Nesting forever?

[Love Bird B]

Has anyone ever heard of a lovebird sitting on her eggs and never giving up that they'll hatch? What if it's been months?:confused:

So far I've installed a new swing in her cage, plus many other goodies hoping she'll develop new interests.

Any ideas on what else to do?

Thanks!

[JSimko]

My parakeet used to lay eggs and then get very upset when they did not hatch. The way to stop this is to take the bird out of the cage and go into another room of the house. Have someone else remove the eggs from the cage. I did this for Tweety and she was much happier. I also removed the log that she was laying eggs in and she stopped laying eggs. Do not worry, your bird will not hate you.

[Mrs.Birdy]

My Snickers (tiel) layed 4 eggs in 6 weeks during late April and May. She has now stopped thank goodness.

Anyway, once she saw the egg, she looked confused and ran away from it each time she laid one.

It was funny because I thought she would want to sit on them a while, but instead they upset her and I had to remove them.

:confused:

[Love Bird B]

Oh, Mrs. Birdy, if only Perk would run away from her eggs!! She's been defending her cage to the point where I have to wear gloves when I give her food and water everyday. You should have seen her while I was installing her new swing. I never knew she could hang upside while hanging by her beak and turning over all at the same time, LOL!

Snickers sounds hilarious, and quite cute!

I used to remove the eggs but she just kept laying more! A veternarian told me to allow her to 'go through the motions' which at least stopped her from laying more eggs. Her favorite thing to do is to sit on her nest in a daze while shredding paper. I have heard that she's a typical broody lovebird.

BB

[birdygirl]

Talk to your vet about what to do.

[Mrs.Birdy]

LBB:

Yes, Snickers is a silly cockatiel. She hates anything strange. Therefore, the eggs were an invasion as far as she's concerned.

I even set up an empty tissue box in the event she wanted to nest or sit on the egg, but she hated the box, too.

I am just glad she is not a chronic layer so far......... I was very worried there for a while!!!!!

Also,I have heard that lovebirds are always defending their eggs. Then again, I guess it depends on the individual bird, right.

Talk to you soon,

Roseanne:D

[JSimko]

Yep, it all depends on the individual. That is what makes birds so great.

[Amanda]

I had a couple of female cockatiels who ended up to be chronic egg layers...they just kept laying eggs to the point where it had affected their health. I've taken them to the vet and asked what to do and I was advised not to take the eggs away. The vet told me that taking the eggs away will only trigger the bird to lay more eggs to replace the ones she lost. Anyway, I left the eggs in the cage and just waited patiently until the females decided they were "duds". They eventually left them alone...and that's when I took them out of the cage.

[Love Bird B]

Thanks Amanda,

I have experienced the same thing you have except that I have one of those persistent birds that will probably never give up on her dud eggs. I was recently told by someone that kept finches that they also sat on their eggs forever. Hey, at least I have a happy birdy! She looks so funny sitting on her nest, turning the paper that she shredded into string with a completely dazed look!