Posted by jolliano on Fri, 10/05/2007 - 08:11 :: Lovebirds
My two lovebirds i bought as a pair have created a nest and the female has laid 6 eggs, 18days ago, today the male managed to escape from the cage while i was at college and he is not coming back, the female is scrawny and seems to be pining, i have no idea what to do and i'm seriously worried, anyone can advise me?>
Posted by karen on Fri, 10/05/2007 - 23:34.
She would normally be fed by the male. You will have to help. Keep food dishes close to her. Seeds are good, they are fatty but she will be using a lot of energy caring for the clutch by herself. She also needs to be getting soft foods to eat - cooked vegetables, baby food, soaked bread, you can even prepare handfeeding formula and offer it in a dish. It is important that she be eating fresh foods before eggs hatch, as babies can;t digest hard foods like seeds well.

Raising babies without a male around to help feed them will be incredibly stressful and hard on her. If fertile, the eggs will be hatching within days. Hopefully they won't be fertile (a pair's first clutch often isnt). If they are, try to find someone with experience who can show you how to handfeed. Handfeeding young babies can be difficult, but the babies might need a supplemental feeding or two a day. If the mom won't care for the babies, they will need many feedings throughout the day.

Karen
Chico (conure) and Pippin (budgie)
WI