Nestbox : Yay or ney?

[Lady Kakata]

I've made a thread about a home-made nest box for Bonnie but I'd better ask for peoples opinions and experiance here:

Bonnie is a layer. She lays dud eggs at the bottom of the cage on occations and nothing stops her activity, short of putting the grate back in, but I was advised not to do that so she doesn't become egg bound

It's getting colder here in Scotland, especially at nights, and I'm worried abotu her getting a chill down there. I've taken a box and cut a door and a few small windows in it (to allow light in) and want to put it at the bottom of the cage so she may sit on her next with some degree of comfort.

Is this a bad idea?

the lid comes with a box that I've taken off for the moment to let her see that her egg is in there, and this is her first egg that she's just laid today

[christie99]

A hen will not become egg bound if you remove her nesting area. It will encourage her to stop laying. Excessive laying of eggs can deplete her system of calcium and THAT will possibly cause her to become egg bound. Never give a cronic egg layer a nest, that just encourages the behavior.

Instead, put the grate back in, lower her daylight hours to 10, completely rearrange her cage and possibly put it in a new place. These things will disrupt the laying cycle and make her think it isn't safe to lay and that winter is coming.

Who gave you the advice to keep the grate out and let her lay?? How much expierence do they have with birds?

[Lady Kakata]

Putting the cage in a new plac is absolutely out of the question since the living room has very limited space. The grate hasn't stopped her before as she simply laid an egg from her perch and it cracked when it hit the grate but I'll put it in to see if it makes a difference

The advice came from a thread here asking who put grates in their bird cages. I didn't agree to putting it in at first because cockatiels are foragers and like rummaging around the bottom looking for bits of broken treat to eat, while others disagreed with the practise since this means rummaging around the birds own faeces

Completely rearranging the cage does not work with her; it's bee done before a few times and she simply ignores this, along with a breeder advise that if Bonnie wants to lay, she wants to lay, and the feeling of safety is not part of her factor. Which doesn't surprise me since Bonnie has little fear of humans or noise

[clawnz]

From what I read everybody seems to agree
It is an absolute must, that you stop her somehow! For her own healths sake.
I agree with, cut her light hours back and also maybe her food.
If you can not upset her by changing things around.
You have to make her body think it is winter. Colder and low food supply.
You need to make sure she has a calcium supplement and maybe vitamins.
Good luck.