Birds need calcium in their diet all the time, especially when they are in breeding and egg laying season.  Providing the best possible diet year-round will go a long way toward preventing nutritionally-related emergencies. *see diet comments below*

If you want to prevent or stop your bird from excessive egg laying, your avian veterinarian can help you with some behavioral therapy, or even seasonal hormonal treatment.  Normal egg laying occurs every other day for about a week, and usually twice a year.  Excessive egg-layers, such as cockatiels, have been known to lay eggs daily and for months on end.  This depletes their natural resources of calcium and other essential nutrients, and can eventually lead to metabolic disorders which can affect major vital organs.

Egg Binding occurs when a female bird has formed an egg and due to inadequate levels of calcium or other nutritious defecits, the egg becomes trapped in the uterus..  Usually this is because it hardens before it is laid.  In other cases, the egg is too soft and can burst inside the bird, causing a uterine infection which can be life threatening, especially if it goes untreated with antibiotics.

If egg binding occurs, DO NOT attempt to release the egg nor insert any foreign object into the cloaca or vent. This can put the bird at risk. Birds that are egg-bound may require appropriate veterinary treatment or surgery. Any delay can be dangerous.

Signs to watch for are labored breathing, straining, "tail bobbing", inability to perch, refusing to eat, generally stressed, spending a lot of time at bottom of the cage, and puffed up (feathers ruffled during daytime hours).

It is important to remember that a sick bird tends to hide its illness in the wild; a sick bird will not show signs of sickness until it cannot hide them any longer.  A bird that begins to "look sick" has probably been sick for some time, sometimes even a week or two.  So careful attention on the bird owners' part is key to rescuing a bird from Egg Binding or any other health problem.  Call your avian veterinarian right away if you are suspecting a problem.

**There are many pellet diets on the market now, which can be compared to "Cat Chow or Dog Chow" in the aspect that every bite is 100% nutritionally complete.  It is still recommended however, that no matter what type of consistent diet your bird is on, Table Food & Fruits & Vegetables play a major role in the birds' daily eating habits.  It is said, "What's good for you is good for your bird", excepting of course, chocolate (toxic) & avocadoes (also toxic), and other foods that are fatty or greasy (bacon or potato chips) or high in sugar (candy) or contain caffeine.

It is also important to note that proportional feeding is key - for example: you may eat a grape or 3 or 5 or even 8 at one time, but a parrot may eat one, and a smaller bird may eat one half of the same single grape.  If you give the average parrot a handful of grapes, it would be the same as you trying to eat 86 grapes at once - the sugar buzz would be extreme!