My tiels just mated - now what?

[Jenn]

Hi all,

I'm not exactly brand new to birds, but I know enough when I'm in over my head :)

About 2 months ago I was given a "bonded" pair of cockatiels... long story but I started with 2 blue crowned conures that I acquired and since then I've collected 4 cockatiels - people just give them to me because they don't have time for them or whatnot... but I digress...

As I was sitting here in my shop (I own a live fish store - the birds are here with me, as I spend most of my waking hours here each day), I was enjoying a bite of lunch and as I glanced over at George and Weezie's cage, they were umm... "busy"!

What, if anything should I do now? I do not have a nest box for the cage... although I can probably get one - but the cage just has small openings and no 'playpen' top, so I'm not sure how to proceed.

Is egg-laying inevitable now? I'll need to get online and do some more serious research but for now anybody who can offer me a 5-cent recap of what I might want to do, it would be appreciated!

Cheers,
Jenn

[Shirley]

Hi Jenn!

Well, well, well!

You can either toss the eggs and replace them with phony ones... yes, mating leads to egg-laying (sorry, had to say that! :funny: )

Or you can get them a 'tiel-sized nest box and let her raise 5-8 chicks and then go through the joys of placing them in responsible homes... and then she'll do it all over again... and again... and maybe even again... and if you don't separate them... yet again... :eek:

BE SURE to keep her cuttle bones and calcium plentiful, veggies fresh, sprouts available, and such. She's going to lay, that's what girl birds do, and she needs to eat properly so she can make eggs and stay healthy.

She could be doing this with hubby around or not, so don't feel badly.

~ Shirley (fellow TRT'er... Jenn can take handle it! :dance: She's a sea-horse wrangler! )

[harleybaby]

LOL. My tiels get busy all the time and luckily no eggs yet, but I know it's inevitable. I've also been told to shake the eggs and replace them if you don't want to deal with the whole baby thing. I wouldn't have a problem with babies but I know I'd be a nervous wreck worrying about finding them good homes and I'd probably end up keeping them and I'd rather take in ones that needed homes instead. Good luck with your babies and how cool you own your own fish store!!!!!

[amazing greys]

Sea-horse wrangler?? how cool!!


I've always been interested in those creatures, and tried to get my FIL to add them to his tank, w/no luck.

Either way you handle this, I'm sure it will work out fine. Just keep an eye on your hen if she is having trouble getting egg bound, then vet assistance would probably be needed.

Good luck!

[Jenn]

Thanks for the replies :) Still weighing options here - and I have a few options. I think I will look into getting a nest box - if Mother Nature is prompting them to do this, far be it from me to interfere. I have a friend/neighbour who is a bird breeder - mainly larger birds but she's seen my tiels and loves them - if I have chicks and it's too much, she has offered to assume their care - she's state-licenced and very conscientious so I know they would be placed in good homes, as well as lovingly hand fed/reared.

I have a friend who is an avian vet so that base is covered too - he already does beak/nail trims on my conures, and always has a 'professional' eye open when he comes around.

Any idea how long post-mating, eggs will come? I assume it's like with chickens - one egg per day... how long between clutches, and what's incubation?

I also need to turn on email notification for this - I didn't know there were replies til I came searching back again ;)

Thanks again for the help - it's much appreciated.

Amazing Greys, we can talk seahorses... but NOT in a community tank :) That's another post for another forum :)

Jenn

[Shirley]

Don't know...

Bourke's... about 2-4 days post mating, sometimes sooner...
21 days later... chicks every other day

Weaned around 8 weeks +/-

Tucker didn't wean 'til 12 wks.

Hurrying 'coz leaving for FL tonight.

Where are in you GA again??? Maybe we could VISIT YOU en route!!!!!

[Sue]

[QUOTE=


Where are in you GA again??? Maybe we could VISIT YOU en route!!!!![/QUOTE]Shirley you'll never get to Ginny's:roflmao2: :roflmao2: all these stops on the way:rotflmao: Jenn, I don't know about nesting etc but we had a tiel who laid eggs (no mate) she was really aggresive over them, we sneaked them out when she wasn't looking and she never bothered about them. I don't know if you can tell if they're fertile. I would have to keep them all:rotflmao:

[Shirley]

If we stop... it would have to be right off the Interstate going straight through Atlanta... and then a quick stop.

:D