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Hi
i was wondering if you could help me, my 12 year old got a love bird two years ago and we thought it was a boy as it has never laid ant eggs... well it laid one egg about 16 hours ago and we are not sure if she will lay any more ,but she does look like her back end is enlarged and she is very mean and is trying to bite every one.. does this mean she has more eggs to lays ?or is she having a hard time doing so ?thank you if you can help.
Linda
Hi, Linda. Thanks for posting!
If your lovie has laid 1 egg so far, she will most likely lay up to 5 more. These eggs will be infertile if there is no male bird present. Just leave any eggs she lays right where she has laid them and let her abandon them on her own when she is ready. If you remove any eggs, she will continue to lay and lay, which could be bad for her health. Therefore, just leave them where they are.
Nesting/breeding parrots are usually aggressive, especially lovebirds. This is their way of protecting their potential offspring. This is perfectly normal. Just leave her alone until she gets through this period of time. It's breeding season now and her hormones are running rampant, so this is why she is laying infertile eggs. You can discourage her from laying by keeping her available light down to 8-10 hours per day, and don't put up any type of nesting box or nest or anything that resembles any type of nest.
Come back with any additional questions.
Chrys
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Hi Chrys thank you so much for your help. we will leave her alone untill she is done ,then we will take the nice yellow hut we gave her for xams out!! lol once more thank you ,you helped us a great deal Linda | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Chrys Meatyard
Expertise
I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.
Experience
Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.
Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.
Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.
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