How to Stop Your Bird From Laying Eggs

By Avian Veterinarian Dr Phil

If your female bird is laying an excessive number of eggs, it can be a sign of underlying health issues and may lead to serious problems like calcium deficiency and a life-threatening condition known as egg binding. This is particularly common in pet parrots, such as cockatiels; and Isa Brown Chickens. At the Bird Vet clinic, we understand the unique needs of avian patients and can help you manage this excessive egg laying behaviour and reduce the risk of future health complications.

It's important to understand that female birds can lay infertile eggs even without a male present. Yes if your "male" bird lays an egg, it is actually a female.

Non-Hormonal Factors causing Egg laying

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Picture 1:  Little Bluey had a hysterectomy, and three eggs were removed, and the large abdominal hernia was repaired by the bird specialist on duty. .

Excessive egg laying can be managed by altering environmental and behavioural factors. The key is to disrupt the triggers that make a bird feel like it's in a breeding cycle.

🍽️ Diet to stop egg laying

In the wild, food availability is typically high during breeding season. A diet with an abundance of seeds and calories can act as a stimulus to breed. Providing a good quality, balanced pelleted-Veggie diet with restricted seeds will not only help to reduce laying but will also provide better nutrition to keep your bird healthy and better prepared to lay eggs. Calcium is crucial; ensure your bird's diet includes calcium. Your Avian-vet will give you further details during the Bird-vet visit.

Manipulating Day Length to stop egg laying

In the wild, birds generally breed in spring and summer, a time of increasing day length. By covering your pet bird early in the evening-by 6 pm - her hormones that stimulate laying will be reduced. Bird-Doctor Dr Phil Does not think that this really helps and does not recommend it as we can not adjust the circadian rhythm in a home environment easily. We cover our birds for excessive periods and they don't enjoy it nor benefit.

Mate (or Perceived Mate) for egg laying

Birds do not need to a real male bird in order to lay eggs. They usually just need to think that they have a partner. Often this will be the owner, but occasionally this can be a toy or a mirror.

A lot of the cuddles and physical interaction with our pet birds in a specific way can be interpreted by them as sexual stimulation. Our Bird-vets and Bird-behaviourist will help with alternatives discourage any mating behaviour. Training basic obedience and parrot socialisation s a great way to interact with your bird in a healthier manner. Book a parrot socialisation consult.

🏡 Nesting Site and egg laying

A bird is more likely to lay eggs if they have a nest or a perceived nest. This may be a nest box, a cosy corner, or even shredded newspaper or nesting material at the bottom of the cage. To discourage egg laying, remove the nest.

Stability of the environment

A stable bird environment promotes low stress and contentment. This may encourage excessive egg laying. Periodically rearrange perches, food bowls, and toys to make the cage feel less like a permanent home, which can also discourage egg laying in birds

🥚 Presence of Eggs discourages egg laying

Most parrots are determinate layers. It means they stop laying after a fixed number of eggs, usually after three are laid. If your bird does lay eggs, it is often best to leave them in the cage for approximately 3 weeks. The presence of eggs in a cage stops hormones in your bird, which decreases the chance of her laying more eggs. Removing eggs can cause the bird to lay more, which can lead to life-threatening egg binding. As an alternative to leaving fertile eggs, you may also consider replacing it or adding fake eggs. Your Avian Veterinarian will advise you of the best course of action.

Picture 2: Bluey's multiple eggs seen on the X-ray (2008) 

Hormonal stopping of egg laying

When environmental changes aren't enough, or if the bird's health is at risk, our Melbourne avian veterinary experts may recommend hormonal “contraceptive” treatments. They are easy, safe and work. At the Melbourne Bird Vet in Burwood, we use this method to control egg laying on average once a day, Ie 365 birds a year are treated to stop egg laying (2024). The Four Bird veterinarians at the Bird-Vet in Burwood probably see more bird patients than most other veterinary clinics in Australia.

Deslorelin to stop egg laying.

A deslorelin implant injection is a common “contraceptive” hormonal treatment to stop egg laying. This rice-sized implant is injected under the bird's skin and slowly releases hormones that switch off the reproductive cycle. It's highly effective and can last for several months.

Lupron to stop egg laying

Leuprolide acetate is another hormone-based option to stop egg production in parrots and canaries. It is administered as an injectable contraceptive that can help stop egg laying by disrupting the hormonal signals that lead to ovulation. It needs to be given more often than Deslorelin, and the bird-vets in Melbourne use it far less than Deslorelin.

Bird-Only Veterinary Expertise

At the oldest Bird Veterinary Hospital in Melbourne, our avian veterinarians have specialised training in avian medicine. They can properly diagnose the cause of your bird's excessive egg laying and recommend the best course of action. This might include blood tests to check calcium levels or ultrasounds to assess the reproductive tract.

Picture 3 : Charlie had her uterus removed after excessive egg laying. In 2025, with hormonal control to stop egg laying readily available, we are doing a lot less surgery and a lot more medical prevention of excessive egg laying. 

If you are concerned about your bird's egg laying, don't hesitate to get in touch with our avian veterinary experts at Bird-Vet-Melbourne to schedule a consultation.