March 17, 2021
Breeding duties
Do the males & females share the duties of sitting on the eggs & feeding the chicks?
Question:
Answer:
Hi Karen,
Yes, both parents share the duties in some form, which varies by species. For example, the male and female cockatiel trade off incubating duties with one sitting during the day and one at night. Both parents feed the chicks. With other species, both parents may sit on the eggs together, taking turns when one needs a break. Sometimes only the female sits, but the male feeds her and protects her and the nest. This is why a pair needs to be closely bonded before they will mate, nest and lay eggs. We do get questions where an owner thinks the male can simply be used for the breeding part, but this is not an option. You can’t let your friend bring their male over for the day just to breed, like might work with some domestic mammals. It can take months or even longer for some pairs to form a strong enough bond to want to breed. And since this is a lifetime bond with most parrot species, you shouldn’t ever separate a bonded pair.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
