How is my MaCaw laying multiple eggs?

Question

I have a 18 year old Blue and Gold Macaw that like many birds lays an egg from time to time.However lately she's been laying multiple eggs in a very short span of time .Back on October 20 she layed an egg and I know the normal gestation for a Macaw is around 28 days.So on Novemeber 12 she layed another egg (and around the normal gestation period).Then on November 18 she layed another,and a third egg last night (Nov21).That makes three eggs in 10 days (and they all looked healthy and had strong shells and nicely shaped).All that being said how is that posible...is it possible?

Quetzel · Accepted Answer

You are extremely confused!

Birds do NOT have a gestation period. Mammals have a gestation period.

Birds will mate and within hours, will lay an egg. Birds can continue to lay eggs as often as once per day for an extended period of time. Some types of birds can and will lay 30 - 50 eggs at a time. As a bird gets older, they usually develope larger clutches than younger birds. And older still, the number of eggs in the clutch will diminish.

I believe that you're referring to the incubation period which has no bearing on if and when they will lay another egg.

I take it that your B&G is an only bird and that you take the egg away when it is laid. She seems to be telling you that her hormones are high and she is looking to find a mate and have babies.

Adub · Answer

Additional sunlight caused my female cockatiel to lay an abundance of eggs. 

I had moved to a new house and put her in a well lit room - thinking she would enjoy the extra sunlight. She began laying daily eggs which was a problem because she gets very defensive of her eggs (she becomes aggressive and very stressed). I heard that sunlight could be the cause. I started monitoring how long the windows were open and the egg laying stopped.

I don't know if that is what's up with your macaw or not but it's something to consider.

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How is my MaCaw laying multiple eggs?

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