Ask Lafeber

New cockatiel

We have this female cockatiel for the last 3 years. Recently we noticed that she layed an egg so we bought a male..I believe its between 1-2 years old. After 1.5 weeks we put both birds in the same cage. However, we noticed how the male bird who initially was active and noisy suddenly became quiet. He was eating a moderate amount and drinking enough water. Bird droppings looked normal. But he was also shivering and breathing hard sometimes. He preens like normal. Our older female bird is quite hostile towards the new male. She tries to peck him whenever he comes close. Today, about a week after we put the birds together, I’ve noticed that the male bird has started to become more vocal…as usual. But the shivering still persists. Is it something I should be worried about?

Hi Azra,

I would separate the birds now. To begin with, when you add a new bird, you should quarantine it from your birds for at least 45 days. Birds can carry diseases, and the stress of going to a new home can cause the bird to get sick. If this bird has a disease, you have infected your female, and both birds could end up dying. The shivering & hard breathing could be due to an illness. But it could also be that the female is bullying this male. She may have chased him and she may be intimidating him. You say he is 1-2 years old, but that is a big time span. Cockatiels need to be at least 2 years old before you put them together. So if he is only 1 year old, he is way too young to be with a mature female. Her behavior indicates that he is not yet mature and should not be in a cage with her. A mature female will kill an immature male – she has no use for him right now.

Put him back in his own cage and keep him apart from the female for 45 days. Watch both birds for signs of illness. If he continues the heavy breathing and shivering, you should take both birds to the vet. Cockatiels often carry psittacosis and both bird will die without treatment if this is what is wrong. It can also be passed on to humans and cause a flu like illness. He could have a respiratory infection or another issue. So watch them both closely. After the 45 days, if both birds are healthy, you can put the cages closer together. But since you have no idea how old he is, I would wait at least 6 months before trying to put them together again. If she still acts aggressive towards him, separate them again and wait a few more months. If he becomes mature and she still won’t accept him, then they aren’t compatible. Not all birds are compatible and they often do not like the mate we choose for them. That’s why adding a new bird is never a guarantee that they will become mates. If they are going to bond, they will start spending their time sitting close to each other and interacting through the cage bars. If they keep sitting away from each other, this is a sign they are not ever going to get along.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda