Ask Lafeber

Question:

October 30, 2020

Cockatiels are Double clutching


I have a pair of breeding cockatiels Their babies are three weeks old. However, the parents are breeding again. (Not good, I know). Should I pull the babies and start feeding them so they can begin sitting on the new eggs?


Answer:

Hi Kay,

Just to clarify, double clutching usually refers to a hen laying two clutches of eggs consecutively, where she ends up with 12 or more eggs to try to incubate at one time. As you already understand, it is too early to allow them to have another clutch. Mating does not necessarily mean she will lay eggs again right away. If you know how to hand feed, then go ahead and remove the chicks. However, you also need to remove the nest box. You should not allow the pair to raise another clutch right now. The nest box should always be removed as soon as the chicks are pulled for hand feeding or have left the nest box on their own. A nest box should never be left up year round. You should limit your pair to no more than 2 clutches per year, which is one more than a wild pair would have. In the wild, environmental changes would signal the end of breeding season and the adults will leave the nest and move on. The weaned chicks will join a flock once they are independent from the parents. In captivity, because we provide the perfect conditions year round, it is our responsibility to limit the number of clutches a pair has. They are not intended to raise clutch after clutch and if allowed to do so, the hen will eventually die from over breeding. And weaned chicks should be separated from the parents to prevent related birds from breeding. You also do not want to keep opposite sex chicks together once they are over 6 months because they will end up trying to breed with each other.

If the pair lays more eggs, just leave them on the cage floor as long as it has a metal grate. This will prevent the eggs from being warmed and ever beginning to develop, as it takes at least 48 hours of incubation for any growth to even begin. Make some changes as soon as you remove the nest box, and this may prevent her from laying again now anyway. Limit their daily light to 8-10 hours – cover the cage early in the evening. Stop feeding any fresh foods and eggs for the time being. Rearrange the perches and any toys in the cage. Move the cage to another place in the room. Basically you want to disrupt their stable, safe nesting place so that they do not lay eggs again until they have been rested for long enough.

If you aren’t comfortable with hand feeding, then try stopping them when they start the mating ritual. You can also take one of them out of the cage at a time, and let them take turns with the chicks. It depends on if they are already sharing duties. Even taking  the male out for a few hours during the day might be disruptive enough for him to stop trying to breed again. It is usually the male instigating this, as the female wants to care for her chicks. Whatever you decide, it’s best for your female’s health and well being to not allow another clutch right now.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda

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