Breeding cockatiels is simple, but it is important that this is done responsibly and with the certainty that all the chicks will have a home. Before starting, make sure the male and female are able to mate and that the birds have what they need to hatch eggs.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Finding the ideal couple
Step 1. See if the cockatiels are ripe enough
The male and female involved in the mating must be at least 18 months old. Younger specimens may not know how to take care of the young, and younger females, in particular, may retain the egg.
Egg retention is a condition in which the egg gets trapped in the cloaca, which can cause infection or even death
Step 2. Check that there is no relationship between the couple
Related birds are more likely to give rise to weak or malformed chicks. If you're not sure they're not related, contact the breeder who sold them and find out. If there is consanguinity, do not cross.
Step 3. Check for signs that the birds are in good health
Before breeding them, it's a good idea to take cockatiels to a veterinarian who specializes in birds and make sure they are okay. This helps to protect them from possible illness and prevent malformations in the puppies. Weight is a good indicator of health in cockatiels.
- Overweight: increases the chances of infertility in both sexes and egg retention in females. To find out if the cockatiel is overweight, try feeling her carina or sternum. If you can't, it's because she's overweight.
- Underweight: Being underweight may suggest an illness or that one bird guards the food bowl, preventing the other from eating. Find out why the bird is underweight before crossing.
Step 4. Remember that not every cockatiel makes a good parent
You may have to raise puppies if they are neglected or mistreated by their parents. Assess whether you have the time and energy to raise cockatiel chicks before mating.
Part 2 of 3: Preparing to make the cross
Step 1. Provide 10 to 12 hours of natural light or strong artificial light per day
Cockatiels mate at any time of year, but for that they need a good amount of light. Therefore, they must have access to a good source of light, natural or artificial, for 10 to 12 hours a day.
Step 2. Feed the birds well
It is important that they are well fed in the period before mating. Offer a balanced diet that is suitable for cockatiels. Watch them eat to make sure you both have access to the food and water bowls. If one specimen is preventing the other from eating or drinking, place extra bowls of water and food in the cage. These are some of the foods recommended for cockatiels:
- Assorted seeds for cockatiels;
- Soft foods such as vegetables, pasta, cooked rice or beans, and wet wheat bread;
- germinated seeds;
- Cuttle bone or mineral blocks, due to calcium;
- Supplements (to sprinkle on food) such as Spirulina, Echinacea and Prozyme;
- Clean, fresh water (which must be changed twice a day).
Step 3. Place the couple in a large cage
Your cockatiels need a lot of room to mate, and they'll need even more after the eggs hatch. Arrange them in a nursery approximately 1.80 x 0.90 x 0.90 m. It is possible to put the couple in the aviary a few weeks before you install the nest box. Thus, they will get to know each other better and there will be more harmony between them at the time of mating.
Put the cage in a quiet corner of the house, where the pair have the silence and privacy to mate, incubate and hatch the eggs, and finally raise the chicks
Step 4. Create a nesting box
Once the pair have spent at least two weeks together and are getting along well, it's time to give them a nesting box. When choosing it, here are some points you should consider:
- Material. There are several types of nesting boxes for sale: metal, plastic, wooden, among others. Wood is a good option as it allows cockatiels to roam the entrance, leaving it according to their preferences.
- Size. A 30 x 30 cm box is sufficient for breeding cockatiels.
- Back door. There are nesting boxes that come with an additional door at the rear, which allows the breeder to gain access to the chicks without disturbing the mother.
- Lining. The cockatiel pair will use the lining to make a safe and comfortable nest for their chicks. Your best options for the lining are dust-free pine shavings or some faded paper (such as blank newsprint or paper towels). Do not use cedar shavings, whose oils can be harmful, perhaps even fatal, to puppies.
Part 3 of 3: Crossing the Cockatiels
Step 1. See if the male prepares the nest
It is clear that cockatiels are preparing for mating when the male begins to set up the nest. It will gnaw at the nest box entrance, enlarging it to the desired size, and will also arrange the lining however you like. Once the nest is arranged to the male's taste, he will invite the female to enter.
Step 2. Watch for signs of mating
When it's time to mate, the male will perform a mating dance, during which he shakes his head, jumps repeatedly, and sings. You will also notice the birds stroking each other. When the female is ready to mate, she will crouch down, a position in which the male can mate with her.
- Mating can take up to a minute to complete, after which the male will fly away.
- The female cockatiel should lay eggs about two weeks after mating.
Step 3. Let the parents incubate the eggs
The two will take turns incubating the eggs, although the female will spend most of her time sitting on them. You will notice that both birds will pluck some feathers to expose the skin. This region of exposed skin, which parents create to improve the body's contact with the eggs, is called the hatching plate.
- Hatching will take about three weeks, but egg laying takes place approximately one week before the female is ready to hatch. She will lay an egg every 48 hours, and a litter consists of two to eight eggs.
- The male brings food to the female while she incubates the eggs.
Step 4. Leave the nest alone
After the 21-day incubation period, the eggs will hatch. You can take a peek at the nest box to see if there are any dead or afflicted chicks, but don't cause any other disturbances to the new family. Give parents and children the time and privacy they need to bond.
The weaning process (ie, eating without parental help) begins at approximately 10 weeks of age. At this point, it is best to separate males from females to prevent them from mating, as sisters and brothers can mate if the circumstances are right, giving rise to unwanted offspring. Hence the importance that they be separated from each other
Step 5. Reduce matings
Once cockatiels have bred and raised chicks, you might want to take some precautions to prevent them from crossing again. There are some things you can do to prevent this.
- Dim the light. Exposing birds to less light every day discourages mating. The period during which they have access to light can be shortened from 10~12 hours to approximately eight hours, which simulates winter conditions, making re-mating less likely.
- Remove the nesting box. You can remove the nest box from the aviary when the cockatiels are done using it to incubate eggs and raise chicks.
- Cut soft foods. Do not offer the birds any soft foods such as noodles, beans and moist bread. Despite this, remember to give them a nutritious diet.
Tips
- Read all the material you can on the subject and talk to experienced breeders before trying to breed cockatiels on your own.
- Find a veterinarian who specializes or is interested in avian medicine that you can turn to should a problem occur.