Lovebird on eggs question?

Question

I went out of town for 2 weeks and had someone caring for my lovebirds when I got back they had 4 eggs that they are sitting on. Is there anything special I should do for them to prepare for babies? Is there a certian point I should take the eggs away if they dont hatch?? THANKS

how do I hand feed them? and what do I feed them??

I have seen the two mate before we went out of town

Answer 1

Ok first of all.
You might want to consider if you have a true pair.
Since love birds are not sexually dimorphic.
Which means you can't tell the sex by looking.
Unless they the Rare Abssynian Lovebirds.
The male has a red head && the female is just green.
No need to DNA test them at this point.
Depending on how long the hen has sat on them.
You need to "candle" the egg.
This is a process to see if the egg is fertile.
The right time to do this is 10 days after the hen has started to sit on them.
After 10 days, take one of the eggs very carefully.
Take a light && hold it to the egg.
You should be able to see inside the egg.
If you see an embryo.
The egg is fertile.
You can notice this because it will have a slight bluish color.
Or it will be darkish.
If the egg is clear with nothing in it.
Then the egg is not fertile.
Then you have to prepare for nothing.
Lovebirds can get very territorial when breeding.
So be careful.
You will need a nesting box.
I personally use a parakeet nesting box when i breed my lovebirds.
You can get proper nesting materials from a pet shop.
The eggs should hatch 18 days from when the hen STARTS to constantly sit on them.
During this time,keep a watch on your hen.
She can get egg bound when laying eggs.
This is wear an egg gets stuck.
If this happens, she needs to get to an avian vet immediately.
Also it takes alot of energy && calcium to make the shell for an egg.
So I would suggest vitamin supplements rich in calcium.
Try to feed her nutritious food.
Seed is fattening.
I only offer my birds seeds as treats.
Instead feed her mushy stuff ( since she expects chicks).
Take boiled eggs && leave some of the shell on it for calcium.
You can sprinkle other things on them like broccoli.
Mush this all up.
&& give it to her.
Don't forget a staple pellet diet.
Make sure she has clean water at all times.
I know this can be rough for lovebirds as they love to make soup of thier water.
But this is important.
I would keep two dishes of water.
They can make soup out of the first one, and leave the other clean for several hours.
You need to make sure it is not cold in the room you have them in.
Also make sure that if you have other lovebirds besides the breeding couple than seperate them from the two.
All you can do from now is wait.
She will take care of the rest.
Now to hand feed them, you will have to buy a syringe && bird formula.
I personally use Exact Bird Formula.
It is the best.
I have never had problems with it.
Ask anowner to find the correct syringe.
You will follow the directions on back to feed them.
Make sure the formula does not get to hot, this can burn thier crops.
You will not begin handfeeding them when they are born.
Leave them with the mother for about 10 days.
Then pull them or take them away from the mother.
You will now begin hand-feeding them.
I would suggest you be trained to do this before attempting.
Nothing you can read on the net about it will really tell you how to do this.
You can have a local pet store or breeder to try to help you on that.
These little birds will require 4-5 feedings aday.
For the first 3 wks.
Once they are 4 wks.
It is time to introduce them to new foods.
Such as millet && seed.
But remember dont get them hooked on seeds.
If you need additional information then email me at [e-mail]

Answer 2

Make sure they have some soft foods and if they will eat it scrambled eggs. Be sure to also give them some plain printer paper to shred. Lovebird eggs take a while to hatch. If the birds are not sitting on them you can remove them. Removing to soon can make them lay more eggs to replace them. Which is very bad for female. You do NOT have to hand feed them. I had a bird who was parent raised and was sweet as honey. When egg hatches just make sure mom and dad are feeding baby. When baby is 2 weeks old you can take them out of cage for a few minutes a day. Hand-feeding should never be done unless you know how or emergency. It has to be just right or baby birds can die. They must be fed every 1-2 hours 24-7. Means alot of midnight feedings and you have to have babies with you at all times.

Answer 3

Even though there is no standard for bird nutrition, pelleted food is far superior than an all seed diet. See what is available in your area. It takes a lot of energy and nutrients to lay eggs and raise chicks. I would give the parents extra protein and calcium especially for the female. This can be done with a teaspoon of hard cooked egg daily. Even adding the shell can help. Some will eat it.Fresh fruits and veggies will help. Leave in the cage for no more than a couple of hours. More likely than not, leave the chicks to their parents who will take care of them just fine. Hand feeding is possible but takes experience and knowledge of the process. It requires bird formula(which can be bought at a pet shop that sells birds) and frequent feedings(like every 1-2 hours) that are warm but not hot and feeling the crop to make sure it is not overfilled or under filled. Know that most parents take care of their chicks just fine and don't cross that bridge until you get to it. The incubation period is 21 to 26 days.If after this passes and no chicks appear remove one per week. I have a good feeling about this and believe you will be very successful. Congratulations. Have a tweet year!

Answer 4

If you have a male and a female, you don't need to do anything, the birds will take care of all this. Just be careful when cleaning the cage to disturb them as little as possible. If you have two females, which I suspect with a clutch of 4 eggs, then remove the eggs immediately and move your birds to an area that is so "fertile" for them, away from windows (direct sunlight and other bird sounds). If you do not know the gender of your birds you might just have to "wait and see". Most all bird eggs hatch in 21 days or less, give it 28 days if you are uncertain. You can sometimes "candle" an egg, or put it in front of a very bright and actually see if anything is developing inside it. It will appear dense and reddish if there is development. Hope this helps

Answer 5

Never take any eggs away and feed them more veggies, wheat bread and friuts so they can eat for themselves and feed their babies if any hatch out. I say keep away from them right now other then water and food, any kind of interaction with them right could make them eat the eggs or kill the babies once they are born or they may not sit on them at all anymore making you loose them all. Lovebirds are that way so be careful.

Answer 6

Give the eggs three weeks. If you don't see any development in the eggs toss them. Feed your pair a good diet of fruits and veggies along with a good seed mix and they should b just fine. Get ready to hand feed because captive breed birds don't tend to know how to feed the chicks.

Answer 7

Like all human beings else responded, the eggs would have been infertile. if the female isn't putting on the eggs then they gained't hatch because of the fact of loss of warmth. you additionally can candle the eggs. take a flash easy right into a dismal room and carry the egg on your resign the easy. confirm your hand is masking the better easy from around the egg. you will see an air pocket on one section and something could be black. this means that the toddler is forming. in case you're able to have checked it till now you're able to have the skill to work out veins related to the embrio.

Answer 8

search on the Internet and buy a good book. Lovebirds regurgitate to their young. If this is their first batch expect casualities! As with any new parents they make mistakes. I think moisture is important too so find a good book and have fun

Answer 9

let them chew on newspaper to enhance their nesting grounds. let mom and dad feed babies, if this is a first clutch probably won't yield any babies. make sure parents have lots of healthy foods incase there will be babies GOOD LUCK!