Ovapositioning, or egg-laying, in pet birds is as normal as ovulation is in adult women. A male is not necessary for laying to occur. Egg retention is a common problem in captive psittacines. Malnutrition, habitat deficiencies, environmental factors, etc. all may cause an ovulating bird to be unable to lay an egg. In addition, primary illness, even subclinical, may cause egg retention to present as a secondary problem.

The first course of action upon encountering an egg-bound bird should be a complete medical assessment including bloodwork and radiographs. Many times, primary disease conditions will be detected. Obviously, any detected abnormalities should be addressed either prior to or during the efforts to induce laying. Radiographs may reveal more than one egg; the approach for such a presentation must take this into account.

After concurrent medical issues, if any, are addressed, the approach to facilitating egg-laying is begun. In spite of laboratory findings, calcium gluconate should be administered IM at the rate of 100 mg/kg. (Blood calcium levels do not always reflect the need for supplemental calcium.) Concurrently, parenteral fluids such as lactated Ringers solution can be given subcutaneously, intravenously, and/or orally, depending on the perceived level of dehydration. Anti-inflammatory medication such as meloxicam, 0.5 mg/kg may help to reduce swelling in the pelvic girdle as well as reduce pain that may be discouraging the bird from passing the egg.

Once the preliminary approach has been executed, it is beneficial, if possible, to allow the bird to stand in a warm bath of approximately 102°F at a depth just sufficient to cover the lower abdomen and cloaca. This relaxes the muscles of the vent and hydrates the cloaca, often enough to facilitate passage of the egg. If ovapositioning has not occurred within 30 minutes or so, it is sometimes effective to instill PGE-2-alpha directly into the cloaca at the rate of 5 mcg/kg. When effective, egg passage occurs almost immediately.

If success is not achieved with the first round of intervention, the entire process can be repeated after 2–4 hours. Birds often will lay the egg during the night following the treatment, and, if the patient is not in obvious distress, the bird should be allowed to spend the night in a warm, dark environment in hopes the egg will pass without further treatment.

If the egg is not passed by the first morning following intervention, surgical remedies are usually necessary.