Help new lovebird parents

[Mr.lovebird]

Hi I had them from a year now and I decided that I want to breed them. So I added the nest box. The female laid 2 fertile eggs. The first chick hatched the female didn't fed it. So it died due to dehydration Two days later the 2nd chick hatched. The same thing she did feed it. So I tried hand-feeding it but it died a few days later .
The female just kept them warm without feeding them.
So my question is:-
Is it normal for a new parent pair to act like this to not feed their chicks
And if she lays her second clutch will she feed them and how can I avoid this problem .
And thank you !!

 

[crimson]

New hens may not feed their chicks due to inexperience.

First time parents will often result in dead chicks, or their could have been health issues with both chicks, therefore she would not feed them.

Only time will tell whether it will continue or they will become good parents, of course you hope for the later

I would remove the nesting box and try in a month or two. Ensure she is receiving PLENTY of calcium, and good nutritional foods, mostly vegetables, and a small portion of fruits daily.
this should be given months in advance prior to breeding to ensure she is healthy, but most of all the chicks will be healthy. all year round is your best choice.

 

[Mr.lovebird]

Update!!!
Today morning I spotted them mating again!!!
I think she is ready for her 2nd clutch

 

[MikeyTN]

What was replied about is correct about first time parents! BUT it can still happen again IF they're not good parents! What was your feeding schedule for the previous chick that died??? It is a VERY tiring process and I hope you've done your research before diving in. At the very beginning you need to feed yogurt to start the process, you get the all natural yogurt in the organic section in your grocery store. It have the bacteria they need to start the process since the parents can't pass it to them of course since they're not feeding. Don't feed it ice cold but don't feed it hot either, do NOT heat it or cook it or you'll kill off the bacteria. I usually put it in the syringe and place the syringe in a bowl of warm water to warm it up. Then I feed it to them directly, all they need is just a small amount. They don't eat a lot at this stage anyways. Wait an hour then start your hand feeding process by making the formula very thin, where it is mostly water content, measure your temperature! Then feed it to the chick, always make sure the crop sac is empty before you feed!!!!! Then set your alarm to go off every hour and repeat the process, make sure you have a incubator set up to keep the chick warm. I wouldn't suggest leaving the chick with the parents unless they're really keeping him warm and all. Repeat this process for the first 3 days and on the 4th day you can go every 2 hrs around the clock. Then 6th day every 3hrs, at 7th day he should be getting pretty big and accepting more formula and you can change the schedule to 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm, 11pm and you can skip the late night feeding. At 14 days old you can do 7am, 12pm, 7pm, 12am Of course during these changes, your formula amount will increase and thicken the formula a bit once it's past 7 days stage but still pretty watery. By 14 days your formula should be thicken a little more BUT not too thick. My schedule tend to change a little after 21 days of age so depending on how your chick is doing to change it.

 

[Mr.lovebird]

Well today I will try a new brand of egg food (versele laga). I hope it satisfy their need of vitamin calcium sources etc.
I do add some veggies. They love parsley. I tried giving them cabbage, they won't even nibble on it, yea they also love lettuce. That's all the veggies I have tried. I also offered them fruits like orange , apple but they won't even touch it.
Changing their water twice a day. It's like they love to spiol their water bowl with feathers, poops and feathers.