How to Breed Cockatiels

Cockatiels are an easy species to breed, but it's important to do so responsibly and ensure proper care for the chicks once they hatch. Before starting, make sure that both the male and female are compatible for breeding and provide everything the parent birds need to raise their young.

Purchase a Pair of Adult Cockatiels. To breed, the male and female should be at least 18 months old. Younger females may experience egg-binding, a condition where the egg gets stuck, which can lead to infections or even death, and they may lack the experience needed to properly care for the chicks.

• Egg-binding is when an egg gets stuck in the vent during laying. This can lead to infections or even cause the bird's death.

Ensure the birds are not closely related. Breeding closely related birds often results in weak or deformed offspring. If you're unsure whether the birds are closely related, it's best to consult the breeder who raised them. Avoid breeding birds if they are too closely related.

Check the birds' health. Before deciding to breed your Cockatiels, it's a good idea to take them to a vet for a health check. This helps protect the chicks from potential illness or deformities. Weight is also an indicator of a Cockatiel's health.

• Overweight: Being overweight increases the risk of infertility in both males and females, and can cause egg-binding in females. To check, feel the bird's keel bone; if you can't feel it, the bird is overweight.
• Underweight: Being underweight may indicate illness or difficulty accessing food. Identify the cause of the weight loss before beginning breeding.

Remember, not every Cockatiel will make a good parent. You might have to hand-raise the chicks if the parents neglect them or lack parenting experience. Make sure you have the time and energy to care for the chicks before you decide to breed Cockatiels.

Provide 10-12 hours of artificial or natural light daily. Cockatiels can breed year-round, but they need adequate light to lay eggs. Make sure they receive either natural or artificial light for 10-12 hours each day.

Provide the birds with a balanced diet. Before breeding, you must ensure the birds receive a proper diet. Offer a well-balanced and appropriate meal plan for your Cockatiels. Regularly check to ensure that both the male and female have equal access to food and water. If one bird prevents the other from feeding, you should add additional food and water containers. Good food options for Cockatiels include:

• Mixed seeds for Cockatiels
• Soft foods like leafy vegetables, noodles, rice, boiled beans, and soaked bread
• Sprouted seeds
• Cuttlefish bone or calcium blocks
• Supplements (sprinkled on other foods) like spirulina
• Fresh water (changed multiple times a day)

Place the breeding pair in a large cage. Cockatiels need ample space to breed and care for their chicks. A cage measuring around 180cm x 90cm x 90cm would be ideal. You can place the pair in the cage a few weeks before adding the nesting box, allowing them time to bond and pair up.

• Place the cage in a quiet area of the house so the birds have privacy for breeding and raising their young.

Set up the nesting box. After the pair has been together for about two weeks and has bonded, attach the nesting box to the cage. When choosing a nesting box, consider the following factors:

• Material: There are several types of nesting boxes available, including metal, plastic, and wood. Wood is the best choice as Cockatiels will chew the entrance to shape it to their liking.
• Size: A box measuring 30cm x 30cm is sufficient for breeding Cockatiels.
• Back door: Some nesting boxes come with a back door for easy checking of the chicks without disturbing the mother.
• Nesting material: The parents will use nesting material to create a warm nest for the chicks. The best material is dust-free pine shavings or plain shredded paper, such as newspaper or white tissue paper. Avoid cedar shavings as the oils in the wood can be harmful to the chicks.

Observe the male as it prepares the nest. When the male begins to arrange the nest, it signals that the pair is ready to mate. The male will chew at the entrance of the nest box to enlarge it to the desired size. He will also rearrange the nesting materials according to his preference. Once the nest is prepared, the male will invite the female into the box.

Observe signs of mating behavior. When it's time to mate, the male bird will hop around the female. While hopping, the male will bob his head up and down and sing. The pair will also preen each other more often. When the female is ready to mate, she will lower her body, which facilitates the mating process for the male.

• The mating session may last for a minute, after which the male will fly away.
• Cockatiels typically lay eggs about two weeks after mating.

Allow the parents to incubate the eggs. Both the male and female will take turns incubating the eggs, but the female will spend the majority of the time incubating. You'll notice the parents plucking some of their feathers to expose the skin underneath. This helps their bare skin make contact with the eggs.

• The eggs will hatch after approximately three weeks, but the laying period can last for about a week before the female starts incubating. The female will lay one egg every 48 hours until she has a clutch of 2 to 8 eggs.
• The male will feed the female while she incubates the eggs.

Do not disturb the nesting box. The eggs will hatch after around 21 days of incubation. You can peek into the box to check for any dead chicks or other issues, but try to do so quickly to avoid disturbing the bird family. Maintain a private space for the parents and chicks to strengthen their bond.

• Cockatiel chicks will begin weaning (no longer needing to be fed by the parents) at around 8-10 weeks of age. At this stage, you should separate the parents to prevent them from mating again. Siblings can pair up and mate if conditions allow, so it's best to separate male and female chicks to prevent this.

Reduce mating activity. After your Cockatiels have mated and raised their chicks, you can take steps to prevent further mating. Here are some methods you can try:

• Reduce lighting. Shortening the daily light exposure will discourage the birds from mating. For example, you can decrease the light from 10-12 hours to 8 hours per day. This will trigger a winter-like condition and reduce mating behavior.
• Remove the nesting box. Once the Cockatiels have finished using the nesting box to incubate and raise their chicks, you can remove the box from the cage.
• Stop providing soft foods. Avoid giving the birds soft foods like noodles, boiled beans, or soaked bread. However, continue offering a nutritious diet to maintain their health.