Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 1/6/2008

Question
Peps is a sort of a rescue case, A co-worker had several lovebirds and brought this tiny little naked bird into work one day crying that she didn't know what to do because the parents wouldn't care for her. I brought her home in my coat and needless to say after 6 months she grew fuzz and is now 2 yrs old. She has a little twisted left foot which doesn't prevent her from getting around. But we still haven't been able to match her breed, She has beautiful blue and powder gray tail and wing feathers and a soft yellow body with a very soft small touch of peach in her face.
Is it possible that she's a mixed breed?
Also she started laying eggs on January 1st. Is this normal for a bird who doesn't have a another small companion? So far nothing about her matches what the reference books have to say about lovebirds.
We have spoiled her rotten which I'm sure explains some her behavior. For example she won't eat her vegetables unless my husband hand feeds them to her in the evening and she has to come out around 10:30 every night to lay on my chest in her little blanket to snuggle and go to sleep or she'll get on her bell and won't let up.

Answer
Hi, Cindy,

Yes, I'd say you've spoiled this bird!

Yes, it is very possible this bird is a mixed subspecies of lovebird.  Happens all the time.  Could also just be a special coloration on a normal color mutation.  I'm not up to speed on the latest in lovie color mutations, so it would be better if you asked a lovie breeder, better if you sent a photo of your bird, to a lovie breeder who specializes in color mutations.  It's difficult without seeing the bird/photo of the bird, and then it may be difficult to determine visually.  All birds are different so it does not surprise me that you are finding nothing that matches your bird.

Single female birds can lay infertile eggs.  It's the result of increased hormonal activity.  Your husbands' handfeeding of her and/or her snuggling in her little blanket could have caused the increased hormonal activity.  Just leave any eggs she lays right where she lays them and allow her to abandon them on her own.  You can then remove the eggs and throw them out.  If you remove them as they are laid, she'll continue to lay and lay and lay, which is not good for her overall health.  If you have put up a nesting box or some other object that can resemble a nest, remove it/them.  These are ques for her to go to nest.  To help keep her from laying, reduce her light source(s) to 10-12 hours per day (8-10 hours if necessary).  If she continues, you may have to stop the handfeeding and/or snuggling if this is what is causing the hormonal activity.  10:30 PM is awfully late for a parrot to be up!  Parrots need 12 hours of (dark) sleep per night.  If you don't already, provide a cuttlebone so she can supplement any calcium loss if necessary.  I hope you don't let your bird sleep with you, as this can result in the bird's death if you were to roll over on her.  Don't laugh, a lot of people sleep with their birds.  

Chrys