Why do lovebirds kill their young?

[Sophia#1]

Hi I recently got x2 Blue masks. Lovely, friendly birds approx 12 months.

They bonded and 2 months later I had 5 eggs.

Mommy took great care in brooding and the nest was awesome. Daddy fed her like a good hubby and she looked well.
Baby 1 was hatched 9days ago aand nr 3, 5 days. The babies grew well and was looking good. Both parents fed them religiously. This morning I checked on them and all 3 babies were dead! They had pecked wounds on their bodies.

What happened?

 

[Ali]

I'm so sorry

@Zara ! Sorry, but your my first port of call for lovebirds

 

[Ali]

Maybe they new of some health issue we wouldn't have known about, so sadly killed them?

 

[Zara]

I´m sorry for your loss.

Maybe they new of some health issue we wouldn't have known about, so sadly killed them?

Maybe. And the parents pecked at the chicks in hopes of a response...

OR

Bad parents. I would not recommend breeding this pair again. ( unless you are going to take the chicks upon hatching - not something I recommend but I know some do it). It could be down to inexperience, or ¨just because¨.

Ali, I don´t mind you tagging me at all
(I do already get alerts for LL threads though, but not for any others in other forums)

 

[Sophia#1]

How often should you check on babies? I checked them daily, not touching or handling them just checking that they were growing. There was no sign of this in the parents behavior. I had them in large 1,8x1,8 aviary with another pair that is currently on eggs - babies due in 7 days).
Question, did I maybe spook the parents?

 

[Ali]

Could it be sabotage? Could one of the other pair have gone in and attacked them?I have heard stories of this happening, particularly with budgies.

 

[Zara]

I had them in large 1,8x1,8 aviary with another pair that is currently on eggs - babies due in 7 days).

Remove the pair and house them elsewhere to allow your birds on eggs to rear their chicks in safety. Lovebirds are known nest destroyers.
Despite their name and cute cuddly appearance, lovebirds really are brutal.

Question, did I maybe spook the parents?

If these birds are not ¨tame¨ at all, I don´t know.
My birds are companions, I have no trouble with going in the nest etc even though my hen is not ¨tame¨, the male is the tamest of tame.
I check in am and pm, for the first two weeks, then just once going forward.

Could one of the other pair have gone in and attacked them?

If they had the opportunity to, maybe, however, you would see damage to the hen and even the male (parents of the hatched chicks). Hens will defend their eggs and chicks to the death (literally), and males will usually stand guard in the doorway, I am not sure how violent the males get, but I imagine something similar to the females.

*Sorry I had to come back and edit this, my computer was freezing a little*

 

[Sophia#1]

Remove the pair and house them elsewhere to allow your birds on eggs to rear their chicks in safety. Lovebirds are known nest destroyers.
Despite their name and cute cuddly appearance, lovebirds really are brutal.


If these birds are not ¨tame¨ at all, I don´t know.
My birds are companions, I have no trouble with going in the nest etc even though my hen is not ¨tame¨, the male is the tamest of tame.
I check in am and pm, for the first two weeks, then just once going forward.


If they had the opportunity to, maybe, however, you would see damage to the hen and even the male (parents of the hatched chicks). Hens will defend their eggs and chicks to the death (literally), and males will usually stand guard in the doorway, I am not sure how violent the males get, but I imagine something similar to the females.

*Sorry I had to come back and edit this, my computer was freezing a little*

I've moved the pair to smaller cage and cleaned out everything leaving Maverick and Grietjie alone in the, 1,8m x1, 8m.
Lets see what happens

 

[Ali]

Well that was quick! I hope everything goes well

 

[Zara]

Well that was quick!

You gotta be.

I wish you the best success with Maverick and Grietjie´s clutch

 

[Sophia#1]

Thank you

 

[Sophia#1]

So the sad also died last night there was no wounds on him so I assume they got sick..!? Mom is doing well.

 

[Zara]

I´m very sorry, how sad, Please take your hen to the vet asap.

 

[Sophia#1]

Hen is fine thanks

 

[Zara]

What did the vet say? Glad she's ok

 

[Sophia#1]

She is as fit as a fiddle. Bet said parrots sometimes kill their young. I did not take dad in for autopsy.