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Post by Noddy on Mar 23, 2010 21:35:23 GMT 10
I have had two blue lovebirds for a few months now. I have been told that they are a pair that would be about 2 years old now. They started filling the box a few weeks ago with leaves but stopped. They started again recently and the box is now almost upto the hole. Can I assume that they are in fact a pair and are they likely to lay & hatch eggs. How often do they breed?
Help appreciated
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Post by AussieBirds on Mar 24, 2010 8:28:51 GMT 10
I have had two blue lovebirds for a few months now. I have been told that they are a pair that would be about 2 years old now. They started filling the box a few weeks ago with leaves but stopped. They started again recently and the box is now almost upto the hole. Can I assume that they are in fact a pair and are they likely to lay & hatch eggs. How often do they breed? Help appreciated G'Day Noddy One thing with lovebirds is you never assume anything, two hens will act like a pair even to the point of mating, I would suggest you have them sexed, either by someone who is an experienced breeder or have them surgically sexed by DNA or an avian vet. The fact they have built a nest means nothing, two hens will also do this and they will even lay eggs and sit on them just for the hell of it ;D, so the first thing is for you to do is determine what sex they actually are then take it from there. John |
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Post by linda040899 on Mar 30, 2010 2:18:37 GMT 10
I agree with what John is telling you about this. You could have 2 females that get along very well. It's unusual but I've had it happen in my aviary.
The only thing I will say is that I doubt that you have 2 males. A pair of males will generally not do anything with a nest but sleep in it. At least that's been my own personal experience. I agree that DNA sexing is the way to go.
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Post by Noddy on Apr 24, 2010 23:15:48 GMT 10
Thanks for the comments. The DNA came back as a PAIR :-) so hopefully they will breed soon. It's funny but one is taller and leaner than the other, I thought that was the male but the stumpy one is the male. We called him George after George Cozstanza. I put leg rings on them for the DNA tests. The male does not mind but the female did not like it at all so I removed it.
Will they wait for spring now or is there a chance that they may breed earlier?
I put a new nest log in to try that. What experience do you guys have about whether they breed a few times a year or just once in spring?
We went to the Nowra bird sale and show last week. It was great.
Comments are appreciated.
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Post by AussieBirds on Apr 25, 2010 11:41:32 GMT 10
Thanks for the comments. The DNA came back as a PAIR :-) so hopefully they will breed soon. It's funny but one is taller and leaner than the other, I thought that was the male but the stumpy one is the male. We called him George after George Cozstanza. I put leg rings on them for the DNA tests. The male does not mind but the female did not like it at all so I removed it. Will they wait for spring now or is there a chance that they may breed earlier? I put a new nest log in to try that. What experience do you guys have about whether they breed a few times a year or just once in spring? We went to the Nowra bird sale and show last week. It was great. Comments are appreciated. That's good news Noddy regarding the DNA test and there is no reason they shouldn't breed, it has been my experience they do better in actually breeding boxes however once again there is nothing wrong with logs, I found to help things along I added about two inches of nesting material to the nest box and then top that off with some palm leaf cuttings, your lovebirds will breed all year around however it is not the best for the hen to have one clutch after another, give them a break from breeding for a couple of months, usually the colder months and providing you feed them well and they are both fertile you should be able to look forward to some little love birds. Good luck John |
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Post by Noddy on May 8, 2010 23:01:37 GMT 10
A pleasant surprise this evening. This morning I noticed that my plumhead hen was taking the leaves out of the lovebirds nesting log so I divided to split the aviary this afternoon giving the lovebirds half and the plums the other half. For the first time late this afternoon the lovebirds began going into the log I assumed for the night. This is the first time I have noticed this. They usually just sit together on a branch. I hope it is a sign that they may breed now that they have some privacy from the other birds. I have read that they can roost in the breeding box. Is this roosting or just getting out of the cold or is it the same thing. I have also modified their seed this week.
Comments appreciated.
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Post by vankarhi on May 9, 2010 14:44:45 GMT 10
some birds will sleep in their nest box's but I have no experience with lovies. My alex's only go into the box when they want to breed and my ekkies don't go into the nest box unless there are eggs or babies or they are wanting lay eggs.
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Post by Lewis on May 9, 2010 15:43:23 GMT 10
Lovies will sleep in the box all of the time so dont take there box out they will sleep in it
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Post by Laraine on Aug 12, 2010 14:35:25 GMT 10
I have a few birds that sleep in their breeding boxes. Both Green Cheeks, female Kakariki,
both Rainbow Lorikeets, both Indian Ringnecks, female Eastern Rosella and 1 female Red Rump. Must have some strange birds.
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