The deal with the Cockatiels was, I brought them back from Fla. in bad shape. They needed me, & I needed you.?

Question

They for now are living on my front screen porch,had no choice until the avairy is built,which is almost done. so they wound up having nest boxes on the porch in various places,apart from one another,but that didn't work. two females laid eggs in one box, from the same male. i do believe they may be ok now,I haven't seen three in there since our last email. We have 5 babies/3 to go. Wish me luck! and Thank You!

Answer 1

Why would you breed animals that are "in bad shape" without the proper habitat?  That would make them sicker and produced unhealthy offspring.  That's not responsible breeding.

Answer 2

I am ready

Answer 3

Cockatiels are a popular choice for amateur parrot breeders along with budgerigars. This is due to both the ease of getting the birds to breed (they seem to have no inhibitions, with both genders engaging in self-stimulation) and the fairly low cost of the equipment needed. Generally a clutch consists of 4-5 eggs, each approximately the size of one's thumbnail. Eggs are laid once every two days and incubate for about 19 days. Hatchlings are weaned in 4 weeks, and can fly around 2 months. Puberty (adolescence) is reached around 9 months of age while adulthood is reached around 1 year and 9 months in males and/or 15 months in females. Male cockatiels are very protective and nurturing of their offspring and are known to be very capable of raising their newborns if the mother is unable to.

Some female cockatiels also lay eggs without fertilization, much as those of the chicken species used for food production. In this event, the owner should leave the eggs alone until the bird stops sitting on them, after which the eggs can be removed. To prevent laying, one can keep the cockatiel in more darkness per day by covering it earlier in the evening and leaving the cage covered longer in the morning. Like all parrots, cockatiels of either gender can grow to see their owner or a toy as a mate, engage in courtship and mating behavior including territoriality, and females may lay infertile eggs. It has been suggested by some breeders that petting the back of the female cockatiel may inadvertently sexually stimulate the hen, promoting egg-laying, and that owners seeking to avoid egg-laying should avoid this particular form of bonding.The Cockatiel has recently been shown to be capable of hybridising with the Galah, producing offspring described by the media as 'Galatiels'.

Breeding is not a decision to be made lightly. Cockatiel breeding is not especially difficult but it will require time, commitment, and thought. The next requirement is that the birds be mature. Many cockatiels, especially larger ones, are still growing until 15 or even 18 months and I strongly believe that no animal should be bred until its own growth is complete no matter how excellent the nutrition and care. I also strongly believe that only good stock should be bred. It isn't necessary for every hobby breeder to have an in depth knowledge of genetics but you should have a basic familiarity with the common mutations and the basic inheritance patterns (dominant, recessive and s*x linked).

The recommended breeding setup for one pair consists of a large (18"W x 18"H x 48"L), breeding cage and a (12" x 12") nestbox. Cockatiels are opportunistic breeders who will breed at any time of year given favorable conditions. Once you create the favorable conditions you may want to wait until they have mated a few times before actually opening the nest box to them. I fill the box with several inches of pine shavings (the larger the wood chips the better so the parents don't feed it to the babies). Sometime after you've set the birds up -- usually 1 to 3 weeks later -- the hen will begin laying. You can candle (hold them briefly to a small, strong light such as a penlight), the eggs about 7-10 days after they've begun to sit (often not until 3-4 eggs have been laid). Babies can be either pulled for handfeeding or they can be raised by their parents and hand tamed by regular handling from the time they begin to feather out. Weaning to solid foods usually takes place between 6 and 8 weeks and shouldn't be rushed.  So far I'm assuming that everything is going well.