Makeshift Nest

[shadowbunnies]

My peachface lovebirds, made a little makeshift nest under the food supply, they've already laid one egg, but I don't want more birds, what should I do know, since I don't want my bird to become calcium deficient by constantly popping out eggs.

[zlatushka]

Ah, the joys of hens....:rofl:

There's really not a way to make them stop now that they've already started.

As far as the nest, you might try just moving everything she has into a kleenex box and providing some shreddable material for her to destroy and/or build up her nest with. Of course, moving the nest might make her stop too :) Someone else might have a little more advice for you in that area.

Since you don't want more birdies, I would suggest boiling and replacing the eggs as they're laid. Boiling them within a day of laying will not kill a chick, simply prevents one from forming. Be sure and let the egg cool before putting it back in the nest. Mammabird will go through her cycle and will abandon the eggs once she's sure they won't hatch (about 23 days after the last is laid). If you simply remove the eggs, she is likely to keep trying to replace them. Once she has abandoned the nest, you can try discouraging further nesting by rearranging the cage, or moving the cage to another location.

You mentioned that you are worried about her becoming calcium deficient... Is she a chronic layer?

[shadowbunnies]

I bought them from a breeder, just I knew about replacing them, or taking them results in replacement with a new egg.

[Cindy N.]

Ah, the joys of hens....:rofl:

There's really not a way to make them stop now that they've already started.


I have had success stopping lovebirds from laying eggs by using a grate on the bottom of their cage, making sure they do not have anything they consider nesting material, changing all the perches and toys in their cage and taking the eggs away once the hen lays one. Of course, the hen's body is geared up for laying another egg, once I take the first one away, but, once she lays that second egg, she stops.

Some people suggest allowing hens to lay the whole clutch and sit on the eggs until she is bored, but, I find the problem with this is the hen starts getting territorial over her cage.

Cindy