THE BASICS OF BREEDING COCKATIELS :: Cockatiel lovers :: Care2 Groups::
First of all, make sure you have a true pair! While this is a more expensive than just adding dry egg, it is better for the birds.
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Cockatiel Owners/Breeders,
I have two Normal Grey cockatiels, male and female, and have recently found out that they are mating. I have just phoned the breeder I got them from, and she said that they aren't siblings, which was a wave of relief for me!
They have mated about three or four times, and they were actually mating, not trying to mate. My female. Grey Grey, is in season. The male, Diablo, has mated her about two times today, not to mention cage time. They are a year and a half of age.
My question is, do you absolutely need an incubator if you are hand feeding / hand raising them? Can's the parents take care of them as eggs, and let us feed them later on, and then let the parents keep them?
You can leave the babies with their parents until the first chick opens it eyes, then you need to remove them all. YOU are what you want them to be the first thing they see. You can use a container as a brooder with a heat lamp, move it closer or further away to adjust the temperature. I'm not sure of the temperatures for cockatiels so try these sites.
http://www.flockintiels.co.uk/hand_reari...
http://members.tripod.com/~Cockatiels4U/...
also keep a towel over them so the light doesn't hurt their little eyes.
You should try to google 'hand rearing cockatiels' and you'll get loads of information.
You need a nesting box with some soft stuff in there for insulation but when they lay their eggs it needs to be in the box so that the parents can take turns sitting on the eggs and they stay warmer. After the babies hatch you must take them away from the parents and try to keep them from having much contact. Feed them baby bird food from a syringe. Make sure it's mixed right and lukewarm. Use a drop on the wrist to test. Careful to feed them slowly and let them swallow or they could choke. You do not need anything more than a nest made of towels for heat. If they start to cry just hold them close to your body so they feel your body heat and if they continue then they might be hungery. I carried mine around in my bra for warmth. With cockatiels it's usually extremely easy to see through their food pouch on the neck and see if they are running low and going to be hungry off that. You need to feed them frequently so that they always have some food inside. Be prepared for some sleepless nights because once you start hand feeding them the parents are out of the picture and they can't make it through an entire night very well without food.
Breeding Cockatiels: December 2005::
I have found this completely true as I learn from my problems and others been setup for breeding to ensure there is no aggression or chronic egg laying.
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PS - While they are young you need to be there 24/7 or you need to train a babysitter in how to keep them warm and fed.
What you will actually need is a brooder not an incubator. You can find instructions on making your own brooder as well as some good information on hand feeding here http://www.cockatielcottage.net/breeding...
Avian Polyomas Virus: My Thoughts, by Dr. David N. Phalen, D.V.M.,Ph.D.::
The same is also true for most macaw and eclectus chicks. in this species of parrot, that antibody is transferred to the egg but does
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Debbies Birdhouse -- Parrotlets - Love Birds - Canaries - Cockatiels ::
that first fertile egg was laid and the first clutch of babies were born, I felt can love, well I guess thats true where baby birds are concerned.
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and here
http://www.cockatiel.org/articles/handfe...
make sure to see the hand feeding video linked at the bottom of that first link.
Also note that tiel chicks are not generally pulled for hand feeding until they are 2 weeks (14 days) old unless the parents are not caring for them properly
An incubator is designed to keep the eggs at a proper temperature for growing and hatching.
A brooder is designed to keep the hatched babies warm and safe while they grow their feathers and learn the ability to feed themselves.
If your female is not at least 2 years old, I would recommend that you separate the two immediately. Breeding her under the age of 2 can result in her damaging her health in an attempt to raise babies.
If you decide to go ahead with these babies, you would be best advised to let the parents do the feeding and nurturing. There is nothing wrong with parent fed babies as long as you spend the necessary time with them to teach them that humans are a good thing. Start when they are about 2 weeks old and handle them for short periods of time until they wean. Hand feeding is very complicated and involved and the hazards to the babies are many. Please allow the parents to do what nature has designed them to do.
No need to get an incubator. The parents will do their own thing. Make sure the parents, especially mommy bird is getting the proper vitamins she needs (calcium is SOOOO important for laying eggs get a cuttle bone.) After the babies hatch the important thing is to make sure that the babies are properly socialized. One of my birds, a Normal Grey cockatiel, was a parent raised bird from a private home. She was a little nervous around people for the first few months but after that she was fine. She is a great bird. Dont stress and let your birds take care of their babies.
Just make a nesting box for them, that's all they need. Try to handle them as much as possible so that they are used to people. The parents will know what to do!
I would think you still need an incubator if your going to take them from the parents after they hatch. They need to stay warm, and your not going to be there 24-7 to do that
I don't know much about cocateils but I have read up alot on parakeets, and parakeets and cocatiels seem to have a lot in common. I am planning on breeding our two parakeets, so that's why I've been reading so much.
For parakeets, you do not at all need an incubator. All you need is a wooden nesting box which you can ininexpensively purchase at a pet store. Parakeets and cocatiels both come from Australia and it is very dry there, so I do not think you will need an incubator. The mom will sit on the eggs.
Yes, the parents will feed them.
I hope you have lots of fun raising your little baby cocateils! Experiencing new life is so awsome! Make sure you go to the library, get on the internet etc, and read up on raising babies. There is a LOT to know! Hope this helps!
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Is This True For Cockatiels Egg/Babies?