Ask Lafeber

Lovebird stopped sitting on her eggs

My lovebird who was sitting on her eggs since she laid them, has stopped sitting on them. Why?

Hi,

There can be many things that can cause a pair to abandon their eggs. If this is a single lovebird, then you really do not need to let her sit on the eggs, so it’s best that she stopped. If this is a pair, something may have disturbed them. A breeding pair needs privacy and if the room is too busy or any changes are made, they are likely to leave the nest. If the eggs were past due, then the pair stops sitting. A pair may be able to tell that the eggs aren’t fertile, because it’s common for an infertile clutch to be abandoned after a couple of weeks. The best thing to do is remove the nest box and rest the pair for at least 6 months before you let them try again.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda