Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 9/26/2006

Question
I have two lovebirds and they lay six eggs.How should I feed the baby lovebirds and take care of them? How many eggs will they laid? How long does it takes before the baby bird come out? How often should I clean the cage? How many time should I feed the lovebirds and the baby birds? Thankyou very much.  

Answer
Hi, Kathy.  Thanks for posting your questions!

You have an awfully lot to learn before any babies arrive!

Visit my website for answers to most of your questions:

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

Six eggs is probably all the eggs your lovebirds will lay in this clutch of eggs.  The parents will care for the babies until you pull them for handfeeding at about 7-10 days of age.  You would be handfeeding them using baby parrot handfeeding formula and a handfeeding syringe.  Babies will start hatching about 18 days from the date the female started incubating (sitting on) the eggs.  You should clean the cage whenever it needs to be cleaned out, and you should clean the nesting box (hopefully, your lovebirds laid their eggs in a nesting box) whenever it needs to be cleaned out, too.  You can pick up the babies and put them in something warm while cleaning out the nesting box and/or cage, then replace the babies when you are done cleaning.  The parent birds will be hungrier than normal while they are feeding their babies, so you'll need to increase the amount of food you provide them.  Information on feeding baby birds in on my website.

Come back with any additional questions after you read the information on my website.

Chrys