Hi everyone, new here and am thrilled to get some advice on mating cockatiels and what to do.

[Zara]

Can I ask you why the nest box should be attached to the outside of the cage and not placed inside?

1. So they don´t go up and poop on the top of the box.
2. To not take up their precious cage space.
3. Ease of access for us to clean and check eggs/chicks.
4. Reduces stress for adults as hole can be blocked while we are quickly in the box. Also this prevents the adults guarding the doorway and biting.

What do I do when she lays another egg because they keep mating. Just take the eggs out? Also read about dummy eggs?

Having a hen means it is best to have a set of dummy eggs on hand. They can be costly, but look at it as an investment in health equipment.
For future eggs, remove the egg and pop a dummy egg in it´s place - where it´s laid, it stays, so you find an egg on the cage floor, then put the dummy there.
While you don´t have dummy eggs, you can take the egg, boils for a couple of minutes, allow to cool (be careful of hot centres) then put back where you found it.
If an egg is laid from up high and you find it broken, leave it a little while so she sees it is broken, then clean up.

 

[Kassiani]

Hi Jossner, and Welcome!

I never plan on breeding birds, but thank you for starting this thread. I'm really learning a lot!

 

[Joy222]

I am not a breeder, thank goodness.

Geez I didn’t mean to possibly become one!

 

[Joy222]

Hi Jossner, and Welcome!

I never plan on breeding birds, but thank you for starting this thread. I'm really learning a lot!

Hey Kassiani! Thanks for the welcome and I’m learning so much too! This forum and the people here are awesome ~Joy (working on Changing my profile name to my first name!)

 

[Kassiani]

When I first got my budgies, they were too young for me to know their sexes...I was just praying I would have two of the same 2 boys or 2 girls. I don't know what I would have done if I had one of each, they were mating and laying eggs! I feel for you! I'm glad you are here and can ask questions

 

[Kassiani]

I'm going to be adding a cockatiel to me flock at some point, they seem so personable! Your two are adorable!

 

[Zara]

(working on Changing my profile name to my first name!)

Click your username in the top left, then ¨account details¨. From there you will see ¨change username¨ to the left

 

[Shezbug]

Welcome to the Avenue

 

[Monica]

If you can figure out any triggers to egg laying and remove them, that would also help. I have the following information below, which is geared towards single hens laying eggs, however may give some ideas even for a pair.


If it helps... This is generally what I recommend for egg-laying hens. (X-post)

1. Remove Eggs
   • Rearrange the cage
   • Move the cage to a new location
   • Use a cage grate
   • Get a new cage/Use a different cage
   • 12-14 hours of complete darkness (may require as much as 16 hrs for 2 weeks - or try providing the opposite, as little as 8 hrs of sleep)
   • Full Spectrum Lighting/Better Lighting
   • Lower the indoor temperature
   • Decrease calcium and protein within the diet (if she is on a high calcium & protein diet prior to laying eggs)
   • Remove anything that could be taken as a nest
   • Remove anything that could be used as nesting material
   • Don't allow her in any dark place or enclosed area
   • IMPORTANT: save the eggs in the fridge
   • If she lays more than 3-4 eggs, put them back in the cage
2. Leave the Eggs
   • Leave the eggs alone in the cage
   • [Optional] Replace with fake eggs (prevent eggs from breaking)
   • Increase calcium
   • Let hen sit on eggs for 3-4 weeks or until she gets bored of them
   • Once done sitting, toss

Generally speaking, there are triggers to hens laying eggs, and if you can remove the triggers, you may be able to stop the egg laying. Triggers can include toys that she can lay in, a plastic base to a cage, nesting material (i.e. cage bedding), a diet high in protein and fat, too much or not enough light, quality of light, etc. All things that should be considered. Removing the triggers to egg laying should be considered *FIRST* before any drastic measures should be taken. You never know, it could be something simple!

 

[Joy222]

When I first got my budgies, they were too young for me to know their sexes...I was just praying I would have two of the same 2 boys or 2 girls. I don't know what I would have done if I had one of each, they were mating and laying eggs! I feel for you! I'm glad you are here and can ask questions

 

[Joy222]

Welcome to the Avenue

Hi Shezbug! Thanks for the welcome!

 

[Joy222]

I'm going to be adding a cockatiel to me flock at some point, they seem so personable! Your two are adorable!
[/QUOTE

If you can figure out any triggers to egg laying and remove them, that would also help. I have the following information below, which is geared towards single hens laying eggs, however may give some ideas even for a pair.


If it helps... This is generally what I recommend for egg-laying hens. (X-post)

1. Remove Eggs
   • Rearrange the cage
   • Move the cage to a new location
   • Use a cage grate
   • Get a new cage/Use a different cage
   • 12-14 hours of complete darkness (may require as much as 16 hrs for 2 weeks - or try providing the opposite, as little as 8 hrs of sleep)
   • Full Spectrum Lighting/Better Lighting
   • Lower the indoor temperature
   • Decrease calcium and protein within the diet (if she is on a high calcium & protein diet prior to laying eggs)
   • Remove anything that could be taken as a nest
   • Remove anything that could be used as nesting material
   • Don't allow her in any dark place or enclosed area
   • IMPORTANT: save the eggs in the fridge
   • If she lays more than 3-4 eggs, put them back in the cage
2. Leave the Eggs
   • Leave the eggs alone in the cage
   • [Optional] Replace with fake eggs (prevent eggs from breaking)
   • Increase calcium
   • Let hen sit on eggs for 3-4 weeks or until she gets bored of them
   • Once done sitting, toss

Generally speaking, there are triggers to hens laying eggs, and if you can remove the triggers, you may be able to stop the egg laying. Triggers can include toys that she can lay in, a plastic base to a cage, nesting material (i.e. cage bedding), a diet high in protein and fat, too much or not enough light, quality of light, etc. All things that should be considered. Removing the triggers to egg laying should be considered *FIRST* before any drastic measures should be taken. You never know, it could be something simple!

Thanks Monica! I’m working on it! I wish I had 2 males or females but I love them both the same. And my hen laid another egg today. Ugh, so much learning to do. But that’s ok!

 

[Joy222]

I'm going to be adding a cockatiel to me flock at some point, they seem so personable! Your two are adorable!

Youre more than welcome to one of my babies if they hatch! My hen just laid another egg tonight I don’t know what I got myself in to!

 

[Joy222]

Click your username in the top left, then ¨account details¨. From there you will see ¨change username¨ to the left

Thanks for all the help and advice Zara! My hen just laid another egg today, I’m losing my mind over this!

 

[Zara]

My hen just laid another egg today, I’m losing my mind over this!

For future eggs, remove the egg and pop a dummy egg in it´s place - where it´s laid, it stays, so you find an egg on the cage floor, then put the dummy there.
While you don´t have dummy eggs, you can take the egg, boils for a couple of minutes, allow to cool (be careful of hot centres) then put back where you found it.
If an egg is laid from up high and you find it broken, leave it a little while so she sees it is broken, then clean up.

Ps, I also got an egg off of one of my birds today

I don´t know if I said before, you may want to invest in a calendar or diary to jot eggs down. Cockatiels are notorious for becoming chronic layers, so it is something to monitor.

 

[Pegggggg]

Bolding mine. If they're the same age, and you got them from the same place, I'd guess you bought them at the same time? In that case, especially with a mom and pop store that may have a limited number of suppliers, there's a very good chance your birds are brother and sister, yet another reason not to breed them.

This was my very first thought.... also... 1 yr old is not really old enough...

 

[taxidermynerd]

This was my very first thought.... also... 1 yr old is not really old enough...

They already said they have no intention of breeding them.

 

[Joy222]

Ps, I also got an egg off of one of my birds today

I don´t know if I said before, you may want to invest in a calendar or diary to jot eggs down. Cockatiels are notorious for becoming chronic layers, so it is something to monitor.

Hey! Just ordered dummy eggs from Amazon. Lucky me 1-2 weeks for delivery! Why couldn’t it be Prime?!!! Ugh. Have to go read all your posts again and figure out what to do this weekend. Stupid Amazon! And Happy Egg Day to your hen!

 

[Zara]

Have to go read all your posts again and figure out what to do this weekend.

Boiling and cooling a real egg will turn it into a temporary dummy egg

And Happy Egg Day to your hen!

I´m sure she agrees!!

 

[Joy222]

Boiling and cooling a real egg will turn it into a temporary dummy egg


I´m sure she agrees!!

Oh these hens! And when they are both out of the box she stills rides on top of him, so embarrassing to see haha! We call it ‘doing the diddly’