How much calcium does my lovebird need, especially when laying eggs?

Thanks for reaching out about Peaches. Does the diet normally include any calcium sources, such as green vegetables? Calcium supplements do need to be kept within reason, as oversupplementation can lead to calcification of kidneys. Are the eggs soft? Photoperiod manipulation, removing nests, separating from mates, can all help to reduce egg laying. A veterinary visit is recommended as some hormones might help. Good luck.

Hello, A well formulated pelleted diet, cuttlefish bone, and dark leafy greens are all good sources of calcium in the pet bird. Here is a link for more information on pet bird diets: https://www.petcoach.co/article/bird-nutrition-feeding-pet-birds-parrot-diets-and-nutrition/ I hope this helps! Thanks for using PetCoach.

Cuttlebone should be fine to give as most birds will self-limit when chewing on it, and if she is actively laying eggs it will help ensure she has enough calcium to form and safely lay them. She should be fine with only the cuttlebone and a balanced lovebird diet without needing to add additional calcium supplements. A lot of the controversy comes with grit style calcium supplements, which can sometimes cause obstructions in the crop. If you do not wish to have her lay eggs, removing any nesting material can help stop this behavior. Otherwise, just removing any eggs that are laid is fine. Respiratory disease usually will present with signs and symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, discharge from the nose, lethargy, heavy breathing, etc. If you suspect this is a problem, first ensuring the cage is kept clean, well-ventilated and that any bedding isn't kicking up dust is best, as well as scheduling a veterinary exam to rule out any other health issues.

Feed a good quality pelleted diet (Harrison's, Roudybush, Lafeber, Pretty Bird or Exact) supplemented with a fortified seed mix and fresh greens and vegetables. Provide a cuttlebone or mineral block. Always have fresh water available. Provide an appropriately sized nesting box and suitable nesting material (straw, Aspen shaving, shredded newspaper, etc.).

Removing the nest and current eggs won't replenish any currently lost calcium, but it may discourage Phoebe from laying more. If she doesn't have a mate, the eggs aren't viable and should be removed anyway. If you suspect she may lay more eggs, adding in a calcium supplement such as oyster shells or a cuttlebone (you can also use cooked eggfood, there are lots of recipes online) can help replenish calcium in addition to feeding her regular diet.

Unless your vet recommended it specifically, I would be giving eggfood or even cuttlebone/oyster shell as a calcium alternative to the Tums if you need a long-term calcium boost (Tums is great for short-term after an egg-binding episode, but longer term eggfood or oyster shell may be easier on your bird's GI tract). Otherwise, her diet and routine looks pretty good!

You can over supplement calcium so be careful. Use a supplement made for birds and follow the instructions on the bottle. ( https://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=24044 ) Normal clutch size is 4-6 eggs.