Lovebirds' Egg-Laying Process: A Personal Experience

Updated on April 7, 2018

Sakina loves birds. She had 2 IRN parrots and 2 budgies. Now she has 2 lovebirds, one of which is a peach-faced male hand-raised by her.

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Introduction

In this article, the following common questions and topics about egg-laying in lovebirds will be addressed in detail.

When Will a Female Lovebird Lay an Egg?
How Many Eggs Will a Female Lovebird Lay?
Signs of a Pregnant Lovebird
Finding a Suitable Nest Box
Nesting Materials for Lovebirds
Egg-Binding in Lovebirds
Calcium Supply for Your Lovebirds (Table)
A Healthy Recipe for Lovebirds
Infertility in Lovebirds
What are the Causes of Infertility?
Conclusion

When Will a Female Lovebird Lay an Egg?

Many novice breeders have this question in their minds at some point of time. A female lovebird will lay an egg with or without a mate, when she is around 9-12 months of age. Of course, without a mate, the eggs laid will be infertile. Sometimes people end up buying two females or two males. Housing them together may lead to a clutch of infertile eggs in the former case, while no eggs in the latter. When mating occurs between a true lovebird pair (male and female), the eggs laid will be fertile. Though infertile eggs are possible too, as it is in the case of my pets Mumu and Lulu.

How Many Eggs Will a Female Lovebird Lay?

Eggs will be laid within 7-10 days after mating. In my case, Lulu gave an egg exactly a week later on 6 October 2016. Interestingly, we had no idea that she was pregnant! Usually a hen (female lovebird) lays a clutch of 4-6 eggs, in a gap of 1-2 days. She then broods over the eggs, usually after laying the whole clutch. The incubation period is between 21-23 days, after which the chicks are hatched. There may be exceptions too. The chicks may even hatch out by the 24th or 25th day. Make sure you count the days, so that you can approximately calculate the hatching date.

Lulu had laid 4 eggs continuously every alternate days. Then after a gap of 7-10 days, she had laid 5 more eggs.

Signs of a Pregnant Lovebird

• She walks slowly

• She is unable to fly/flies with difficulty

• She shows slight weight gain

• Her body shows a clear "baby bump"

• She looks tired

• She sleeps a lot, fluffing her feathers

• The male feeds her rigorously

• She may bob her tail

My Female Lovebird Lulu Laid her First Egg

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Lulu, my female lovebird laid an egg on 6th October 2016.

Mumu my male lovebird is going to see the egg laid for the first time. He wagged his tail out of happiness.

Finding a Suitable Nest Box

A nest box is an essential component in lovebird breeding. Upon learning that Lulu laid an egg, we immediately bought a nest box. The pet owner had mistakenly given a round nest made out of steel, which was actually meant for canaries. Surfing the net, I realized that lovebirds need wooden nest boxes. The exchange was made and we bought a small nest box/English budgie nest, which my lovebirds readily accepted. Remember to provide your pets with nesting materials.

Placing the Nest Box

The nest box can be placed outside the cage, attaching it to the cage wall.
Attach the nest box inside (with S-Shaped hooks)

In my opinion, placing the nest box inside is better. My pets love to sit inside the box together, for warmth. They doze off too inside it sometimes; as the temperature here is cold. However, you can place it according to your wish.

(P.S. You can place the nest box wherever you want, according to your pets comfort level. There is no hard and fast rule for that!)

Lovebird Nest Box

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We bought a canary nest assuming it to be a lovebird nest before.

Lovebird Eggs

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Picture showing my lovebird Lulu's eggs laid in her nest box.

Nesting Materials for Lovebirds

Lovebirds require nesting materials to make their nests. These are required to keep humidity in the nest, as it is essential for egg laying. Both males and females make long strips of whatever material is available' carrying them in the nest box. While the female tucks them in her wings and tail, the male tries to do so, though remains unsuccessful. However, there can be exceptions (Mumu has mastered the ability of shredding paper and tucking it in his tail)!

You could buy nesting materials from a local pet shop or provide the following:

What Can Be Included in Nesting Materials?

Palm leaves (Lulu simply adores these)
Paper towels
Dried grass
Lovebird's own feathers (lost ones)
Leaves of non-poisonous plants (lovebird safe)

Lulu Shredding Palm Leaves

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Lulu, my female lovebird loves to shred palm leaves and tuck them in her tail. It is the perfect nesting material for her.

Shredding has been an all time favorite activity of my lovebird Lulu. She can do that anytime and every time.

My Male Lovebird Mumu has Mastered Nesting Behavior!

Egg-Binding in Lovebirds

The most common egg-laying problem in lovebirds is egg-binding. This means that your bird is unable to pass an egg easily. This can be fatal to your bird. A vet must be consulted immediately when this occurs. If a vet cannot be consulted, you could do a few things to help your bird expel the egg.

In my case, Lulu had passed 9 eggs easily. The 10th, 11th and 12th egg had been passed with difficulty, in a gap of 5-7 days. She didn't keep well, started vomiting and slept a lot. She stayed like this for one day. The next day her egg would be passed and she would be normal and active again.

Signs of Egg-Binding

Straining
Fluffed feathers
Sitting at the bottom of the cage
Tail bobbing
Difficulty in breathing
Weakness
Loss of appetite
Large droppings/Minimal droppings
Sleeping a lot (in Lulu's case)
Vomiting (in Lulu's case)
Fever (in Lulu's case)

Curing Egg-Binding at Home

Place bird on a warm towel (heat allows the dilation of muscles, thus helping in passing the egg.)
Placing bird in a bowl of warm water. Your bird is likely to pass the egg in water.
Giving calcium supply (crushed egg shells and small pieces of egg-white).
If your female bird is not eating, feed the male with the calcium supply mentioned above.
Give plenty of rest without any disturbance.
Keep the cage covered in blanket for warmth.
Keep the cage clean. Your bird is likely to pass large droppings which may wet the cage floor, making it colder.

Using Egg as a Quick Calcium Supply for Lovebirds

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Boil an egg. Crush egg shell and egg white into small pieces. Provide this to your lovebirds as it is a rich source of calcium. This helps a lot for egg-bound females too.

Grind egg shell into a powdery form and sprinkle on your lovebird's food bowl.

If your pets like to chew, crush the shells as small pieces as shown. It's up to you!

Crushed egg shells sprinkled on seeds eaten by lovebirds.

Calcium Supply for Your Lovebirds

Vegetables	Fruits	Others
Brocoli	Kiwi	Egg Shell
Cabbage	Dried Fig	Egg-White
Celery	Orange	Sunlight
Collard greens	Apricot	UV Light
Chinese cabbage		Cuttle bone
Kale		Mineral Block
Aragula
Turnip greens
Mustard greens
Spinach

The following table shows the different sources of calcium , which can be provided to your pets. Calcium is essential for healthy bones, proper feather growth and overall health of birds.

A Healthy Recipe for Lovebirds

• Boil 4-5 spinach leaves and an egg.

• Dry the spinach leaves in sun and crush them.

• Crush some of the egg shell into tiny pieces/powdery form and add to it.

• Take some egg yolk and egg-white too.

• Take fresh corn and dry them till they are hardened. Mash them into tiny bits and add to the mixture.

Toss all of them and serve it fresh to your pet/pets. Either sprinkle it over their food bowl, or give it separately. It solves weakness and strengthens your bird.

Infertility in Lovebirds

Infertility may be caused in a lovebird hen, leaving the eggs empty/without chicks. This is in the case of my bird Lulu. Till now she has laid 12 eggs in total, but there aren't any chicks hatched. She sat on all of them for a while, but her brooding wasn't continuous. It is very saddening yes, I had always wished to see what color would be inherited by their chicks. My male lovebird Mumu is a medium-green heavy pied peach faced while the female Lulu is a white-faced violet roseicollis peach faced lovebird.

A Clutch of Infertile Eggs

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We had placed Lulu's eggs in this small wooden square box, removing all of them from her nest box. This was done to check if Lulu sits on her eggs or not. I believe that a mother knows her eggs are not fertile, so she didn't even sit on them.

Take an egg after it has been laid for a week and put it under flashlight. If the egg shows red veins, it means the chick is growing. If the eggs appear translucent or "empty" it means it is infertile. Sadly, all eggs were infertile.

What are the Causes of Infertility?

Nutritional Factor

If the hen is lacking minerals and calcium, her eggs will remain infertile. A healthy diet with all the essential minerals and calcium may help in reducing infertility.

Loose Perches

Ensure that the perches are fixed firmly. The hen needs support to carry the male on her back. If the perches are loose, mating won't happen properly.

Mutation

If your bird is a mutation she may or may not be infertile.

Age

If your bird is too young or too old, the eggs may remain infertile.

Environmental Factors

There should be enough humidity for successful mating. Heaters and humidifiers may aid in creating such atmosphere. A nest box is also very essential for mating.

Have you Ever Seen a Chick Hatching?

Conclusion

Lovebirds are a beautiful species and their reproduction and egg-laying process a wonder of nature. Unfortunately, I am not lucky enough to see the hatching of my pets's chicks. Nevertheless, I still hope that one day I might see their babies, hopefully...

Questions & Answers

Question:
I have a female lovebird who lays eggs. The eggs are fertile but the chicks are not able to break the eggs and die inside. Why is this?
Answer:
This is a common issue in lovebirds. Survival is difficult, so the probability of hatching is less in most cases.
Helpful 20
Question:
What happens if I touch a lovebirds' egg?
Answer:
If you touch a female lovebird's eggs, she will think they are contaminated and won't sit on them.
Helpful 1
Question:
A friend of mine has a pair of peach faced lovebirds with eggs. Will the babies be the same color as the parents?
Answer:
Yes, the color of the chicks will be most likely the same as the parents, unless they have recessive genes.
Helpful 1
Question:
It’s almost a month why are my lovebirds' eggs not hatching?
Answer:
Your bird might be younger than one year of age, might not be mated well, or may be infertile. Please throw those eggs away. The hatching period is 21-25 days.
Helpful 21
Question:
Why are my lovebird's eggs not fertilized? This pair had bred successfully three times previously.
Answer:
Fertility isn't guaranteed in each case in lovebirds. Maybe, they will have chicks later on.
Helpful 11

Question:
I was given a pair of lovebirds at the beginning of the year. About two months later, I had three birds, the baby was fully feathered and out of the nest. I just noticed there are three more baby birds in the nest. How do I keep them from hatching more eggs?
Answer:
To prevent hatching, the couple must be separated, but I'm against that. What you can do is, remove the eggs from the nest just after the female lovebird lays it. That way, they won't be warmed up by her and chicks won't form.
Helpful 10
Question:
I know that lovebirds feed their chicks the first two weeks, but what food do they need to feed them?
Answer:
The mother lovebird secretes a clear fluid during the first days. Later on, she feeds the chick what she eats. So, do make sure she is eating healthy foods like seeds, apple, banana, corn, and spinach leaves. Crushed egg shells do help in building calcium levels.
Helpful 5
Question:
I have four lovebirds. The pairs laid eggs one and two respectively. Now I am observing the 1st pair is not going to the nest and sitting in the other box. What should I do?
Answer:
Do you mean to say that the female lovebird is not sitting on the egg? Maybe it's infertile, that's why she isn't.
Helpful 3
Question:
Should we separate the male and female Lovebirds after laying eggs?
Answer:
No, the male and female lovebirds shouldn't be separated. The male lovebird will feed the female, and inturn the female feeds the newborn chick.
Helpful 6
Question:
My birds have mated over month ago, but no eggs were laid. Why is this?
Answer:
Your female lovebird might not be old enough to breed yet.
Helpful 2
Question:
What if my bird doesn't like water? How can I put her in warm water?
Answer:
Place a bowl of water near...
Helpful 3
Question:
If both the lovebirds are green peachfaced, can their babies be of different colours?
Answer:
Yes, it's possible if one of...
Helpful 3
Question:
After hatching eggs, when will the bird lay another egg?
Answer:
That is after the bird and...
Helpful 1
Question:
I bought two couples of lovebirds a week back and kept them in a cage. When will they lay eggs?
Answer:
Are the pairs of lovebirds mates? If so, give them time to mate. Once that's done, they will lay eggs a week later. If the pairs aren't mates, it will take some months for them to get bonded.
Helpful 2
Question:
I have 2 pairs in the same cage. Two of them are paired, the other two are in the preadult stage. Will there be any problem for the paired ones to mate?
Answer:
No, the paired lovebirds won't have any problem while mating.
Helpful 3
Question:
My lovebirds are six months old according to the shopkeepers. We took them in as family pets but they had a natural affair in their cage. What can I do and how is this possible?
Answer:
A lovebird of six months of age is mature enough to find a mate of his/her own. There's nothing to worry about.
Helpful 2
Question:
I thought we were not supposed to touch the eggs of a lovebird or she will kick them out the nest?
Answer:
Yes, please don't touch the...
Helpful
Question:
Is it bad to take my lovebird's eggs if I'm not able to take care of more babies?
Answer:
It would be bad if your lovebird is too attached to the eggs. Do you find her sitting on them just after they are laid?
Helpful 2
Question:
How can I tell if a lovebird is male or female?
Answer:
It's really hard to distinguish between them, but a female lovebird is perched with wide legs and lays eggs. Females shred paper into strips and put them in their backs.
Helpful 2
Question:
Can I check my lovebirds' eggs? I have heard that people try to touch their eggs, they can break?
Answer:
No, you can't touch their eggs with your fingers, but you can definitely look at them.
Helpful 2
Question:
Is it good to put a rooftop over the Lovebirds' nest?
Answer:
That is okay if the birds are...
Helpful
Question:
My female lovebird laid five eggs, but they are infertile. Should I take them out?
Answer:
Yes, it's best to take them...
Helpful 1
Question:
Can I feed Cerelac to my baby lovebirds?
Answer:
Not Cerelac for humans, but you can feed them a special formula. It will be available in a local pet store.
Helpful 1
Question:
My lovebird laid only one egg. Will she lay more?
Answer:
The mother lovebird will lay more eggs every alternate day. She will sit on them and provide them warmth.
Helpful 1
Question:
Do lovebirds have egg laying problems?
Answer:
Yes, they do. I mentioned infertility in lovebirds at the end of my article.
Helpful 1
Question:
I've heard from people that when you see a lovebirds' egg, they're most likely to throw them out of their nest. Is this true ?
Answer:
No, you can see their eggs, there's no problem in that. You shouldn't touch them, though.
Helpful 1
Question:
Do you know about Java finches? I found two bird with eleven eggs, are they both females?
Answer:
I'm sorry, but I don't know about Java finches. If there are eleven eggs, your birds might be females. You have to wait and see if any of the eggs hatch. If they don't, the two are female.
Helpful 1
Question:
When can we separate the lovebirds after hatching?
Answer:
A 2-3 weeks stage is a good...
Helpful
Question:
My African Lutino lovebird laid four eggs, but they are not hatching after 30 days. This is first time she has laid eggs. Is there any problem?
Answer:
It's common in lovebirds to...
Helpful
Question:
My lovebird laid eggs four times, but she broke them herself. What needs to be done?
Answer:
Your lovebird must know that these eggs don't contain chicks. That is why she breaks them herself.
Helpful
Question:
Who sits on a lovebird's eggs after they are laid?
Answer:
The mother lovebird, commonly known as a hen (in all bird species), sits on the eggs for incubation.
Helpful
Question:
How do I know whether the lovebird is a male or female?
Answer:
Lovebirds are hard to distinguish. The most obvious difference between them is that the females will lay eggs. There are other differences:

1. Females are perched with wider legs; their built looks heavier than the males.

2. Male lovebirds feed the females (regurgitation) by bobbing their heads up and down.

3. Females love shredding paper into strips, and they'll put them in their backs (nesting behavior).
Helpful
Question:
Can I look at my lovebirds' eggs?
Answer:
Yes, you can if your lovebirds lay them, but you shouldn't touch them.
Helpful
Question:
Do I need to remove the male lovebird once the eggs are laid?
Answer:
No, you shouldn't remove the male lovebird after the eggs are laid. The male lovebird will feed the female, and his presence is necessary. However, if the female is overprotective of her eggs and is trying to hurt the male, then it's better to separate them.
Helpful
Question:
My lovebirds are not laying eggs. What should I do?
Answer:
Your lovebird might not be...
Helpful
Question:
After how many days do the baby lovebirds come out of the box after hatching?
Answer:
That totally depends on the parent lovebirds. Once they feel the babies are old enough, they themselves will kick them out of the nest box.
Helpful
Question:
If the female lovebird dies while pregnant, does the male die two?
Answer:
It could happen, yes.
Helpful
Question:
How can I tell if my lovebird is a male or female?
Answer:
It's really difficult to distinguish between them. However, these signs may tell them apart:

1. The most obvious sign is that the female lays eggs. If you have two females, then you will have two clutches of eggs. If there are no eggs, it means both are males.

2. Female lovebirds are a little heavier than males. They perch with a wider stance.

3. Female display nesting behavior--they love shredding paper, leaves and whatever they think might make a nest. So, the next time you let your lovebirds out, give them a sheet of paper each. See who tears it in shreds and places it in their back first.

Do remember that there can be exceptions.
Helpful
Question:
I have 1 male and 2 female lovebirds. How can I know which bird loves the other?
Answer:
Notice the closeness between them. Do you find the male close to one of the females? Does he try to feed any one of them? If that's the case, he may develop a bond with one of them. Please buy another male lovebird so that the other female (if one pair is formed) doesn't feel lonely.
Helpful
Question:
Why is my lovebird is not laying eggs?
Answer:
A lovebird is unable to lay eggs due to many reasons. The most common are:

1. Either she is not a year old, or she is older than five years of age

2. Malnutrition, infertility, and loose perches (the male can't balance himself) may be possible

3. Poor diet is another cause. Feed your lovebirds fruits like apple, banana, grapes; give them corn, spinach leaves, and incorporate crushed eggshells into their seed bowl.
Helpful

Care & Feeding
Lovebird Molting: Symptoms and Care
by Sakina Nasir9
Birds
Hand Raising a Baby Lovebird: A Personal Experience
by Sakina Nasir65
Types
Are Lovebirds Good as Pets: The Pros and the Cons
by Carla J Swick26
Training
How to Put Lovebirds Back in Their Cage
by Sakina Nasir16

Comments

AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
2 weeks ago from Kuwait
@Mustaq Hi! :) You can place driy grass in the nest box.
Mustaq
2 weeks ago
Should we keep any thing in the cage pot for nesting??
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
2 weeks ago from Kuwait
@Firdos.memon Walekum assalam. :) Yes, you can keep the baby lovebirds in the nest box after each time you feed them.
Firdos.memon@yahoo.ca
2 weeks ago
Salam..i have 4 baby love birds n i started to hand feeding.can i put back them in nest after hand feeding ..if yes how often i can do that in a day?
Ariana
3 weeks ago
Thank you sakina!:)
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
3 weeks ago from Kuwait
@Ariana Hi! :) It means the other eggs are not fertilized. They won't hatch.
Ariana
3 weeks ago
Hi my love bird has layed 5 eggs, only one egg has hatched and its been about a week and then other 4 still haven't hatched. Is there somthing wrong?
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
6 weeks ago from Kuwait
@Lupe Hi! :) I think the egg is infertile, maybe that's the lovebird might be kicking it out. You can check it under a flashlight. If red veins appear, it means it is fertile, if it's empty, you will know.
Lupe
6 weeks ago
my lovebirds have three chicks, about 10 day s old" last week I saw an egg out f the tent, I put it back inside, and today I See an egg out . I don’t know if accidentally came out or f nest....I am plannng to return to the tent. Any comments
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
7 weeks ago from Kuwait
@Anil Joshi Hi! :) That depends on when the lovebirds mate again.
Anil Joshi
7 weeks ago
How long does it take for a bird to relay eggs after the first brood has matured.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
7 weeks ago from Kuwait
@Kavishkar Hi! You can put dried grass in the nest box or give your lovebird some paper to shred. :)
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
7 weeks ago from Kuwait
@Mirza Amir Baig Walekum assalam. :) Yes, they can mate, they don't have to be from the same family.
Kavishkar
7 weeks ago
I made a nest out of coconut husk for my love bird( it layed 3 eggs) but I did not put any fillings (eg shredded paper ) what should l do
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
2 months ago from Kuwait
@pushpadushanth Hi! :) Lovebirds lay eggs a week after mating.
pushpadushanth
2 months ago
HOw many month the lovebird lay egg offer first baby love birds after.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
2 months ago from Kuwait
@keatmeat Hi! :) That's really nice to hear. It depends on the clutch, eggs can be 4 or 6, or more than that. The female lovebird will lay one every alternate day.
Yes, you can put crushed egg shells for them--either sprinkle them over their seed bowl or fruits.
If the mother sits on the eggs, a lamp isn't required. And yes, infertile eggs are common.
keatmeat
2 months ago
i have six lovebirds which i bought 2 weeks ago i'm guessing they are all at least one year old and i have a nice big aviary with nest boxes.
one pair took to a nest box immediately and made a nest of coconut fiber, feathers and dried grass. i have been checking for eggs and i found one today. how many more do you think they will have and if i put the calcium diet in for them would they eat it?
also i have an insulated indoor area which is where they are do i need to do anything further to make sure they hatch like a heat lamp or sumthing.
Finally is it very common for the eggs to be infertile
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
3 months ago from Kuwait
@Jabastin Hi! :) Lovebirds are fully matured after 6 months of age. For breeding, lovebirds should be at least a year old.
Jabastin
3 months ago
I had bought four baby love birds may I know how many days it will take for my baby lovebirds for breeding stage
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
3 months ago from Kuwait
@SandyShivu Hi! :) Keep the eggs as they are. Please don't mix them. Your female lovebird isn't sitting on that particular clutch because she knows they won't hatch. Let her give warmth to the other clutch of eggs.
I don't know if Finches and lovebirds can stay together without fighting/screaming. It's better if you can bring another cage for your lovebirds and attach a nest box in it.
Also, two males and one female are bound to get hurt. Please buy a new female lovebird for the male who isn't bonded. Hope this helps. Good luck!
SandyShivu
3 months ago
Hi Sakina,
I have 1 female and 2 male lovebirds, recently laid eggs in 2 different places(3 & 4 eggs) and sits on 2nd place only. 4 eggs are not getting warmness of mother bird.So, can i mix these eggs with those eggs or should i keep it like that only. Please let me know soon.
One more thing i want to know i have a big size cage for them made out of iron and kept bird pots, do you think should i keep a nest box inside that ?
I do have Finches also in the cage, do this have any problem?
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
3 months ago from Kuwait
@Joseph Lee Hi! :) Do you mean my lovebird is eating her egg? They don't eat their own eggs.
joseph lee
3 months ago
Why shes eating her egg
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
3 months ago from Kuwait
@Ruchi Lovebirds can't withstand extremely high temperatures. Please put them in AC and cover their cage with a thin cloth or pillow cover. Don't place them in direct sunlight.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
3 months ago from Kuwait
@kayleb.dockary Hi! Yes, that means your lovevird is dead. I'm sorry. Please try to hold him/her and see if there is any movement.
kayleb.dockary
4 months ago
My lovebird chic
k is not moving what does that mean is it sleeping or is it dead
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
4 months ago from Kuwait
@Rana abi nader Hi! :) Mating is totally upto the lovebirds, we can't do anything about it.
You said you have two females and one male, do you see any pair formations?
If not, bring another male lovebird and see what happens. Bonding takes time, give them time.
Rana abi nader
4 months ago
Hello i have a problem . My love bird don't give me eggs . I have 1 male and 2 female and i don't get eggs .how can i help females to get eggs and when?
Rana Karatas
4 months ago
Alright, thank you so much!
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
4 months ago from Kuwait
@Rana Karatas
Aww! Well the cage size doesn't matter. And you let them out! That's more than enough space to mate. :D I hope they mate soon and give birth to chicks.
Rana Karatas
4 months ago
No, they haven't mated yet but they've been together for over 3 months now and do show closeness to each other. The male does feed the female and they preen each other's feathers. I was just wondering if a small cage had any affect on it. Well it's not that small but not too big. But the cage is open so they have my whole room too ahahha. Well thanks then! I'll just have to wait for baby parakeets :) super excited already!
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
4 months ago from Kuwait
@Rana Karatas Hi! :) That's so sweet of you to say. Lovebirds, parakeets and all kinds of birds are my favorite as well.
Okay, I think your birds might need a little more time to reach the stage of mating. Have they mated?
Have you seen the male feeding the female by any chance? That's a good sign of their bonding.
There really isn't any speeding up process for mating. They are like humans; they take time to build trust and affection between them. :)
But, if you see them getting too close, preening each other's feathers, regurgitation (male feeding the female), and activities timed together, chances are they will mate soon.
My lovebirds: Mumu and Lulu took around 3-4 months to become mates. :)
Rana Karatas
4 months ago
Hello Sakina! I genuinely enjoyed reading your article, (because I love birds!) but was wondering if you could answer an additional question for me. I currently have 2 parakeets, a male and a female, and they clearly love each other. I already attached a nesting cage, and have been waiting for months for baby birds; however, there's still no sign of them. :( My cage isn't that big, but I'm not sure if that matters. I usually open the top part of the cage and they are free to fly around as they like. But do you know what I could do to speed up the process? I would really like baby parakeets xD thanks! :)
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
4 months ago from Kuwait
@Maryam Yahya Hi! :) If the three-week-old egg isn't broken, keep it close to the mother lovebird. If it's cracked and the female isn't sitting on it, then you can throw it.
Maryam yahya
4 months ago
My bird had one egg and after three weeks it was gone so what I should do because she have a new egg
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
4 months ago from Kuwait
@Avi Hi! :)
That's so cute to hear. They might be of the same sex. If they aren't, the perches might be loose, so the male can't have a better grip.
Do give them paper. Check if one of them tears it and places it in her back. My article-"Lovebird Courtship And Mating: What We Learnt" will hopefully answer most of your questions.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Avi
4 months ago
Hi Sakina, I've a loving pair of lovebirds (older than a year and half) and they started mating since few months. Both are healthy but there's no egg. Are they of same-sex?
One do exhibit the behavior of a male, feeds the other one etc. Once I kept a nesting box attached to the cage just in case.. but no eggs so far.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
5 months ago from Kuwait
@Zahra 26 Hi! Thank you for your helpful comments, but Lulu did give those 12 eggs herself. Mumu is a male lovebird. :) They did have a chick last year, but sadly, it didn't survive. I have written another article called "Caring for Newborn Lovebirds", where I have included pictures and a video of the newborn lovebird. :)
Zahra26
5 months ago
I just love to tell you why your birds are not fertilized. It is impossible for one female to bleach 12 eggs. Usually only bleaching from 3 to 6 eggs. In exceptional cases, bleaching 8 or 9 eggs. This is because your pair of birds are female. The female can be fertilized without mention but the eggs will of course be fertilized. If we can hold the eggs and examine them, yes, you can, they are examined in the dark by a lamp, and if you see bloody veins, they are fertilized. If you see this transparent yellow color, it is not fertilized. The egg test will be 10 days after laying eggs
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
5 months ago from Kuwait
@Julia Hi! That's possible. You'll get it to know if she has laid an egg after 7-10 days of mating. :)
Julia
5 months ago
I got a female lovebird who is 8 years old, and ive been told she hasnt laid an egg in 3 years. My male was recently caught breeding her, im wondering if you think shell lay? I dont have any more info than that because i never planned on breeding. Im excited but dont want to get my hopes up.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
5 months ago from Kuwait
@Qasim Hi! If the eggs are not hatched even after 25 days, then you can throw them away.
Qasim
5 months ago
What should i do with infertile eggs??
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
5 months ago from Kuwait
@Densyoo Hi! :) My lovebirds costed differently. Since Mumu was a baby when we bought him, he was 25 KD (Kuwaiti Dinar), which is approximately 83.33 US dollars. Lulu was an adult when we bought her, she was 11 KD, that's around 40 US dollars.
Densyoo
5 months ago
How much did it cost you? I mean the price of your lovebirds.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
5 months ago from Kuwait
@Qasim Hi! :) Lovebird eggs hatch between 21-25 days if they are fertile.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
5 months ago from Kuwait
@bookpaw Hi! :) Parakeets need to be at least a year old to lay eggs.
Qasim
5 months ago
My Lovebirds laid 7 eggs in total,From 19th March 2018 to 31st march 2018.So when can i expect them to hatch if they are fertile.
bookpaw
5 months ago
how old does my parakeet have to be to lay a egg
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
5 months ago from Kuwait
Hi, Lislesaum! :)
That's wonderful! :) You must be so delighted. Is the female lovebird sitting on the egg?
Lislesaum
5 months ago
My lovebird laid an egg last night, first one since arriving here in California having lived well in Honolulu, Hawaii! I make a special effort to keep her warm each night by fireplace!
She is on the bottom of her cage frequently! She was making a noise of what seemed like a heart beat
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
5 months ago from Kuwait
@Tahmas Hi! :) Oh my, that's really sad. Since you had accidentally spilt water on the eggs, the mother lovebird is mad at you. She feels they are dirty and that's why she isn't sitting on them. If she doesn't sit on them in the next few days, you can throw the eggs away.
Tahmas
5 months ago
Hi, I have 5 lovebirds, 3 male and 2 female, one of the female had matted before and produced 5 eggs, I did a mistake and while watering suddenly water was dropped in the place where the bird is setting on the eggs, I have just watched that one bird has come-out of the eggs and was dead, I cleaned the place and put the rest of the eggs back, now bird is not accepting the eggs anymore and drawn them away, I don't really no, she is not accepting them anymore. thanks
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
6 months ago from Kuwait
@Kristine Hi! :) I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope it won't happen again. Do the male and female lovebirds sit outside the cage the whole day? Doesn't the female check on the chicks? If this is the case, then you can feed them a little formula, if you think the mother isn't feeding them.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Kristine
6 months ago
Hi! My two lovebirds have clutch 5 chick bug died one yesterday, i think he is the last chick that clutched, since his brothers are bigger than him he is under always, maybe that's the reason it suffocated him. Now I removed tha dead one, I hope it won't happen again. Now my problem is the mother sits with the male outside the cage, preening, feeding the female and sometimes sleeping, what would it be, does she abbandon her chicks?
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
6 months ago from Kuwait
@KJ Kimpel Hi! :) My female lovebird, Lulu, is a white-faced violet roseicollis (a type of mutation in peach-faced lovebirds).
KJ Kimpel
6 months ago
I'm wondering what kind of lovebird is your female? Because she looks just like my male and I've been wondering what kind he is because his make is a Fischer.. you can email me at kjkimpel93 at gmail
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
6 months ago from Kuwait
@kayleb Hi! :) Do you have lovebirds?
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
6 months ago from Kuwait
@basavaraj Hi! :)
Lovebirds tend to lay a lot of eggs, but it isn't necessary that all of them hatch into chicks. Please throw the unhatched eggs if 25 days have passed. There can be many reasons for unhatched eggs: loose perches, poor nutrition, young age, etc.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
7 months ago from Kuwait
@Sam Hi! :) You're most welcome. You can contact me by my email. At almost the top of this page, you'll find a button called 'contact author' below my bio. My email is sakinanasir30@gmail.com.
Sam
7 months ago
Thank you sakina for your reply.. I'll surely get a good male for her asap. Sakina do u have any page or any contact in case if I need any help further regarding my love birds so I can contact you as I m a bigner.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
7 months ago from Kuwait
@Sam Hi! :) I'm so sorry to hear this. The female lovebird will sit on the eggs around 21-25 days. Let her sit on them if she wants to. Please get her a healthy, male lovebird so that she doesn't feel lonely.
Hope this helps. Good luck! :)
Sam
7 months ago
Hey! My love birds lay one egg then one of then died now the other one still sitting on the the egg from last 2 days, I want to know will she leave the egg as she is alone now or she will hatch, please help & guide me, thanx
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
7 months ago from Kuwait
@roohulamin Hi! :) That's natural, your lovebird may lay eggs that hatch next time.
Good luck! :)
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
8 months ago from Kuwait
@Stella El Khenizy Hi! :) That's nice, I hope the chicks come out healthy. Please let me know the progress.
Good luck! :)
Stella El Khenizy
8 months ago
Thank you Sakina - I have tried to give them a healthier more mixed diet too - and yes the eggs shells have been given 2 or 3 times a week. I will let you know how they get on. The eggs, if successful, should be due to hatch around about 2 February. :)
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
8 months ago from Kuwait
@Stella El Khenizy Hi! :) Thank you for sharing this with me.
Oh... that's sad, maybe the mother bird needs healthy food, maybe her diet lacks calcium that's why she might be eating the eggs. Please do give crushed egg shells to them at least twice a week.
Good luck! :)
Stella El Khenizy
8 months ago
Thanks for the info Sakina. My lovebirds first batch of 3 eggs, 1 egg broke and was eaten, 1 chick was born but was extra small and died quickly. The 3rd chick seemed fine, but after a few weeks the mother was pecking it's growing feathers and then one day we found it dead :( The next batch of eggs all ended up cracking and then eaten. She is currently sitting on her 3rd batch of eggs (4) ... after mating I added ground up egg shell to their food so hoping these shells will fare better.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
8 months ago from Kuwait
@ themohsin Hi! Thank you for sharing this with me. That's great news! :)
If you wish to read more about caring for newborn baby lovebirds, you can read my articles, Caring For Newborn Baby Lovebirds and Hand-Raising A Baby Lovebird. Hope this helps.
Good luck! :)
themohsin
8 months ago
I have a pair of LoveBird(blumask) first time they gave 2 chiks , then second time 1 chiks, now i face a problem, female only laying egg, and about 7 to 9 egg placed in her nest, 4 egg is fertile.. but now baby come ..... any solution
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
8 months ago from Kuwait
@Lupe Hi! Thank you for sharing this with me. :)
That's so cute! Okay, so since 5 weeks have passed, you can dispose the egg because it will start to decay by now. This may affect the health of your lovebirds.
If the egg were to hatch, it would hatch between 21-25 days (my lovebirds' egg hatched after 25 days. It happened only once).
Good luck! :)
Lupe
8 months ago
Thank you for detail information.
I have two beautiful Fischer’s lovebirds and they have two eggs but it has been over five weeks since I saw one egg in the tent. What should I do now....some friends tell me to dispose of them and others just let them be....? I did not know they were a pair, so I had bought a little tent for them to sleep and she made it a nest. So cute.
roohulamin
8 months ago
my lovebird fischer parrot lay eggs second time but the not hatched them.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
8 months ago from Kuwait
@Syed Ibrahim
Hi! :) Wow! That's great news. Congratulations!
Syed ibrahim
8 months ago
My lovebirds lay 6 eggs and thank GOD all the eggs hatched .
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
8 months ago from Kuwait
Hi, Arif! :)
That's a really sad news. There can be many reasons why chicks die, but the major one is that their lifespan is short, especially the chicks's. Even my lovebirds had a chick, but it lived only for a mere five days.
Arif
8 months ago
Hi Sakina again.
My lovebird layed 6 eggs and Three chicks hatched almost 10 days back. Yesterday I saw that two chicks were dead. I am really said for me to see this. I have removed the dead chicks and now one is alive.
What can be the possible reason?
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
8 months ago from Kuwait
Hi, Arif! :)
Two months is a good time to shift the lovebird in a new cage, especially since you feel the parents beat it.
Lovebirds lay around 4-6 eggs in a clutch, but they may lay more.
Hi sakina
8 months ago
How much can a lovebird lay eggs
Arif
8 months ago
When should we shift chicks to another cage? I have one chick that is 2 months old and I feel that their parents beat the chick.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
8 months ago from Kuwait
@Nithya Hi! :)
I'm glad this information helped you. Lovebirds need a lot of attention and proper care.
Nithya
8 months ago
Very good information for the beginner
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
8 months ago from Kuwait
Hi, Grace! :)
It's possible, yes, but not certain all the time. My lovebird, Lulu had laid around 10 eggs once, which formed a single clutch.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
8 months ago from Kuwait
Hi, Nidhi! :) Thank you for asking this question.
Oh, then you should wait until your lovebird doesn't sit on the egg anymore. If you remove the egg now, she may feel depressed. So, it's better to wait until she doesn't sit on it anymore, then you may remove the egg.
Nidhi
8 months ago
My lovebird has laid an egg 26 days before , she still is sitting on it. I am not sure if it is fertile? What to do
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
10 months ago from Kuwait
@Jose Hi! :) Thank you for asking this question.
The male lovebird should stay in the same cage with the female. It's really necessary because he will feed the female every once in a while.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
10 months ago from Kuwait
@Neelam Rawal Hey! :) Thank you for asking this question. Please head over my article named "Hand-Raising a Baby Lovebird", which will give all your answers.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
10 months ago from Kuwait
@Abhilasha Hi! Thank you for asking this question. :) Okay, since it has been more than a month and the eggs haven't hatched, you should take these eggs out and throw them. A chick usually hatches within 21-25 days.
Jose
10 months ago
Should you take out the male or it don’t matter
Neelam Rawal
11 months ago
Hi can you tell me. My love birds are only 5 months old. What food should I give it to them.
Abhilasha
11 months ago
Hi, my love birds have laid 3 eggs on 21st Sept 2010. Today is 26th Oct. The eggs have still not hatched. All the three eggs are having few small black spots. The female has also reduced her time to sit on those eggs. Please advise what should I do.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
11 months ago from Kuwait
Hi, Khadir! You can place newspapers at the bottom of the cage. This way the eggs won't break. Thank you for asking this question. Please let me know the progress. :)
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
11 months ago from Kuwait
@Kishan Hi! Thank you for asking this question. I believe that clay pots aren't suitable for laying eggs. Try buying a nest box like the one I've shown in the picture above. Also, fill this nest box with dry grass. It's okay if the eggs aren't fertile, not all eggs will have chicks in them. :)
What's the age of your lovebird?
@Kartik Kanojia Hi! Thank you for asking this question. Shayad aapne haath laga diya hoga babies ko? Esa hua tha? Ya kisi aur ne touch kiya tha eggs ko? Kyunki hum log touch karte he agar to birds gussa ho jaate he... fir wo fod dete he eggs ko ya maar dete he babies ko.
Please let me know the progress. :)
Kishan
12 months ago
I had a pair of lovebirds i had arranged a clay pot for them for breeding in cage but they are not laying eggs in it they are laying out of the pot leaving the eggs idle it is the fourth unfertile egg. How can i help the bird to lay eggs in the pot ?
Kenneth Avery
12 months ago from Hamilton, Alabama
Dearest Sakina :)
@ 9:54 p.m., CDST., Sept. 17
I have read and enjoyed (very Much) this hub. Exquisite text, lay-out, and graphics. Great advice.
Loved how you presented this topic.
Keep up the fine work.
Write to me anytime.
AUTHOR
Sakina Nasir
12 months ago from Kuwait
@prakash palakkad That's great! Good for you, I hope you and your birds stay happy. :)
@Aarti That's great news! Congratulations! You should keep fresh foods available for both the male and female lovebirds. Make sure the baby is warm and check if the female lovebird is feeding him/her properly. Let me know the progress and thank you for the question. :)
@Roger I'm aware that the eggs shouldn't be touched and the nest is at the same place where it was since the beginning. Actually, we had bought a nest for canaries by mistake, then after getting the proper one we changed it. Lulu's eggs aren't hatched even now. I think it's infertility. Thank you for the advice. :)
Roger
12 months ago
In your case you should not touch your lulus egg and shift it's nest that is the case your lulus is not sitting on top of eggs
Aarti
13 months ago
My love bird laid eggs and one of the eggs hatched today what precautions should I take to look after the new born.
prakash palakkad
13 months ago
dear i buy a paire buddies i like it i thing buy more paires soon

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Lovebirds' Egg-Laying Process: A Personal Experience

Introduction

When Will a Female Lovebird Lay an Egg?

How Many Eggs Will a Female Lovebird Lay?

Signs of a Pregnant Lovebird

My Female Lovebird Lulu Laid her First Egg