Question:
Well atleast thats how it looks right now. Last week I bought a pair (Have no clue if its a true pair) of one year old love birds. Didn’t really have any plans to breed them any time soon. But the other night I was watching them and it seems they are ready. I have seen them mate twice now. The first time it was brief, but then second time was pretty extensive. And the male did the dance and scratching of his head exactly the way I had read in one of lovebirds books. And he was the one on top. After the first time I went and bought a breeding box and placed it in the cage. After the first few hours of being nevervous about it the female has started to go in. She goes in and out alot and sometimes sleeps in it too. However neither of them paid any attention to the thread box for the nest I had in the cage. So upon the advice of local pet shop I placed some threads in the breeder box. Well she threw them out. I have looked inside the box and there are some seed shells and a little bit of threads in there and thats about it. What will happen if the female lays eggs on the wood??? Should I put some pine shavings in the box for the padding?? HELP!!!!!!! Thanks…. Apache.
Response:
Hi Apache, Yes, put wood shavings in. I use aspen rather than pine – pine has been known to cause respiratory problems in rats & mice, and what with birds being prone that kind of thing I’d rather stay on the safe side! But, yes, put an inch or two of wood shavings in the box. She’ll probably chew on these and may very well dump some out of the box. Lovebirds don’t usually dump ALL of it out of the box (my budgies do that) but if she does, wait till she’s layed eggs and then add more – she should be too busy sitting on the eggs to dump out shavings. As for other nesting material, I don’t recommend thread, especially in any great lengths – these can tangle around toenails or even necks. I prefer plain old newspaper; I shred some into strips and hang it from the top of the cage. They usually LOVE tearing this into smaller pieces and bringing it into the nest with them. I’ve also heard palm fronds make great lovebird nesting material, but there aren’t many of those available here in MI! Some of my lovebirds like building nests more than others. Some will sit for hours chewing newspaper and build elaborate nests; others use the newspaper only as a toy, and bring only a tiny bit into the nestbox. Either way I put an inch or two of wood shavings in the box, to get them started on the right track. Lara – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Well atleast thats how it looks right now. Last week I bought a pair (Have > no clue if its a true pair) of one year old love birds. Didn’t really have > any plans to breed them any time soon. But the other night I was watching > them and it seems they are ready. I have seen them mate twice now. The first > time it was brief, but then second time was pretty extensive. And the male > did the dance > and scratching of his head exactly the way I had read in one of lovebirds > books. And he was the one on top. After the first time I went and bought a > breeding box and placed it in the cage. After the first few hours of being > nevervous about it the female has started to go in. She goes in and out alot > and sometimes sleeps in it too. However neither of them paid any attention > to the thread box for the nest I had in the cage. So upon the advice of > local pet shop I placed some threads in the breeder box. Well she threw them > out. I have looked inside the box and there are some seed shells and a > little bit of threads in there and thats about it. What will happen if the > female lays eggs on the wood??? Should I put some pine shavings in the box > for the padding?? > HELP!!!!!!! > Thanks…. > Apache.
Response:
Hi Apache, Your lovebirds will probably not use the thread stuff. Mine use newspaper. They tear it up into strips. The female will tuck it into her rump feathers and carry it into the box. The paper makes the eggs black though. You can give them white paper towels too. They can shred tons of newspaper for such little birds. Give your hen some extra calcium at this time. She will need it to help form hard eggs shells. She will use it from her body and it needs to be replenished. Eggs shells and cuttle bone are sources of calcium. Start a very good diet now and when the babies hatch give them some soft foods to feed the babies with as well as veggies and all that good stuff. Don’t be worried if your hen doesn’t sit on the first egg right away. Sometimes mine wait until there are a few in there before incubating them. My eggs hatch in 24 days (well, the bird’s eggs). They will hatch in the order they are laid. She will lay eggs usually once a day. She won’t lay the eggs right away after mating. Actually I have never seem mine mate so I can’t tell you how long it takes!!! Becky(*)> – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Well atleast thats how it looks right now. Last week I bought a pair (Have > no clue if its a true pair) of one year old love birds. Didn’t really have > any plans to breed them any time soon. But the other night I was watching > them and it seems they are ready. I have seen them mate twice now. The first > time it was brief, but then second time was pretty extensive. And the male > did the dance > and scratching of his head exactly the way I had read in one of lovebirds > books. And he was the one on top. After the first time I went and bought a > breeding box and placed it in the cage. After the first few hours of being > nevervous about it the female has started to go in. She goes in and out alot > and sometimes sleeps in it too. However neither of them paid any attention > to the thread box for the nest I had in the cage. So upon the advice of > local pet shop I placed some threads in the breeder box. Well she threw them > out. I have looked inside the box and there are some seed shells and a > little bit of threads in there and thats about it. What will happen if the > female lays eggs on the wood??? Should I put some pine shavings in the box > for the padding?? > HELP!!!!!!! > Thanks…. > Apache.
Response:
Lovebirds are born to shred. They love cutting paper into long strips with their beaks, sticking the strips in their tailfeathers, and carrying them to the nest. Our lovebird built her nest from strips of memo pad paper and feathers she plucked from her breast. I don’t think thread would interest a female lovebird very much. John M.
Response:
Fir sawdust works well also, they chew it up a bit more and wala we have a nest. Bob W – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi Apache, > Your lovebirds will probably not use the thread stuff. Mine use >newspaper. They tear it up into strips. The female will tuck it into her >rump feathers and carry it into the box. The paper makes the eggs black >though. You can give them white paper towels too. They can shred tons of >newspaper for such little birds. > Give your hen some extra calcium at this time. She will need it to >help form hard eggs shells. She will use it from her body and it needs >to be replenished. Eggs shells and cuttle bone are sources of calcium. >Start a very good diet now and when the babies hatch give them some soft >foods to feed the babies with as well as veggies and all that good >stuff. > Don’t be worried if your hen doesn’t sit on the first egg right away. >Sometimes mine wait until there are a few in there before incubating >them. My eggs hatch in 24 days (well, the bird’s eggs). They will hatch >in the order they are laid. She will lay eggs usually once a day. > She won’t lay the eggs right away after mating. Actually I have never >seem mine mate so I can’t tell you how long it takes!!! > Becky(*)> > Well atleast thats how it looks right now. Last week I bought a pair (Have > no clue if its a true pair) of one year old love birds. Didn’t really have > any plans to breed them any time soon. But the other night I was watching > them and it seems they are ready. I have seen them mate twice now. The first > time it was brief, but then second time was pretty extensive. And the male > did the dance > and scratching of his head exactly the way I had read in one of lovebirds > books. And he was the one on top. After the first time I went and bought a > breeding box and placed it in the cage. After the first few hours of being > nevervous about it the female has started to go in. She goes in and out alot > and sometimes sleeps in it too. However neither of them paid any attention > to the thread box for the nest I had in the cage. So upon the advice of > local pet shop I placed some threads in the breeder box. Well she threw them > out. I have looked inside the box and there are some seed shells and a > little bit of threads in there and thats about it. What will happen if the > female lays eggs on the wood??? Should I put some pine shavings in the box > for the padding?? > HELP!!!!!!! > Thanks…. > Apache.
Response:
My vet told me to avoid giving my birds newspaper to play with because the ink can be toxic. She recommended plain,, undyed paper towels. How about it? Anyone have information about it? Personally, I use newspaper for lining the cages but I don’t let them chew it. Jennifer D.
Response:
>My vet told me to avoid giving my birds newspaper to play with because the ink >can be toxic. She recommended plain,, undyed paper towels. >How about it? Anyone have information about it? >Personally, I use newspaper for lining the cages but I don’t let them chew it. >Jennifer D.
Most newspapers use a petroleum-based ink, a few don’t though. My newspaper, The Oregonian, uses a soy-based ink, there are some others, but I forgot which ones. Gloria Carr
Response:
> Most newspapers use a petroleum-based ink, a few don’t though. My > newspaper, The Oregonian, uses a soy-based ink, there are some others, but I > forgot which ones. > Gloria Carr
As far as I know all newspapers sold in the united states use Soy based inks — TA FAW "Hope is a feathered thing that perches in the soul" Emily Dickinson My Web Pages (which desperately need updating) http://www2.netcom.com/~faw/Geobass/plot.html Photo Albus of all the Critters http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=14203
Response:
When I got Lovebirds 3 months ago, I gave them a nest box because I wanted babies, but I did not expect them very soon. I saw them mating, and in a few days an egg was layed! After that, 3 more came! I always let them fly around the house so they found our magazines, they tore them up and brought the shredings to the nest. I also put a rag and sand paper on the bottem, you have to give your birds material to work with. If that does not work put some material in yourself. Good Luck, Chloe
Response:
Sand paper? Why? I wouldn’t think that would be very good for them to chew on. — Mama — Visit "Mamabird’s Nest" at: http://members.tripod.com/~iluvbirds/
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->When I got Lovebirds 3 months ago, I gave them a nest box because I wanted >babies, but I did not expect them very soon. I saw them mating, and in a few >days an egg was layed! After that, 3 more came! I always let them fly around >the house so they found our magazines, they tore them up and brought the >shredings to the nest. I also put a rag and sand paper on the bottem, you have >to give your birds material to work with. If that does not work put some >material in yourself. >Good Luck, >Chloe
Response:
>Sand paper? Why? I wouldn’t think that would be very good for them to chew >on. >– >Mama >—
I was wondering the same thing. It’s bad for their teeth. (VBG) Regards.
Response:
>>Sand paper? Why? I wouldn’t think that would be very good for them to chew >on. >– >Mama >—
>I was wondering the same thing. It’s bad for their teeth. (VBG) >Regards.
But probably easier for them than flossing. — Mama — Visit "Mamabird’s Nest" at: http://members.tripod.com/~iluvbirds/
Response:
Thank you all for all the advice.. I found out that Lovebirds do love to shred paper.. However in this case I have a feeling my pair is gay. Its okay though since I never did buy them for breeding. Apache. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>Sand paper? Why? I wouldn’t think that would be very good for them to >chew >>on. >>– >>Mama >>— >I was wondering the same thing. It’s bad for their teeth. (VBG) >Regards. >But probably easier for them than flossing. >– >Mama >— >Visit "Mamabird’s Nest" at: http://members.tripod.com/~iluvbirds/
Response:
> My vet told me to avoid giving my birds newspaper to play with because the ink > can be toxic. She recommended plain,, undyed paper towels. > How about it? Anyone have information about it?
Some papers are switching to a non toxic soy based ink, but I have no idea if that’s common or not. > Personally, I use newspaper for lining the cages but I don’t let them chew it.
I’ve reverted to using crushed walnut shells or corn husk litter for the tray- it’s easier to deal with than newspaper, IMO, and not as smelly. None of the birds get smelly trays except Coral. Her M2 size droppings mean the old tray cleaning cannot be put off too long! — Kellie
Response:
Start laying like magazines on the floor next to the cage. My lovies shreded them up and put them in there wings, and brout them to the nest. Chloe