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Birds--General/DIS lovebirds eggs
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Question
My lovebird laid seven eggs- 3 were fertile, however they did not hatch.
She abandoned the nest after 28 days. When I examined the embryos they all
seemed to have died at the same time. The oldest at day 10 and the rest
earlier. Could high heat have been the cause? 80+ degrees or lack of
humidity?
Thanks,
Laura
Hi, Laura,
I found your post in the question pool this morning. Evidently, the person you sent your question to originally could not answer for some reason.
Did your lovie have a mate? Females can lay infertile eggs without a male. If your birds were incubating the eggs properly, high heat was not the cause. Eggs are incubated at 98-100 degrees F by the parent birds and they also regulate humidity. If not humid enough, they will get their chests wet with their drinking water and sit on the eggs. If too hot, they won't incubate their eggs...they will allow the ambient heat to incubate them. If the embryos didn't hatch, there must have been some type of illness/disease that got through the egg shell, the parents may not be healthy enough, they weren't incubated properly and/or they developed some type of developmental problem.
How do you know the embryos died at about the same time? Normally, you can't see any development inside an egg until an egg has been incubated for 7-10 days. Then all you will see are small veins running throughout an egg, as well as a small dark spot inside the egg. Perhaps you examined the embryos too early.
Chrys
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 9 | Clarity of Response = 9 | Politeness = 9 |
| Comment | Thank you. I used a chart to determine the age of the embryos which I examined about 28 days after the last egg was laid.They were in 3 stages of development. She had already abandoned the nest for about a week. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Chrys Meatyard
Expertise
I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.
Experience
Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.
Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.
Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.
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