Post by a11ycat on Jan 10, 2007 12:06:37 GMT
Hi,
My two cockatiels that I purchased in November (as young birds) from a breeder seem to be 1 male and 1 female. Today my boyfriend observed them getting it on with each other, Sparky getting some action on Smoky.
I had always suspected that they were male and female as Sparky is a noisy fellow who sings alot and I had seen Smoky appear to make advances towards Sparky, though after having posted pictures on a breeders forum to try and confirm what mutations they were (Sparky is cinammon and Smoky is white-face, both are pied (I think)) it was suggested that they were both females as they both have bars underneath.
As far as I am aware neither of these birds has been through their first moult yet as they had both lost most of their tail feathers from being kept in too small a cage when I purchased them from the breeder, and the tail feathers are only beginning to grow back now.
They currently live in a large cage with 3 budgies quite happily, and I had not intended to breed them as they may be related and I would have to find new homes for any offspring as I don't have the room for more birds.
If anyone could share some advice as to what I can do I would appreciate it.
This is probably a stupid question but do eggs always result from mating?
There are no materials in the cage which the cockatiels would easily be able to nest with and I have seen no sign of nesting behaviour.
I will make an effort to reduce their waking hours to 12 hours a day, but how much of a difference can I expect this to make?
Do I need to start supplementing their diet? They currently get cockatiel seed, some veggies (not always eaten), vitamins in their water, and some Golden Feast with calcium supplemented twice a week.
If there are eggs and they start brooding them, I presume that I should rehouse the budgies into a separate cage?
Is there anything else I could or should do?
My two cockatiels that I purchased in November (as young birds) from a breeder seem to be 1 male and 1 female. Today my boyfriend observed them getting it on with each other, Sparky getting some action on Smoky.
I had always suspected that they were male and female as Sparky is a noisy fellow who sings alot and I had seen Smoky appear to make advances towards Sparky, though after having posted pictures on a breeders forum to try and confirm what mutations they were (Sparky is cinammon and Smoky is white-face, both are pied (I think)) it was suggested that they were both females as they both have bars underneath.
As far as I am aware neither of these birds has been through their first moult yet as they had both lost most of their tail feathers from being kept in too small a cage when I purchased them from the breeder, and the tail feathers are only beginning to grow back now.
They currently live in a large cage with 3 budgies quite happily, and I had not intended to breed them as they may be related and I would have to find new homes for any offspring as I don't have the room for more birds.
If anyone could share some advice as to what I can do I would appreciate it.
This is probably a stupid question but do eggs always result from mating?
There are no materials in the cage which the cockatiels would easily be able to nest with and I have seen no sign of nesting behaviour.
I will make an effort to reduce their waking hours to 12 hours a day, but how much of a difference can I expect this to make?
Do I need to start supplementing their diet? They currently get cockatiel seed, some veggies (not always eaten), vitamins in their water, and some Golden Feast with calcium supplemented twice a week.
If there are eggs and they start brooding them, I presume that I should rehouse the budgies into a separate cage?
Is there anything else I could or should do?
