About Cockatiel Breeding Behavior?

Question

I have a breeding pair of cockatiels, but the female wont let the male into the box (I think its because she knows he likes to bite them and crack them). They have bred and cloaca apposition was seen and now she has laid three eggs. She does mainly all the work, and will only leave the box to gulp down as much seed as she can and water and go back inside. The male rarely ever takes incubation duties over, and I think afterawhile she is going to abandon them because he's not really helping her. And if I have too, I'll destory the eggs, I dont want to lose my female. Is there any advice anyone can give on this behavior and maybe how to make it alittle better for the female? Thanks!

Answer 1

Do not destroy the eggs! She will just lay another clutch. My male gets after the female at times to get off the eggs. Then he goes in there and sits on them. I notice he is on the eggs most nights while she rests up on a perch.

If you are really concerned about the female you may want to get a can of formula and consider sharing the feeding duties with them after they are born. If she abandons the babies after they are born you will be ready to step in. I dip my hands in the bag of seed so my hands smell of seed and then take out the babies and feed them. I clean any spilled formula off them with sterilized water and cotton balls and then return them to the nest; when they are abandoned or to give the parents a break. Don't do this unless you know how the parents will react though.

It is best to leave nature to its' natural course if you don't know how the parents will react. If you 'think' she is going to abandon them; that's fine; just don't destroy them. If the eggs are infertile she may eat them for the added calcium and this is fine.

My breeders are predictable and I have been doing this for years. They expect me to do this. If the parents are protective of the babies leave them alone!

email me if you wish for any questions