Only one egg laid in 4 days?

[lilddevil]

My 2 lovebirds recently starting the mating behaviors, including gathering for a nest, and the (what i presume is the) male mounting the female. So I went out and bought a proper size nesting box and added Care fresh bedding. On the 21st we finally found an egg...it is now the 25 and no more are to be found...The female is very protective of it, and has shallowly buried it. She can most times be found sitting over it. Both birds seems to still be gathering for a nest they never really bother making. All the info I have found indicates that a clutch is between in 3 to 8 eggs, and are laid roughly every other day. But so far we only have the one egg... so is this normal? and/or when should i start worrying about the bird having egg binding issues?

I do not know the age of the birds, as i bought them from from a local pet shop, and they were handed over by the former owner. They eat regularly, the mix of seed that i provide (with calcium fortified mix), and water is changed a couple times a day.

Thank-you for your time.

[kimsbirds]

Age could be a big factor with the single egg you are seeing. Older birds, or first timers might lay a single egg.

Can you get a look at her underside? She should look quite swollen/round between her legs if there is another egg on the way.

If she is pooping, eating, drinking, and generally "herself", there should be no issues with egg binding. A for-sure sign of binding is the lack of droppings, and a listless/puffed up appearance.

Since you've prepared them for a clutch, be sure to read up on Linda's handfeeding links, incase this female DOES have a baby hatch and has no clue what to do with it.

Keep us updated please :)

[lilddevil]

Thank you very much for the quick response. It sounds, then, as if everything is ok.... is it still plausible that the one egg is properly fertilized, if that is the only egg that comes of this clutch?...I planned on "candling" it in a couple more days if no more eggs are found. Also, if it is not fertilized, and we (and they) are still prepared to have babies, should i remove the egg in order for them to get ready for their next clutch?... or is waiting the 25ish days going to happen one way or another, before they try again?

[kimsbirds]

Thank you very much for the quick response. It sounds, then, as if everything is ok.... is it still plausible that the one egg is properly fertilized, if that is the only egg that comes of this clutch? If you have a male, and IF he's fertile and IF they were successful in mating, yes, you could have just one baby...I planned on "candling" it in a couple more days if no more eggs are found. Candling is best done around 10 days after the egg is laid, using a small pen light, up close to, but not touching, the surface of the egg. Also, if it is not fertilized, and we (and they) are still prepared to have babies, should i remove the egg in order for them to get ready for their next clutch?Do not remove any eggs unless they are broken/cracked, the hen must complete the entire cycle... or is waiting the 25ish days going to happen one way or another, before they try again? Somehow, the hen knows whether or not her eggs are viable. If she feels this one won't hatch, you might find she automatically begins another clutch before the 23 day mark. Best not to tamper with mother nature!!

If I might add, please offer lots of non-dairy calcium to your hen, even if she never bothered with it before. Broccoli, collard greens, cuttlebone are all good sources and help to rebuild the supply of calcium she naturally depletes with laying.

http://www.lovebirdsplus.com/community/images/misc/progress.gif

[lilddevil]

Again, thanks so much.

[lilddevil]

Another egg has just been laid within the last 3 hours.... 6 days since the last one.