At the same time, not all hens lay eggs, and some can start later than we think. My 8 year old too has not, not yet, and someone I know, his IRN just laid a couple of eggs for the first time...at 10 years of age.

Karen, that was an excellent post, very clear. Especially the part about examining the egg shell, to make sure it's not too thin...you want to check if the shell is getting thinner and thinner with each successive egg - if it is, it's a sign your hen is calcium deficient. Also, the part about heat - an important element for egg laying hens.

Kita was DNA'd at age 15 because the owners didn't know her sex. She came to live with me after that and laid her first egg at 16+!

thank you for that wonderful information, karen! i know i am a ways off with ivy on this, but it's all so good to know and will be great reference when the time comes.

I would like to say that I would never recommend the cardboard box idea for smaller birds that are more prone to lay, such as teils and keets. I prefer the cardboard box method for birds that destroy cardboard quickly. Can't lay an egg in a box if the box is destroyed. I've seen vast improvement in temperament and hormonal/sexual frustration with this method. But it does depend on the health of your bird, if your bird is not fit or doesn't receive a balanced diet than the chances of complications if an egg does occur will be higher. That's not to say that not providing a box will stop a hen from laying an egg. Regardless hens need to be fit and healthy. Of course each bird is different and the box may make things worse. But making things worse in terms of what we wish to tolerate and making things worse as far as the health of the bird are two different things. Their breeding behavior is only upsetting to us. But it is normal for them. And for some species breeding is a very real part of their life. Like Ekkies who spend nine month out of the year in a tree hollow completely dependant on various males to feed them, much like vasa's. Because breeding and sex roles play such a huge role in these birds lives, to deny them might for somes hens prove to be very detrimental, emotionally. In which case going through the motions so to speak might prove beneficial for their emotional health, and a mental health bird will be a healthier bird overall. There bodies are meant to breed I'm not sure that discouraging a natural hormonal cycle in the long run will not cause further health issues, since hormones in general are responsible for almost every bodily function.

I would also like to add that their is a difference between allowing a normal hormonal process and creating and encouraging a mate bond. Like inappropriate petting, and encouraging regurgitation. These should be avoided, the goal is to not have a mate bond with your bird, but this is separate from a biological hormonal process.

So true, which is why a box should not be offered unless the bird is already laying or obviously going to lay... and it should not be cardboard, but wood. If your bird has a mate, and lays fertile eggs, and you don't want little chicks, just replace them with fake bird eggs (Fake Eggs, Artificial Eggs, Plastic Bird Eggs stop laying.), or freeze the eggs, and let your hen sit on them as long as she wants. If you simply remove the eggs, she will lay more, which is not at all desirable for her health.

This is something I was doing because Kita just didn't want to give up her eggs. My AV advised me not to do this any longer. She says during the entire process there are psychological as well as physiological changes that occur within that overly stress their bodies if they are allowed to continue for too long. She advised me to allow this for 4-5 weeks, then remove everything.

I was a little hesitant to do it, because she's just so attached to her eggs when she has them. But I followed her instruction and removed everything and Kita never looked back and was all the happier to get back to her 'normal' days.

Well that answers a lot of my questions. So no box is best I guess. Great info Karen..thanks so much! It's still un-nerving though lol.

I had a cockatiel who went into nesting and laid her eggs. I didn't discourage her. I felt it is an important part of her and I was scared that if I tried to discourage and took away her eggs, that she would continue to lay and get egg bound. She went through her cycle until she realized the eggs were no good and then was back to her sweet self again.

If you have excessive layers, then I think something might have to be dealt with for their safety.

This is good time for a macaw since eggs should hatch in 28 days and after this the hen should realize the egg is not viable.