well.

I hope all the eggs don't break, if you can, keep one of the whole ones as a keepsake. So long as they don't break or crack, there will be no smell and time will solidify the contents making it a nice souvenir