Q: Even though you want to stop your cockatiel’s egg laying, you will need to know what do if and when she starts laying eggs. Egg laying can be very taxing on your cockatiel’s body, so it will be important for her to be in the best nutritional state possible. One nutrient that she will need plenty of is calcium. Cuttlebone is an excellent source of calcium and can be found at your local pet store.  She may also need a multivitamin to add more vitamins and minerals to her diet, especially if she primarily eats birdseed.  If your cockatiel is on a pelleted diet, she may not need additional calcium supplementation.  Over-supplementation is not good for your cockatiel. Consult with your avian veterinarian to determine what supplements your cockatiel may need to keep her healthy for laying eggs.  Make sure that she also has access to plenty of fresh water. Because your cockatiel will be able to sense when she has finished laying her clutch of eggs, removing the eggs from the nesting site too soon will essentially take that sense away from her. She will continue to lay eggs until she feels like she has laid enough, which could lead to a serious calcium deficiency and other medical problems. It is recommended to wait for anywhere from eleven days to three weeks after she has finished laying her eggs to remove them from the nesting site.  A female cockatiel, whether wild or captive, will typically abandon her eggs three weeks after she has finished laying them.  Remove the eggs gradually–one at a time and every other day–until you have removed all of them. Removing them slowly will help her understand that the eggs are not fertile. Consult with your avian veterinarian on what to do with the eggs that you have removed. The look and feel of the eggs can serve as an indication of your cockatiel’s overall health. For example, if the shell looks misshapen or feels soft and thin, your cockatiel may be suffering from a nutritional deficiency. Abnormal-looking shells could also indicate an infection in your cockatiel’s reproductive tract. Because nutritional deficiencies and infections are serious medical conditions that require immediate treatment, take your cockatiel to your avian veterinarian if your bird’s eggs are in bad shape. Eggs that are broken or cracked should be removed immediately, since they are more susceptible to bacterial growth. Replace these eggs with mock eggs so that your cockatiel does not sense that she has not laid enough eggs. There are a number of medical conditions that can result from excessive egg laying, all of which require veterinary treatment. One condition is egg binding, in which the egg becomes stuck in your cockatiel’s reproductive tract and cannot be expelled from her body. If your cockatiel is showing signs of distress or struggle with laying her eggs, take her to your avian veterinarian for immediate treatment.  Other signs of egg binding are difficulty breathing and blood coming from your cockatiel’s vent (where the egg passes through). Excessive egg laying can also lead to your cockatiel’s reproductive tract being pushed through her vent. This would also require immediate veterinary treatment. Your cockatiel could also develop hyperlipidemia, which means that too much fat is in her blood. This is caused by extra fat and protein being in her blood during egg development. Her blood could thicken if there is too much circulating fat, which could lead to a stroke. Your cockatiel may also have broken bones as a result of excessive egg laying, due to the loss of calcium.
A: Improve her diet. Do not remove the eggs right away. Examine the eggs. Monitor your cockatiel for illness.

Q: Although being a third wheel is probably not your idea of a good time, and possibly a little demoralizing, with the right mental framework you can make it a positive experience. One easy way to do that is to act like you are having a good time and not be a downer. Be chatty and engaging. Try buying a round of drinks. If you act like you are having fun, you might find that you are actually having a good time. Instead of focusing on the fact that you are a third wheel, try focusing on your friend’s relationship. Think of your role as providing moral support for your friend and their love life. If you understand your role as being supportive in nature, being a third wheel might become less of a chore. The easiest way to make being a third wheel not fun is to make it awkward. Try not to constantly refer yourself as a “third wheel” and lament your singleness. Be sure to avoid wallowing in your self-pity and making things uncomfortable for the couple you are with. If you can do it, limit how often you talk about being single. Instead, try to discuss things that you all have in common. Although it is typically considered rude to be on your phone when spending time with others, it might be a lifesaver in a third wheel situation. You can use your phone to invite another friend to where you are. It can also serve as a nice distraction from the couple. Try not to be rude but, if your couple friends are ignoring you, your phone might save the day. A phone can give you some distance from the romantic couple, even if it isn’t physical distance. The worst case scenario for being a third wheel is that the people you are with start getting hot and heavy with each other. If you are out with a couple and they start making out or doing things that make you uncomfortable, you should definitely let them know about it. Ask them to stop and, if they do not, get out of there. That is really inappropriate and you might want to reconsider hanging out with them in the future.  If you still feel uncomfortable or if your friends seem to want privacy, perhaps it is best to leave. If you can't, just get on your phone and text a friend or play a game. Being on your phone will make you feel more occupied and comfortable. However, don't pull out your phone unless if you've absolutely given up on the situation; it can be seen as an uninviting gesture. If you want to give them time alone for a little while, you can simply say something like, "I'll give you guys some privacy," and leave the immediate area for a bit. If you find yourself invited to something where you know that you will be a third wheel, try to bring along someone else. Find someone, be it a friend or relative, who you can bring along to chat with. This way, no third wheel dynamics develop and you do not feel like the outsider. Be sure to make plans ahead of time. If you invited someone at the last second, they will likely say no. If you find yourself in a third wheel situation and it is miserable, just get out of there. Say that you are not feeling very well or that you have some other obligation. You could also just be honest and say that you are not having much fun. Regardless, bail on being a third wheel and go somewhere else. Find out where your single friends are and go hang out with them.
A:
Act positively. Be supportive. Try not to make things awkward. Bring your phone. Let them know if you feel uncomfortable. Invite someone else. Go somewhere else.