Ignorant Lovebird Owner needs advice

[SunLilly]

Ok, my daughter (18 at the time) just dropped off these birds about three years ago because her roommate was allergic to them. She said a friend gave them to her so I don't know much about them.

They are very sweet and wonderful little lovebirds. Male & Female. There names are Sunny and Piper. He is mostly yellow, she is green & yellow with a little peachy/rosy face. My daughter never gave us any instructions and I don't think she really knew how to care for them anyway.

So for the past two years I just give them food and water and keep their cage clean. I buy "expensive" food because it says things like "has fruits/vitamins/veggies that your bird needs" Because again, I don't really know what I'm doing but the guy @ petco seems to think it's what they need. I read somewhere that they like having a dark place to nest so we put a little nesting box on the side of their cage. They love it. The female is really good at biting paper and making a perfect nest. They lay lots of eggs but they never hatch. I don't handle them because the female bites and she gets really, really upset when I touch the male. So there they have been, seeming happy, for almost 3 years. They chatter and play and argue and they are very interesting to watch.

However, Just last night I notice that her feathers don't look right. She's always so sleek and pretty.., but now her feathers look almost rough, like someone spilled sticky water on her, and the color is irregular too. She looks "splotchy". I think she is breathing a little heavy too. It's hard to tell because she thinks my only purpose in this world should be to give her food and water and then stay the heck away from them.., she gets very upset when I hang out too long and shine lights on her and such.., the male doesn't care at all. Oh, also, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him. She looks even more "spotted" today than she did yesterday. There are not vets around where I live that even see birds.., I'd have to drive like 2 hours and I'm not sure the transport wouldn't stress her out and kill her, especially if she is sick. I love these little birds. Thank you for reading this overly long post. Any advice.., please & thank you.

[christie99]

What city in Northern California are you near? There are quite a few vets up that way that see birds, that is where I'm from.

It sounds like you have a very sick bird on your hands that needs to see an avian vet. We can help you find one if you tell us the city.

Also, you probably have two female birds, that is why you have lots of eggs that never hatch. I would remove the nestbox.

[MicahEspudo]

I agree you NEED to take them to an AVIAN vet!!!!

[Lori~D]

Hello. It may be true you have two female birds but that can only be told for certain by surgical sexing or DNA testing unless this was already done and someone has record of it. She could possible be moulting hard - it is that time of year. A picture would help immensly!! If you dont want babies (if they are a pair) you do need to remove the nest box and lower the daylight hours they get. Laying eggs for her is VERY taxing on the system and depletes her calcium levels quickly. Do they have a Cuttlebone or other Calcium suppliment they can eat free choice? Females will eat three times more of it while laying. Another thing that can happen is that (esp if lack of calcium) she can get a soft egg "STUCK", its called egg binding and it will kill her. This is why we dont let breeders lay more than twice a season and less depending on the birds. They sometimes need to be forced to rest. Give them NO type of hiding place at all - -trust me you are doing the best for them. Also you can sometimes stop the laying by moving the cage location and toys around but daylight hours are most important. Get them in the dark for 12-16 hours.
Lastly, birds are prey animals that hide sickness as long as possible to avoid being dinner for some other animal. If your bird is looking sick then it is VERY VERY sick and needs to see a vet asap. Preferably one who is certified in Avian care - but any vet who sees birds is better than no vet. The labored breathing you described is not good. can you get a pic?
If she is in fact moulting - the feathers will look funny in those areas, look close, like little porcupine quills? pointed at the end? those are new feathers coming in. Its an itchy difficult time for some birds and makes them grumpy but completly normal. Some birds do it more at one time than others. I have some birds that seem to do it one feather at a time - you can hardly tell save for the feathers all over the floor and others who do it in great clumps and look pitiful.

[SunLilly]

I don't live in a city, I live in the mountains. There is a town about :45 minutes away with one vet, I called and she says she doesn't see birds and suggested I try Chico or Redding, which would both be about 2 hours from here. I can't get a picture right now but maybe when my friend comes over she'll bring her computer camera for me. If you know any vets in this area that see birds and can see them on a weekend, I'd love to get a name. Pretty much impossible with my work schedule to take them down during the day.., and as I said I don't think it will do much good if it just stresses her to death.

Unless they are very gay, they are not both females. They seem to enjoy procreation. Besides, only one lays eggs, she is way better at nesting, and is very protective over the eggs.., he only goes and sits on them every now and then., sounds like a boy & girl to me. When I first got them they trying to care for their eggs on the floor, so it seems mean to take away their nest box.

No, I don't have a cuddlebone in their cage.., because I was buying seed that said it had calcium it in. I have tried feeding them fruits and veggies because I read they need them to stay healthy.., but they just refuse, they even pic them out of the food, they don't seem to recognize them as food..., so I figured this is why the eggs do not hatch.

I've been watching her a lot, and I don't think she's breathing much faster than the other one.., like I said it's hard to tell because she freaks out and yells at everyone if they are close. Other than her feathers she is acting "normal". She sits on her eggs until I come over and then she jumps out to yell at me. She plays with her toys when she thinks I'm not looking, she seems to be moving and eating ok. I really can't get her to a vet right now.., so posting "go to a vet" when I stated I could not.., well.., it's just not helpful.., so does anyone have any HELPFUL suggestions about what I can do from here? What I can do to make her comfortable. She may be just molting big time.., it is her feathers that are all weird.., but would that cause them to have discoloration spots? It sounds like I need to add a cuddlebone.., check.., and I'll take the suggestion about keeping them in lower light, I've been keeping them covered a lot to keep them warm anyway..., will do both today & tonight. How long should I let them keep those eggs in there? they spend so much time with them.., but I thought maybe somehow they won't lay more. I'm not supposed to seperate love birds.., right? I've heard that it can even kill them. The two eggs that are in the box seem hard and normal (and she about took my finger off when I was checking that one.) She's awnry but I really love them both. It's so sweet to watch them and they are so beautiful. Any suggestions?

[christie99]

It is a myth that lovebirds will die if seperated. They may pine for each other, but this will not cause death. If you can take away the box and prevent them from laying again (which is possible) then you don't need to worry about seperating them. You will have to upset them though, rearranging the cage once a week when you clean it will be enough along with limiting daylight hours to less than 12.

By keeping the nestbox in there and allowing them to lay when they feel like it you are not doing the best by her. It is not mean to take away the nest box, that is for the raising of chicks and brooding of eggs. She lays because conditions are right, no matter what it will do to her health. Along with calcium, she is loosing protein too. This can and will kill birds eventually. It is a very painful death which can be prevented.

Again, tell us what city you are near, I'm assuming near Mt Shasta City if I remember my drive times right, or maybe Alturas. We can help you find a vet that is closer, but if they are not closer and she is really sick, she will need to take the trip.

Yes, two birds of the same sex can and will "mate" and nest. It has nothing to do with gender prefrences, but them following what their hormones tell them to do. Birds will even bond and mate with a toy or human if they feel inclined.

Discoloration can be from liver or kidney disease, but that would have to be diagnosed by a vet. I know you don't think this is helpful, but it is what does need to be done.

We are trying to help you by helping find a vet, which you seem unwilling to let us do. Just because one vet doesn't know of anyone that sees birds, it doesn't always make it true. I have found several vets in the mountains of California that either know birds, or are willing to consult with an avian vet over the phone so an animal can get the care that it needs.

Fortified seed is not always the best. The fortification is on the hull, which is discarded. Continue to offer fresh foods and greens. Eventually they will try it. You can buy cooked food as well, but I would not offer this to a nesting pair since it will make them more broody and more likely to continue to lay, which again, past 2 clutches in 12 months is not healthy.

I'm glad that she is acting healthy, but again, like I said above, it could be an internal disorder that is treatable. I myself have a cockatiel that was diagnosed with kidney disease 10 years ago and she is still doing well.