Ask Lafeber

My cockatiel has laid an egg

My beautiful white cockatiel has laid an egg and it’s fertile, about 2/3 days ago the baby was cheeping from inside the egg but yesterday the cheeping has stopped, has the baby died?

Hi,

Sadly it does sound like the chick has died. They can fail to hatch if there isn’t enough humidity and the shell is too hard. More experienced cockatiel parents often take a bath and go back in the nest box when their feathers are wet to add some moisture. With first time parents, your pair may not have incubated the egg correctly. Remove the nest box and rest the pair for 6 months before letting them try again. You need to always do this after each clutch.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda