I am inheriting another abandoned cockateil. Tried to registar on a site that a fellow q&a'er (em),said but the site will not let me register. The site keeps looping. I have a male, the female that is coming to my home has lost 2 of her companians, (parakeets). I will put them through the 30 day quarantine period, but if they get along I do not have time for the caring of any offspring. Should I keep them seperated for ever? If they do get along and have offspring how bad will it be to take away the eggs? If I took the eggs away will she try to lay again? I've read about binding, and do not want to cause any undue stress, but If I don't take the female more than likely the owners would just let her go! Gosh help me to do the right thing. There is another male around here I fear the owners are getting tired of. Hand raised Cockatiels are social birds not for show and tell. Anyone? Please.......
2006-11-17 07:26:58 · 3 answers · asked by lin 6 in Pets ➔ Birds
Rescue the birdie, free as a bird is no place for a pet.
If egg laying is a problem, and a female with no male can lay eggs, you can try trick the hen into thinking that it is not a suitable time to raise young by making the night 12-14 hours long. Feeding the bird only enough food for her and not any spare that she may think spring is here with its abundance for future babies. I am not in any way suggesting that you starve the bird, feed only enough no extra, measure the food before and after you have fed them to see how much they need in a day, feed only a little more than that not too much extra. Have nothing in the cage that even remotely looks like a nest or nest material. Taking eggs away once they start only causes them to lay more, depleting the hen of calcium. Replacing the eggs with fake eggs may work. As a last resort if controlling triggers does not work there is hormone injection available.
2006-11-17 08:43:32 · answer #1 · answered by Angie C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have two cockatiels that only get along if they are not in the same cage. What I would recommend is putting their cages side by side. This way, they will still get companionship, but without the baby birds. Even in separate cages, if a female is in the company of a male, she is likely to start laying eggs (that has been my experience with finches, anyhow). Do not remove the eggs as she lays them, or she will keep on laying them to exhaustion. Just leave her unfertilized clutch with her for a bit before removing them. She's likely to get tired of sitting on them for nothing anyhow, and at least she won't keep on laying eggs until she depletes her calcium supply. Also, always provide calcium-rich foods to a female who is laying eggs. Crushed oyster shells are great for that. Give it to her in a dish separate from her other food. Good luck.
2006-11-17 16:43:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd take her in and keep her seperate from the male.
You're right babies are a pain- no, just kidding.
Maybe try to find someone to adopt her from you. If you have too many, or not enough time, it might be better for her. It's not like there's a rush, just talk to folks and put her out there. Some one will come along and make her a great home.
Good luck
2006-11-17 18:09:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋