Ask Lafeber

New Cockatiel Parents

Two of my cockatiels have successfully bred and currently have six eggs in their nest. This is their first clutch, and they’re around 1-2 years old. After reading through other questions and answers, I’ve learned that it’s generally best to handle the chicks once they’re about 3 weeks old.
The parents are doing well so far, taking turns sitting on the eggs, and I’m hopeful they’ll continue to care for the chicks until I’m ready to handle them. However, I’m also concerned about the possibility of the chicks not surviving after they hatch.
Do you have any tips or advice on how I can best prepare for the hatching process and support the parents in raising the chicks? Any suggestions on how I can help improve their parenting or ensure the chicks are properly cared for would be greatly appreciated!

Hi,

The best thing you can do is leave them alone and give them their privacy. Feed them a nutritionally balanced diet like pellets, along with dark leafy greens, chopped veggies and an egg food. You can use a commercial egg food or cook an egg with the shell washed, crushed and cooked with the egg. Give them a lot of food, especially if the eggs hatch. If they feel like there isn’t enough food, they may not feed the chicks. You will need to replenish food several times a day if they are feeding chicks. They are too young to be breeding already – the minimum age is 2 – so they may make more mistakes. You will also need to watch for aggression. Young males get tired of caring for a family, and they try to get the female to mate. The female may respond with aggression and the chicks can get hurt in the scuffle. But she needs the male to help her. As soon as the chicks can leave the nest box, take it down. The parents need to focus on weaning the chicks rather than starting a new clutch. Rest the pair for at least 6 months between each clutch, whether the eggs hatch or not.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda