Why is my conure laying eggs, plucking, and breathing heavily?

Question

My female conure has been laying eggs this month and we began to notice a few concerning things. We never planned her to lay eggs. -she looks fatigued all the time -her tail bobs every time she breaths -she makes these “baby” noises And the last thing that made us really concerned and to the point we are worried is she’s been plucking the feathers off her neck and other parts. Her mate seems to be helping her too. She eats normally and poos normally aswell. Please Help ASAP! Pet's info: Bird | Conure | Female | 2 years and 9 months old

Angel Alvarado, LVT · Accepted Answer

Female conures will lay eggs even in the absence of a male. Don't remove the eggs as this will cause her to continue laying. Provide a commercial pelleted diet (Harrison's, Roudybush, Lafeber, Pretty Bird or Exact) supplemented with a fortified seed mix and fresh greens and vegetables. Place a cuttlebone or mineral block in her cage as well for extra calcium. Limit exposure to daylight and drop room temperature by a few degrees to get her out of egg laying mode. Leave the eggs in the cage for at least 2 weeks or until she loses interest in them. You can also replace the real eggs with "dummy" eggs. Find them in the Bird Section of the local Petco. The plucking can be caused by stress, boredom or infection (bacterial, fungal or parasites). Consider having her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian to diagnose and treat any underlying medical condition. The tail bobbing may indicate difficulty breathing which should also be addressed by your veterinarian. In the meantime, clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use paper towels on the cage bottom and change them daily. Bathe or mist her with warm water to encourage preening and to promote healthy plumage. Provide a variety of toys and puzzle feeders as well as play time outside of the cage to keep her from plucking.

Why is my conure laying eggs, plucking, and breathing heavily?

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