need help for cockateils

[jmhalb]

Am new to posting but I have had 2 cockateils for about 3 years and all of a sudden I have 3 eggs on the bottom of the cage...the eggs are being "sat on" but I am worried if they do hatch the babies will be hurt from not being in a breeding box or solid bottomed container...hope someone can guide me as I have never tried to breed my birds so am at a lose as to what to do next or what the birds will do now...please help

[Ringneckmom]

If they are sitting on the eggs on top of a grate then they will more than likely not hatch. If they are on a solid bottomed floor - it should not make a difference if they hatch as the floor is not going to make a difference up until they hatch, but I wouldn't necessarily count on them hatching.

Just do not take the eggs away from them as Tiels will lay more eggs to replace the ones you took away from them. Wait until they get really bored and start perching on perches more. They won't stink or anything so you don't have to worry about that.

Also, make sure you provide a VERY good diet for them - especially the female - with cuttlebone, pellets, fresh veggies etc.

[Monica]

First off, are you sure that you have a male and female? Two females can lay eggs and act like a pair. Second, even if you have eggs, there is no guarantee the eggs will be fertile if you do in fact have a true pair.

If you are not prepaired for breeding, do not have the resources or the time, you should shake the eggs up and put them back. So many things can happen such as the parents abandoning the chicks, the parents attacking the chicks, the chicks getting cold from not being in a nestbox, etc.

If you have a true pair, resources, and all, then you should look into getting a nestbox, some SAFE nesting material, have at least 1-2 avian vets on hand to help you out in case of emergencies, as well as avian breeders in case you need help handfeeding, etc.

[jmhalb]

When I bought the birds they were sold as a male/female pair that was over a year old at the time...I have a breeding box but George and Gracie have never showed any interest in it so I took it off the cage over a year ago...we haven't had any eggs till the last week so I have been at a loss as to what to do...thanks for your words of wisdom and I will have to let you know if by chance any of the eggs hatch.

[Monica]

Is it a cockatiel nestbox? If not then it could be too small? It would need nesting material, and if indeed the eggs are fertile and you are interested in letting the parents raise the chicks then you need to move the eggs to the nestbox.

To tell whether or not an egg is fertile, when it's about a week to a week and a half old (or rather a week after incubation has started), you can hold a flashlight up to the side or back end of it and see veins and a red center. An infertile egg (which looks just like a fertile egg only a few days old) will be yellow with the orange yolk in center.