Does anyone here have lovebirds? I have a beautiful Peachface and Fischers that turned out to be male and female and consequently I have four little eggs waiting to hatch and was wondering if anyone had any experience with baby lovebirds!?
Oh excellent! They are sharing the job! You may find that she will start taking over more and not come out of the nesting box as often....he will feed her during this period....there are a few things that are very important.....I am guessing that you have supplied them with a nesting box where she has laid the eggs.....it is a good idea to put a second one up right next to the current one for him to sleep in....he may choose to sleep with her though. Also, you need to continue to provide good quality nesting materials....they will constantly work on it and providing new material keeps the nest fresh. You should strive for 65% humidity in the nest...so wetting the nesting material you provide is an option and make sure they are getting at least 12 hours a day of daylight....use a bird lamp if not. Fresh, clean water at all times is a must as well as a clean cage....also, you will need to provide variety (not just seeds) in the diet...a quality seed mix, pellet mix and fresh fruits and veggies....wheatgrass is GREAT for them as well. You should have little ones in 22-25 days.....good luck!
thank you, I am doing all of that, but I haven't given him a box to sleep in, they sit in there together with the eggs and natter away to each other, its really very sweet...they whistle softly to each other for hours. I am very excited, but nervous, about becoming a grandma!
Oh it's such a wonderful thing...especially with lovebirds! They're truely little lovey dovey busy bodies! I suggest hand raising the little ones too....once mommy and daddy have their time to imprint them, you should as well....this makes for better relationships between you and them....make sure you photograph the stages....I would love to see the pics!
I hate to say this, but you shouldn't really be breeding Peachface with Fischers. You are creating hybrid offspring. Whatever you do don't let the offspring breed with each other. I may result in deformed or inferior chicks. When the eggs hatch you may want to mix up some of a special feed for the parents to feed the hatchlings. 2 pieces of whole wheat bread, a hard boiled egg, and a shreaded carrot. The hard boiled egg shell and all provides calcium to the hen to replenish what she lost during the laying. I mixed mine up in a food processor. It should be moist but not sticky. Keep the extra in the refrigerator, and remove just enough for a feeding and let it come to room temp, or warm it slightly in the microwave if you have one. My Peachface pairs always shared the same box. Make sure once the babies have fledged that you remove the box to give the mother time to replenish her body before she trys to set again. I like to wait a year between clutches. It's better for the mother.
I understand that, that's why I didn't come down hard on you. And when you remove that nest box after the chicks fledge don't replace it. Your lovebirds will be just as happy without one.
Oh and when adopting or selling the babies make sure you are upfront with people and tell them they are hybrids and really shouldn't be used for breeding. I'll bet they are very pretty once they fledge...I want to see pictures as well.
