Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 7/24/2008

Question
Hi. I have a pair of lovebirds and they are always mating and she is always laying eggs. She lays them on the bottom of the cage and sits on them for about 3 weeks (on average 3 eggs)and then gives up on them. They have never hatched, but she tries so hard, I feel bad for her. Any idea what I should do ?? This must be her 7th time and no babies.
I also have doves, and they are constantly mating and laying eggs and those eggs hatch and we have had many babies. I wish I could help the female lovebird though.

Thanks for your time.


Answer
Hi, Tami,

Are you sure of the sexes of these 2 birds?  Lovies can't be sexed visually, they have to be DNA sexed.  Lovies have a reputation of being very loving toward each other, whether it's 2 males, 2 females, or a true pair.  Part of the hatching problem could be that she is laying on the cage bottom.  This is not an ideal situation for hatchlings.  If you want lovie babies, put up a nesting box and allow the female to lay her eggs in the box.  The chances are better they will be incubated and hatch if in a nesting box.  It could also be that the matings have not been successful.  In other words, just because a male mounts a female, this doesn't always result in fertile eggs.  Have you opened up any of these eggs after the female abandons them to see if there was an embryo inside the eggs?  If these eggs are always "empty" (no embryo inside), perhaps the male is infertile, low sperm count, or there is something else amiss with the pair.  If perches are not stable, successful mating may not occur, and there are other reasons for unsuccessful mating.  It could also be that the eggs aren't being incubated successfully since they are being incubated on the cage bottom.  The pair needs a nesting box if you want them to hatch babies. Try this and see what happens.

You may need to allow the birds to rest for a while before allowing them to mate/lay eggs again.  Too much egg laying is not good for a female.  Reducing available light down to 10-12 hours per day (8-10 hours per day) will help discourage breeding.  Also be sure the pair has cuttlebone in order to replace any calcium deficiency.

Chrys