Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 11/22/2006

Question
so if the eggs weren't fertile could the eggs have a changes or should we take one out and open it. now once we open one what should we look for
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-----Question-----
My Mom Has lovebirds for about 3yrs and now they have four eggs. my question is how long does it take to hatch, because it has pass 4 to 6 week and they a scare that the egg are no good.
-----Answer-----
Hi, Jose.  Thanks for posting!

Lovebird eggs will hatch about 18 days from the date the female starts incubating them, if they are fertile.  If it's been 4-6 weeks since incubation began, they aren't going to hatch.  Could be they weren't fertile to begin with and/or the babies died in their shells during development.

Come back with any additional questions.

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, Jose.

If the eggs weren't fertile to begin with, they are no good and won't develop and hatch...ever (as long as you are correct on all your dates).  If you open one up, it will look like chicken eggs from your refrigerator do inside when you open them...there will be a yolk with clear fluid.  If there is a foul odor, discoloration, veins, or a partial baby inside, the embryo likely died from bacterial, fungal, viral, etc., contamination, developmental problems, improper incubation, etc.  You can candle them first if you want by shining a light source through the back side of the egg(s).  If you see a dark spot inside the egg(s) and some red veins running through the egg from this dark spot, it was fertile to start off, but something happened later in development.  If you don't see anything when you shine the light through, they weren't fertile to begin with.  You can experiment with a chicken egg from your frig...these are infertile eggs.  If the lovebird eggs look like these, they weren't fertile to begin with.   

Chrys