Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 11/14/2006

Question
Our pet lovebirds have been matin for the past few days and the female (obviously) has laid an egg. We didn't realize they needed nesting material and their bottom grate is where she laid the egg. What should I do? Should I remove the grate and have her nest in the bottom part where the sand goes? What should I put in the cage for them to make their nest? Or is it too late?

Answer
Hi, Aviva.  Thanks for posting!

Lovebirds are one of only a few parrots who build elaborate nests.  They need newspaper, paper towels, straw, nesting material you can buy just for this purpose, etc., so they can tear/shred up in order to build their nest.  They usually build their nest inside a nesting box or nest of some sort.  If you want your lovies to breed and successfully hatch babies, you'll need to provide some type of nesting box/nest and the paper so they can build a nest.  You can then put the egg just laid inside the nesting box/nest.  Be aware, however, once you've done all this, the adult birds may not incubate or care for this one egg.  You should expect to see more eggs, therefore, you need to quickly get a nesting box set up.  If you do not want your birds to lay eggs/hatch babies, do not put up a nesting box.  Just leave the egg where it has been laid until the birds abandon it on their own.  She may lay more eggs...if she does and you don't want them to hatch, just leave these where she lays them also.  A nest/nesting box encourages egg laying.  

You mention sand...what are you using sand for?

If you want your lovies to hatch babies, you need to be thinking about handfeeding the babies so they will be tame enough to handle.  Visit my website for more information on this:

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html  

Come back with any additional questions.

Chrys