Spaying or neutering in parrots is not an elective procedure, as it often is with cats and dogs. Veterinarians consider surgical sterilization for parrots only when it is medically necessary.
Any form of surgery on birds, including spaying or neutering, is inherently complex due to the risk of blood loss and adverse reactions to anesthesia.
Vets typically recommend surgical sterilization in parrots when faced with reproductive problems that put the parrot’s life at risk. These conditions may include chronic egg-laying, egg-binding, and egg-yolk peritonitis.
Aggressive breeding behaviors can also negatively impact the bird’s health, but more often than not, they can be managed with dietary and environmental changes. In some cases, the vet may recommend hormone therapy to treat chronic egg-laying issues.
Quick Navigation
Why Is Spaying Or Neutering A Parrot Unsafe?
The anatomy of avian species is different from that of mammals, which makes operating on them a high-risk procedure. Surgically neutering or spaying poses the problem of the bird losing too much blood or having a reaction to anesthesia.
Since birds are very small, they can quickly lose a large volume of their blood. There is also the risk of cutting into a blood vessel as they are very close together.
Less invasive, endoscopic methods, are also not completely safe. According to Science Direct, male birds have their testes deep inside their abdominal cavity and are only accessible by taking out other organs from the intestine. This makes the endoscopic method of sterilizing a bird challenging and dangerous.
What Is Spaying In Female Birds?
Spaying in birds means the removal of the ovaries and the uterus of a female bird. Most avian species have only one functional ovary and oviduct, which are developed on the left side. The ovaries and oviduct on the right often do not mature. (Source)
In birds, the surgical removal of both ovaries and the uterus is called an ovariohysterectomy. This procedure involves taking out both the ovaries and the oviduct, where eggs develop.
In contrast, an ovariectomy in birds entails removing both ovaries while retaining the oviduct. An ovariectomy prevents a bird from laying eggs.
What Is Neutering In Male Birds?
Neutering in male birds is either done by cutting the tube connecting the testes to the cloaca (vasectomy) or the removal of the testes (castration).
Vasectomy in birds involves cutting the ductus deferens, which is the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the cloaca. This procedure does not affect the male parrot’s hormones. It only eliminates the male’s ability to inseminate.
Castration on the other hand is the removal of the testes. A bird is typically only castrated to treat testicular diseases because it is a challenging procedure. A male bird’s testes are located inside the coelom, which makes surgically removing them a difficult operation.
When Do Parrots Need To Be Spayed Or Neutered?
Surgical sterilization for birds is usually a consideration when other treatments have been explored in addressing reproductive issues. Veterinarians suggest this procedure when the condition poses a risk to the bird’s life.
Testicular Cancer
If a male parrot is diagnosed with testicular cancer, castration is often the only treatment. Neutering is considered a viable option to address the spread of the cancer.
Ovarian Tumors
Ovarian tumors in birds are abnormal growths that develop in the ovaries. This condition is more common in older female birds, though it can occur at any age. Veterinary attention is necessary for diagnosis and treatment usually involves surgical removal of the ovaries.
Chronic Egg Laying
Chronic egg-laying is a condition in parrots, where the bird lays multiple clutches of eggs repeatedly. This happens because, in a captive setting, there is no external stimulus to stop a bird from laying eggs.
Laying eggs continuously can be taxing on a bird’s health as it requires more energy and nutritional resources. Parrots with chronic egg-laying can encounter problems like calcium deficiency, malformed eggs, and osteoporosis.
Most of the time, chronic egg laying can be solved by making changes to the bird’s environment or by hormonal therapy. In rare cases only, a vet may opt for surgical intervention if the issue is not resolved.
Egg-Yolk Peritonitis
Egg-yolk peritonitis occurs when the contents of the egg, typically the yolk make its way into the coelomic cavity, leading to inflammation of the peritoneum. This can cause a bacterial infection inside the parrot’s stomach and can be life-threatening.
Egg Binding
Egg-binding is when a parrot is unable to expel the egg. When a parrot is egg-bound, veterinarians go for the least invasive way to treat the issue. Most often, vets extract the egg by sedating the bird.
They may extract the contents of the egg if the egg is near the cloaca. It is only in very critical situations such as when the egg is not near the vent does a vet has to surgically intervene.
How To Stop Unwanted Breeding In Parrots?
It is much easier and safer to discourage breeding in parrots than to sterilize them. However, as far as the seasonal hormonal behaviors go, that is something every parrot needs to deal with. It is part and parcel of owning a bird.
Parrots naturally only breed once a year when the conditions in their environment are suitable. They get hormonal and environmental feedback from seasonal shifts, which signal them when to start laying eggs and when breeding should stop.
But in captivity, that isn’t the case. Parrots have an environment that is in favor of breeding year-round, so they can get stuck in a cycle of egg-laying.
So in order to discourage parrots from breeding and single female parrots from laying infertile eggs, there are a few adjustments that can be made to their environment. Firstly, if you have birds of opposite genders, it’s a good idea to keep them in separate cages to prevent mating behaviors.
Also, when interacting with your parrot, stick to gentle head scratches and avoid petting in areas that can be seen as more intimate such as the back, abdomen, and vent region.
Dietary changes can also help discourage breeding behaviors. Limiting fresh foods to a few times a week can help reduce hormonal stimulation. Make sure your bird gets 8-10 hours of light a day and cover the cage in the evening providing complete darkness at night to mimic natural light patterns.
Reorganize the inside of your parrot’s cage by switching perches and toys and occasionally relocate it to some other place, so that it is not seen as a nest by the bird.
Also, do not provide materials that can be shredded or used as a nest. If, despite these changes, your bird is still showing signs of breeding, you should consult with an Avian Vet.
