Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 1/21/2009

Question
i bought a bonded pair of black masked love birds and the lady that had them prior to me too there nest away to keep them from having clutches yet i would like them to start having clutches again and i have bought them a nest and put in there cage and also put a bedding of pine shaving another breeder recomended is there anything else i can to help influence the little guys to start mating again??

Answer
Hi, Chris,

In my years of experience with lovies, I recommend you remove the pine shavings from the nesting box.  Lovies are one of only a few parrots who build deep nests.  However, you need to allow them to do this themselves by placing newspaper, paper towels, nesting material, dried grass or other proper material in their cage, not in the nesting box.  They will tear up whatever, tuck behind their wings, carry the material into the nesting box themselves (quite interesting to watch) and build their nest just the way they want it.  Otherwise, they may not lay eggs.  Things have to be just the way the birds want or they won't produce.  

Be patient!  Often times, people get in a big hurry for their birds to lay eggs.  They will lay when they get ready and not until.  You can gradually increase the length of time light is available to them (simulating the longer days of spring) until they have a light source for 16 hours per day (they would sleep the remaining 8 hours).  Increasing the temperature in the room (again, simulating the warmer days that come in spring).

Once they start producing offspring, don't overbreed them.  Also, I recommend you learn to handfeed any babies, as lovies need to start to be handled regularly by their humans as early as possible in their lives in order for them to be tame parrots.  If you let the parents raise them on their own, you won't be able to handle any babies.

Chrys