Ok...I have had cockatiels in the past, work at a pet store for 2 years, and I also have a Sun Conure. I must say I have never even heard of a bird actin as crazy as my cockatiel is.
About 3 weeks ago I adopted a cockatiel from my work. She was previously owned. She seems to be alright with being held...it takes her a few to say "this is ok"
Since bringin her home she has laid a total of 4 eggs. The first 2 were about a week ago and they were cracked and she payed no attention, so I threw them away. About 3 days ago she layed one and it didn't crack, but she has been acting like she is on crack!!!!! She is SO overly protective of the egg!!! She barely eats, eating like only twice a day from what I see. Mainly when I am near the cage - like she knows she doesn't have to worry about the egg while she eats with me their.
Today I noticed a second egg that she is protecting. Its kinda cute and all how she is being motherly to these eggs, but their is NO MALE!!!
I have heard, learned, and experienced that they only protect and care for the egg when it is possibly fertilized and they can even tell this. Why is she wiggin out on these eggs?? Is she longing to be a mommy?? Do I need to find her a honey?? I haven't thrown the eggs away - Do I need to, or just let her play mom for a while??
Thanks
2006-11-08 06:07:14 · 6 answers · asked by Dolphin 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
she's protecting her babies, never mind that they aren't fertile....reduce the amount of light she gets, by putting her in a room away from afternoon Sun or cover the cage at a certain time and take the eggs away from her. reducing the light should put her out of laying mode pretty quickly.
2006-11-08 06:15:01 · answer #1 · answered by sred 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Immediately remove the eggs and place dummy eggs in their place. If you take one egg out, put 2 dummies in. Once she gets enough 'eggs', she'll stop laying. Hopefully by the time she's laid 3 eggs, you'll have given her 6 dummies, and that will make her feel like she has laid enough. Even if she's broody, she needs to stop laying unless she has a mate. If not, she will deplete her calcium. This is my biggest worry at this time.
2. Please give her a cuttle bone or mineral block to chew to help her. She should also have an iodine block, actually all pet birds should, because like us, they don't make their own.
3. With the dummy eggs, she may just get bored of sitting on them, and go back to her normal behaviour in no time. This will also help you determine if she'd be a good mom or not. It takes 28 days for a cockatiel egg to hatch, so if she sits that long, it may be worth while to get her a mate.
4. I must warn you though, really eager females can kill their mates as they attempt to protect their young. I had this happen to me on 2 occasions, and it was the same hen that killed both cocks.
If you need further help, feel free to email me or IM me
Ps. Some people use the eggs for omelettes. The Aborigines eat the eggs as well as the birds, so they must be ok for eating.
2006-11-08 14:50:29 · answer #2 · answered by SongWolf 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She knows that the eggs aren't broken. You can let her have them for about a week, then you can take them away or else if you take them too soon, her reproductive cycle will keep allowing her too keep laying new eggs. And just as we don't need men to have our monthly cycles of passing an egg, neither do birds. You don't need to get her a male mate, UNLESS you do want babies and then you really better know that your life will not be your own for 24 hours a day for about 6 weeks until the chicks are weaned. You really need to know what you are doing as well. Lots and lots of work and patience. Best of luck with your new baby.
2006-11-08 21:17:15 · answer #3 · answered by ELT 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably would be best if you left her alone with the eggs for awhile. She may be "wiggin" out because maybe you don't have a nest box for her. Not that you need one, because obviously they are not fertile. She'll eventually ignore them when they don't hatch, then you can throw them away. You might try distracting her with some fun birdie toys, but don't push. I'm sure it's just an adjustment problem.
2006-11-08 14:41:02 · answer #4 · answered by Valarie7979 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Females cockatiels do not need a male to be able to lay eggs, they just need a male to be able to lay fertilized eggs.
Her instincts are to be a "Mommy" right now.
Let her sit on her eggs until SHE is reafy to quit sitting on them. She will either push them out of the way, or she will quit sitting on them altogether, but until SHE is ready to do so, let her sit on them. If you take the eggs away too soon, she may start laying excessively which can be harmful to her health.
2006-11-10 15:36:58 · answer #5 · answered by karmor_22 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the sun conure she is introd. to she may think is a funny looking male cockateil. Maybe she does want a honey
2006-11-08 14:26:08 · answer #6 · answered by Dotr 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋