Hi, I have a pair of cockatiels, male and female, both 2+ years old. I am trying to breed them, but the male just stands on her back and sits there. I don’t think they know how to breed. I already tried showing him videos of breeding cockatiels but he still does not get it.
Hi Alina,
Your birds are still young and are at the minimum age for breeding. They are still learning and just need more time. If they are bonded, he will eventually figure out what to do. Captive raised birds become mature at a younger age than in the wild, so they usually need more time to mature mentally before they settle down and breed. Make sure they are on a nutritionally balanced diet such as pellets or our Avi-Cakes, Nutri-Berries or Pellet-Berries. A seed diet will not provide the nutrition they need. They also need a lot of privacy and a quiet place for the cage. You shouldn’t be around them other than to feed them, clean the cage or do a quick check. Some birds will never be good breeders, but give yours more time. Even if they manage to mate and lay eggs now, first clutches usually fail. Breeding birds takes a lot of patience – it will likely be another year before you see any chicks raised successfully.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
