Nesting materials - good or bad?
Hi everyone!
My 9 year old Quaker Noddy (aka Noodle) laid her first eggs last year. She is bonded to me and my other parrot, Oz (aka Queen Ozma) who is a 7 year old blue crowned conure female. Oz first laid eggs two years ago, under a blanket, and last year both Noddy and Oz laid in the bottom of their cage.
They’re both gearing up for it again, I think. Exhibiting nesting behaviour, feeding each other etc. I know it’s inevitable, and I can’t control whether they do it or not. I give them calcium supplements when they start this behaviour. I know we’re not supposed to encourage them to nest and lay, which is why I’ve never given them anything for it. But last year, with them both doing it at the bottom of the cage, I can see it doesn’t matter what I do! They’re gonna do it whether I assist or not.
So my question is this: should I give Noddy something for nesting materials to help her with this time, to provide enrichment? I was thinking small sticks, like kebab skewers or ice lolly sticks or cocktail sticks? I know quakers build huge nests out of sticks in the wild, but conures nest in tree holes so don’t nest build the same. Still, if it would provide enrichment and happiness to Noddy, and if she’s going to lay anyway, should I do it? Or would it be unhelpful?
Any advice would be great! And if it’s best to give her nesting materials, what kind of thing should I give her?
Bird tax pic attached!