A Very Patient Hen

[c.g.]

I have a slight problem. My eight-year old lovie has been sitting on her four unfertile eggs for over a month now, and she doesn't show any sign of giving up. When my she's layed eggs in the past, she's just sat on them for few weeks and then ignored them. She seems to be eating normally, and sometimes she'll come out to play with me, but she can get very broody, sometimes coming out to attack me for just opening her door. Youch! I want my old, predictable Pepper back! (And I'd also like to clean her nest out. it's getting a little gross.)

Is there anything I can do to help her give up on her eggs? I don't want to take them out too early and encourage her to lay more, but I'm afraid she'll never give up as long as she can still incubate them.

[grandma]

Get fake eggs to replace the real ones, or, just take them out it's probably been long enough.

[Monica]

My suggestion??? Remove lovebird from cage. Use a dishtowl if you have to. Put lovebird in far room away from cage. Clean cage completely, remodel it, new toys/perches, etc. Do not allow any sort of nesting type item within the cage. Move cage to completely new location. Add lovie. Hope it works!

If not, try reducing amount of daylight by 4 hours, reduce amount of seed and include more fresh foods....

[CrazyBirdLady]

Monica gave great advice. I too, would pull all the eggs unless she's currently laying. You can try reducing daylight hours, but in my experience with lovebirds, it doesn't effect them at all. Most lovebirds that are inside birds, will. Careful with the foods, things like yams, soybeans seem to bring on breeding/nesting behaviors.