Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 6/2/2006

Question
I bought a pair of blue personata lovebird, they were assured breeder and kept on laying eggs, but once they lay an egg, the pair were often outside the nestbx not sitting on the eggs, when I check up the eggs, it was separate from one another and some eggs were buried under the woodshaving, although its  a little warm, they dont even hatch. I already gve them a full balance diet especially calcium and protein, they kept on mating and laying eggs, wont it e streessful for them doing that?
thx, I do appreciate your answer.

Answer
Hi, Rosebelle.  Thanks for posting.

Yes, it can be stressful for the female to continue to lay and lay eggs, depending on the personality of the particular female.  More importantly, the continual laying of eggs can deplete her body of needed calcium and other vitamins and minerals.  However, the problem is why they won't incubate their eggs.  I need more details from you as to what's going on in/around these lovebirds in order to possibly help.  Normally, a female won't start incubating her eggs until the second egg is laid.  Is she doing this at all?  Are there other animals around these lovebirds?  Do you have any idea what might be keeping them from incubating the eggs, i.e., is the female being disturbed in some manner, what type of nestbox are you using and how big is it, are these birds kept outside or inside in a cage, are they alone in their cage or with other birds?  The more details you can provide, the better.

Thanks.

Chrys