Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 6/3/2006

Question
The first time I bred it laid 3 eggs, maybe I disturb it the way I check  the nest box, I  softly knock the opening of the nest box’s side but they don’t left the box so I only peep, maybe I let the bird fell uncomfortable inside, now she lays two eggs and don’t incubate them. I have no idea what the size of the nest box but that was what my friend was using and already bred many lovebird mutations, my lovebirds fit and there was a lot of space for the eggs. My 17x30 cage was place on the table aside the window were my cockatiel was placed, but the cockatiel were always inside the nest box incubating, my Isabel lovebird was very far from the cage, it was in my living room but its sounds was too loud and can be heard everywhere maybe my breeding lovebird were also disturbed by it.  Or maybe its possible I change their food and water everyday. They always greet me by going out of the nest box and see what was going on. They were kept inside the cage, because I bought them and they were still wild and not comfortable when seeing people. I know that birds starts incubating after the second egg,  because I have already bred a cockatiel, but what my lovebird was doing was incubating the first egg then leaving it and enjoying the toys outside the cage even when am not around the cage. The male seems to love mating with the female and when the female don’t, the male will scramble the eggs I mean separating them from one another until the female gave up and let him mate again.
Sometimes they were both inside but I don’t know if they were incubating the eggs or just sleeping inside.
Thanks for the additional info


Answer
Hi again, Rosebelle.  I'm pretty much at a loss as to why your male lovebird keeps "scrambling" the eggs.  How old are the eggs when he scrambles them?  Could it be the eggs are infertile, he knows this (the parent birds know at 7-10 days if their eggs are fertile or not), so this is the reason why he's scrambling them?  It could be he doesn't feel they are safe where they have been laid.  Parrots do strange things with eggs if they perceive the eggs are in some type of danger.  They'd rather keep the eggs from hatching rather than put their offspring in danger.  Since your lovebirds aren't tame, perhaps they don't appreciate you looking into their nestbox.  I don't believe the tiels being in the same room is the problem.  Changing their food and water every day shouldn't be the problem, although they could resent your intrusion.  However, you have to service the cage every day.  You might want to think about removing any toys in the cage so all the female's attention is on the eggs and not playing.  

I'd recommend you place their cage in a location where they will not be disturbed by anything, except you when you have to service their cage.  Also, you might want to try a little larger cage.  Lovebirds should have a nestbox about the size of a cockatiel nestbox...sometimes a nesting box too big or too small can be the problem.  Don't remove any eggs that have been laid until the pair abandon them on their own.  How old are your lovebirds?  Is it possible they are too young (under 2 years of age)?  

Chrys