Ask Lafeber

Mating and Cockatiel eggs

Hi! I was wondering if I could get some info cleared up.

How long after the first mating would cockatiels lay eggs? I’ve looked on various websites and they all have different answers. Some say 3 weeks while others only say 7-10 days.

I have a breeding pair. Their first clutch they laid eggs almost 4 weeks after mating (successful) but this time the female laid her egg only 10 days later. Is this normal? Will it be infertile (it looks slightly pink aswell)?

Hi Skyler,

Mating does not always result in eggs, and there is no set time for when they will lay if they do. With the last clutch, I doubt 4 weeks went by without them mating some. The female can’t store the sperm for that long. Most pairs will mate several times, and often they mate in between eggs, because each egg is fertilized, formed and laid one at a time. It’s very important that you remove the nest box and  rest your pair for 6 months in between each clutch, and limit them to 2 clutches each year – this is one more than they would have in the wild. Having a clutch too soon after the last one can result in infertile eggs and less healthy chicks. The female needs the time in between clutches to regain her full health so she can form healthy eggs again. So if this clutch is right after the last one, then that may be the issue with the egg not looking right.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda