Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 1/20/2009

Question
My female lovebird has laid 4 eggs and it's been over 28 days.  She started laying on the eggs in the nest box as soon as she laid them.  Is this called justation period even if she starts laying on the eggs right after laying them?  I have checked 3 of the eggs and two were no good.  The third egg unfortunately had a baby embryo in it.  I was wondering what makes them not hatch?  I have left the last one in her box and I know I should take it out, but I felt so bad about the last egg.  It had a crack in it that's why I gently peeled the egg and say the embryo.  She is a very good mama.  Also, I read that I should take the nest box out to prevent them from mating.  Well, they were mating before the nest box was even in the cage.  Any suggestions on that as well?

I really appreciate your advice and thank you.

Cindy

Answer
Hi, Cindy,

The correct term is "incubation."  Gestation is the term used for humans during pregnancy.  Yes, this is the period of time when the female (usually, some species of parrots include both sexes in the incubation process) sits on the eggs.

Eggs don't hatch for numerous reasons.  They may not be fertile to begin with (just because an egg is laid, doesn't mean it's fertile), an embryo can die in the shell for various reasons, if an egg isn't incubated properly it won't develop and hatch, embryos inside eggs can die if bacteria infiltrates the egg shell to the embryo, an egg might not be kept warm enough, etc., etc.  A cracked egg is another reason for not hatching.  

Birds will mate whenever they want, whether there is a nesting box set up or not.  A nesting box helps persuade birds to go to nest and lay eggs.  Birds that mate don't always lay eggs either.  The proper statement in what you read should have said to take the nesting box out in order to help prevent them from laying eggs and dissuade egg laying.  However, if a bird wants to lay an egg, they will lay on the cage bottom, a food dish, etc.,.....a nesting box doesn't have to be set up.  In addition, female birds don't need a male/need to mate in order to lay infertile eggs.  Some single female birds lay eggs on a regular basis without any nesting box set up.

Chrys