Guide to Dealing with Your Lovebird Laying an Egg

Guide to Dealing with Your Lovebird Laying an Egg

 One morning, I woke up and headed to my lovebirds' cage after hearing one of them chirping earlier and louder than usual. To my surprise, I found that one of the females had laid some eggs. I was unaware that they could do so without mating.

Although I didn't think any of the eggs would hatch, I didn't know what to do. Therefore, I decided to research the matter.

If you know that the egg is unfertilized, you should leave it in the cage. The female will instinctively incubate it, and after about three weeks, her body will stop producing any more eggs. At that point, you can remove the eggs from the cage without concern.

In the case that the egg is fertilized, you may need to replace it with a fake one if you wish to prevent the egg from hatching. It's important to know more about this situation.

How to Handle the Situation When Your Lovebird Lays an Egg

If your lovebird lays an egg, the first thing to do is to stay calm. If you're sure that the egg isn't fertilized, then there's nothing to worry about.

However, if you suspect that the egg is fertilized, you will need to replace the real eggs with fake ones once the whole clutch is laid. You should dispose of the real eggs without your lovebird realizing. In the future, it's important to be more careful about your lovebirds mating without your knowledge.

If the egg isn't fertilized, you should leave it in the cage for a few weeks. It's important to let your lovebird sit on the egg for around three weeks to prevent her from becoming stressed and to allow the hormones that encourage egg production to slow down. After three weeks, her instinct to incubate should have subsided, and you can remove the eggs.

It's important to let your lovebird handle the eggs. If you remove the eggs immediately, she might just lay more very quickly. Letting her incubate them for a few weeks is beneficial for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it will keep her from becoming stressed at the loss of her eggs, and secondly, it should allow the hormones that encourage egg production to slow down.

Is it Safe to touch Your Lovebird's Eggs?

It's not advisable to touch your lovebird's eggs immediately when the lovebird is watching as they may feel stressed and see the eggs as spoilt, leading to the possibility of them laying a new clutch. It's important to leave the eggs for a few weeks until the lovebird stops incubating. After that, you should be able to touch the eggs without any problem.

If you're worried about the eggs hatching, you'll need to find time to separate the lovebird from the eggs and replace them with fake eggs without her noticing. However, this isn't always easy as lovebirds tend to stay close to their eggs.

To prevent fertilized eggs, it's important to take precautions beforehand. The process can take a few weeks, and it's essential to give your lovebird time to incubate the eggs and let her instincts subside before removing them from the cage.

How long does it take for a lovebird to lay an egg?

The duration can vary, but typically, the actual laying process happens overnight. They will lay a clutch of eggs within a few hours, without showing any signs beforehand.

Once laid, the eggs usually take 20-27 days to hatch, with some variations. Therefore, it is recommended to allow the lovebird to sit on the eggs for at least three weeks before attempting to move them.

While the actual laying of the egg may happen quickly, it can be difficult to notice. So why does this occur in the first place?

Why does this occur in the first place?

One of the primary reasons is usually due to environmental triggers. Lovebirds typically breed during the warmer months of spring and summer, when the days are longer. They lay eggs shortly after mating, as their incubation period is relatively short. Therefore, it's possible that you are unintentionally creating long days for your bird, giving them the impression that it's breeding season.

To avoid this, ensure that your lovebirds go to bed at the same time every night, so they don't think it's summer. Although it may be surprising, there's usually no need to worry if your lovebird lays an egg. If you've been careful not to mate your lovebirds accidentally, you can simply allow the mother bird to incubate the eggs until her maternal instinct has been satisfied, and then dispose of them.

Summary: The Dangers of Egg Binding

To summarize, egg binding is a medical condition that occurs when a female bird is unable to pass an internally formed egg, which can be life-threatening if left untreated. A veterinarian may be able to address the issue surgically, depending on where the egg is lodged within the bird's abdominal cavity. It's important to seek the help of a certified avian veterinarian to assist with removing a stuck egg. If the egg breaks inside the bird, a professional must remove any shell fragments or residue to prevent infection and clean the oviduct, which is the avian equivalent of the fallopian tube.

Disclaimer:

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian or other qualified animal health provider with any questions you may have regarding the health of your bird or any medical condition.