JonC
New member
- Aug 19, 2021
- 6
- 4
- Parrots
- Lovebirds
Hi, I have a pair of masked lovebirds who I purchased from jolley's back in December 2020.
About a month or so ago I purchased a small nest box, as jolley's personnel recommended something they can cuddle up in and also keep warm in the winter months if the room isn't to their comfort temperature.
Since adding the nest box I noticed a big change in behaviour, the female being more moody towards the male and both fighting giving each other black eyes and the female even drew blood from the male. Fortunately black eyes and battle wounds have seem to of healed up nicely but with them still having the odd tussle every now and then. I also noticed the female spent a lot of time in the nest box and not allowing the male near the food or water when she was out of the box. Though the male was also feeding her at this time too.
Not long after there was a egg in the box and then over the following week the female laid another 3 eggs. 4 in total. Whilst the female was sitting on the eggs in the box the male was always outside, if he made a noise near the box the female would come out and chase him away. A few times I had to do a little shout "Oi", she would stop and go straight back in the box again.
A couple of days ago the first egg hatched, and today the 2nd has hatched. I know there is still a long way to go for their little fight for survival so still the possibility of them not making it to fully fledged.
But mainly my question is, can all the offspring and parents live together in a new much bigger cage or if keeping the parents in their original cage can the siblings go in another cage together? Assuming all 4 survive to fully fledged?
Many thanks in advance for any advice.
Now I know a nest box in the cage promotes hormonal behaviour from the female as well as egg laying. The nest box will be removed from the parents cage immediately after the hatchlings fled the nest. Or if ok to go into a much bigger cage with offspring then a nest won't be introduced.
The nest box is up high in the parents cage currently, will the offspring be ok leaving the nest? Would they fall?
Also since the first egg hatched the male has been allowed in the nest box much more. Though they still have the odd tussle in which again I give a little shout of "oi" and they stop. There hasn't been any blood drawn since the first time.
Just one more thing lol, am I ok to pick the hatchlings up after a certain amount of time before they are fully fledged. So they get use to being touched/picked up before they become completely independent? I would be too scared to pick them up at this minute with them being so fragile, just wouldn't even attempt it lol
I understand its roughly 8 weeks before they leave the nest and begin to fly, so like after 4 weeks say. Would it be ok to pick them up for a few minutes each day or would mummy reject them with doing this?
Again many thanks in advance.
About a month or so ago I purchased a small nest box, as jolley's personnel recommended something they can cuddle up in and also keep warm in the winter months if the room isn't to their comfort temperature.
Since adding the nest box I noticed a big change in behaviour, the female being more moody towards the male and both fighting giving each other black eyes and the female even drew blood from the male. Fortunately black eyes and battle wounds have seem to of healed up nicely but with them still having the odd tussle every now and then. I also noticed the female spent a lot of time in the nest box and not allowing the male near the food or water when she was out of the box. Though the male was also feeding her at this time too.
Not long after there was a egg in the box and then over the following week the female laid another 3 eggs. 4 in total. Whilst the female was sitting on the eggs in the box the male was always outside, if he made a noise near the box the female would come out and chase him away. A few times I had to do a little shout "Oi", she would stop and go straight back in the box again.
A couple of days ago the first egg hatched, and today the 2nd has hatched. I know there is still a long way to go for their little fight for survival so still the possibility of them not making it to fully fledged.
But mainly my question is, can all the offspring and parents live together in a new much bigger cage or if keeping the parents in their original cage can the siblings go in another cage together? Assuming all 4 survive to fully fledged?
Many thanks in advance for any advice.
Now I know a nest box in the cage promotes hormonal behaviour from the female as well as egg laying. The nest box will be removed from the parents cage immediately after the hatchlings fled the nest. Or if ok to go into a much bigger cage with offspring then a nest won't be introduced.
The nest box is up high in the parents cage currently, will the offspring be ok leaving the nest? Would they fall?
Also since the first egg hatched the male has been allowed in the nest box much more. Though they still have the odd tussle in which again I give a little shout of "oi" and they stop. There hasn't been any blood drawn since the first time.
Just one more thing lol, am I ok to pick the hatchlings up after a certain amount of time before they are fully fledged. So they get use to being touched/picked up before they become completely independent? I would be too scared to pick them up at this minute with them being so fragile, just wouldn't even attempt it lol
I understand its roughly 8 weeks before they leave the nest and begin to fly, so like after 4 weeks say. Would it be ok to pick them up for a few minutes each day or would mummy reject them with doing this?
Again many thanks in advance.
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