You are here:
- Home
- Animals/Pets
- Pet Birds
- Birds--General
- lovebird eating eggs
Birds--General/lovebird eating eggs
Advertisement
Question
i have a large aviary (15'x 15'x 10')which houses a pair of lovebirds, a pair of cockatiels, three pairs of budgies and three pairs of zebra finches. The lovebirds have built a nest in one of the boxes provided and so have two pairs of zebra finches. A few days back i noticed an egg (empty shell) below the lovebird cage (it was from the lovebird nest). Today i saw the lovebird chase the zebra finch away from its nest and break and eat two of their eggs. What causes this behaviour. Could it be a lack of calcium. My daughter informed me that she had seen the lovebird eating the egg that i had found below their nest.
Do you think i need to seperate the different type of birds? They have been together now for over a year.
thanks.
Hi, Arvind. Thanks for posting!
Yes, you need to move any birds you want to breed into individual breeding cages. You can't breed birds with all these different types of birds in one aviary. Other birds will invade the nests of other birds and break eggs, kill babies, and even some adult birds might kill each other. This behavior is not a lack of calcium, although you need to ensure plenty of cuttlebone is available when breeding any birds.
Chrys
- Add to this Answer
- Ask a Question
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | very prompt and very helpful....wish i had known about the site earlier | ||
Related Articles
- Zebra Finches as Pets
- Breeding Zebra Finches - Zebra Finch Breeding Basics - How to Breed Zebra Finches
- Finish a Bird's Nest in a Model or Dollhouse Scale
- Lovebirds - Lovebirds as Pets - Lovebird Species Profile
- What is the Difference Between a Softbill and a Hookbill - What is a Hookbill - What is a Softbill
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.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.