Post by a11ycat on Jul 2, 2008 11:50:29 GMT
Hi,
Been a long time since I was on here... but I'm back now.
I have two pet cockatiels; a male and female cockatiel who are coming up to two years old.
They have mated on and off for over a year now, and in February, the hen lay some eggs on the cage floor. The birds didn't sit on them at all, and I decided to introduce a nest box, and moved the eggs, but again no interest. I left the nestbox on, and about 3 weeks ago, the hen started laying in the nestbox.
She and the male rotated incubating duty from the start for a few days, then I had trouble with the male attacking her. I removed the male for 1 day, but was advised to reunite them, which led to a more severe attack, leaving her limping due to bites on her feet, cuts to one of her wings, and a small crack on her beak. After that I removed him again, though kept him in the same room. I've had advise suggesting that the cage they are in is too small for them to breed in, it is in my opinion a reasonably sized cage for two cockatiels, and is the biggest non-parrot cage I can get in my area. I would also normally have allowed the cockatiels out of the cage every evening and weekend to fly around the room for exercise.
Having been told that the male is usually responsible for rearing the chicks, I have tried to reintroduce them, but the male has either attacked her, or on the most recent attempt, she was clearly stressed by him being in the same cage. So I have temporarily rehomed him to a friend, where a close eye will be kept on him, to make sure he is ok, and I'm keeping a close eye on the female. I wanted to move him away from the female as to stop him screaming constantly and annoying my neighbours, I had to let him out of the spare cage during the day, so he spent the day on and around her cage, and was bothering her on the few occasions she came out to eat.
Two weeks ago, I noticed one of the eggs was severely cracked, so I removed it, having heard that it could cause problems for the healthy eggs. However for the last week, she has laid 3 more eggs, to add to the 3 remaining, which is something I hadn't expected. I must add that the mum is tame, and is happy for me to handle her and be around the nestbox, though I try not to disturb her and only check the eggs when she is eating.
I have candled the eggs, with a bendy candler thing, so I didnt have to touch the eggs, and have watched the three original eggs, develop veins, go a red colour, and they now look very dark inside - which I presume to be the nearly full grown chicks.
I've bought some handrearing formula, so I can assist feedings if necessary, but I won't be able to give round the clock feedings and raise them completely myself if she won't. I've got a heat lamp which I can put on the side of the nestbox (from the outside) which gently heats up the nestbox, and have invested in a heat mat too. I've also got a proper thermometer so I can accurately measure the temperature in the box, and the formula.
The impression I have from other advice is that it is very unlikely the chicks will survive with just the mum, so my feeling is to do my best to support her and the chicks, and hope for the best but expect the worst.
My priority is for the mum, (now that I know the male is in safe hands) and I'm keeping a close eye on her weight to make sure she is doing ok.
If any chicks hatch, I plan to remove the new eggs, so she concentrates on the chicks.
Is there any advice that anyone can give me?
Been a long time since I was on here... but I'm back now.
I have two pet cockatiels; a male and female cockatiel who are coming up to two years old.
They have mated on and off for over a year now, and in February, the hen lay some eggs on the cage floor. The birds didn't sit on them at all, and I decided to introduce a nest box, and moved the eggs, but again no interest. I left the nestbox on, and about 3 weeks ago, the hen started laying in the nestbox.
She and the male rotated incubating duty from the start for a few days, then I had trouble with the male attacking her. I removed the male for 1 day, but was advised to reunite them, which led to a more severe attack, leaving her limping due to bites on her feet, cuts to one of her wings, and a small crack on her beak. After that I removed him again, though kept him in the same room. I've had advise suggesting that the cage they are in is too small for them to breed in, it is in my opinion a reasonably sized cage for two cockatiels, and is the biggest non-parrot cage I can get in my area. I would also normally have allowed the cockatiels out of the cage every evening and weekend to fly around the room for exercise.
Having been told that the male is usually responsible for rearing the chicks, I have tried to reintroduce them, but the male has either attacked her, or on the most recent attempt, she was clearly stressed by him being in the same cage. So I have temporarily rehomed him to a friend, where a close eye will be kept on him, to make sure he is ok, and I'm keeping a close eye on the female. I wanted to move him away from the female as to stop him screaming constantly and annoying my neighbours, I had to let him out of the spare cage during the day, so he spent the day on and around her cage, and was bothering her on the few occasions she came out to eat.
Two weeks ago, I noticed one of the eggs was severely cracked, so I removed it, having heard that it could cause problems for the healthy eggs. However for the last week, she has laid 3 more eggs, to add to the 3 remaining, which is something I hadn't expected. I must add that the mum is tame, and is happy for me to handle her and be around the nestbox, though I try not to disturb her and only check the eggs when she is eating.
I have candled the eggs, with a bendy candler thing, so I didnt have to touch the eggs, and have watched the three original eggs, develop veins, go a red colour, and they now look very dark inside - which I presume to be the nearly full grown chicks.
I've bought some handrearing formula, so I can assist feedings if necessary, but I won't be able to give round the clock feedings and raise them completely myself if she won't. I've got a heat lamp which I can put on the side of the nestbox (from the outside) which gently heats up the nestbox, and have invested in a heat mat too. I've also got a proper thermometer so I can accurately measure the temperature in the box, and the formula.
The impression I have from other advice is that it is very unlikely the chicks will survive with just the mum, so my feeling is to do my best to support her and the chicks, and hope for the best but expect the worst.
My priority is for the mum, (now that I know the male is in safe hands) and I'm keeping a close eye on her weight to make sure she is doing ok.
If any chicks hatch, I plan to remove the new eggs, so she concentrates on the chicks.
Is there any advice that anyone can give me?
they make wonderful sitters & Parents..there is always the exception, but in general theya re dependable...I am keeping my fingers crossed for you though, as I know how you feel waiting anxiously for the big day!! 