How to Keep Cockatiels Healthy While Breeding

Cockatiels are friendly, social birds. If you have a male and female cockatiel, you may consider breeding your pair. Before going forward with the breeding process, however, you should take some measures to make sure your birds are healthy. Feed them an excellent diet, provide them with a safe shelter, and make some appointments with your vet to make sure they're healthy enough to breed.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Feeding Your Cockatiels

1
Select a quality commercial bird pellet. If you want to get your cockatiels healthy for breeding, a good diet is vital. Most cockatiels thrive on a healthy commercial bird pellet because it meets all of their nutritional needs.^{[1]XResearch source}
- You should go for bird pellets over birdseed, as pellets tend to be more nutritious. Birdseed mixes or individual types of seeds will not meet all of your cockatiel's nutritional needs.
- Cockatiels are prone to fatty liver disease, so look for pellets with a fairly low concentration of fat.
- If you're planning on breeding, talk over feeding options with your vet. They may be able to recommend pellets to get your birds healthy enough to breed.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Cockatiels need 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of pellets each day.^{[3]XResearch source}
2
Feed your birds soft food. In addition to pellets, soft foods are great for cockatiels you intend to breed. Moist whole wheat bread, hardboiled eggs mashed with their shells, high protein baby food and cereal, cooked rice, cooked beans, peas, and oatmeal can all be great additions for breeding cockatiels' diets. Female cockatiels especially need extra calcium when breeding. Eggshells are an excellent source of calcium.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Different types of table foods should comprise about 20 to 30% of your cockatiel's diet, so keep portions small. Portions of fruit and veggies will make up the rest of your bird's diet.^{[5]XResearch source}
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Supplement your bird's diet with a variety of fresh produce. Birds tend to enjoy apples, oranges, and bananas. Green veggies, like dandelion leaves and celery, are particularly healthy for cockatiels.^{[6]XResearch source}
4
Add dietary supplements. Most cockatiels, whether breeding or not, need a healthy dietary supplement in addition to pellets and other foods. Spirulina, Bene-Bac, Echinacea and Prozyme should be sprinkled over a bird's fresh food. However, talk to your vet before adding supplements. You want to make sure you're getting a quality brand and using the appropriate doses.
- Cuttle bones and mineral blocks are chews designed for cockatiels that you can purchase at a pet store. These provide additional calcium to your cockatiels. When breeding, calcium is vital to female cockatiels as it's used in egg production.^{[7]XResearch source}
As calcium is so important, do not feed your bird any foods that could adversely affect the body's ability to absorb calcium. Sunflower seeds and spinach can both potentially affect calcium absorption. While not every bird will be affected in the same way, it might be better to err on the side of caution and go with other options for seeds and greens.^{[8]XResearch source}
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Providing Shelter

1
Prepare the right cage. When breeding, try to provide your cockatiels with as much space as possible. At minimum, choose a cage that is 30 inches (76.2 cm) long, 18 inches wide, and 36 inches (91.4 cm) high. However, if at all possible go for something bigger.^{[9]XResearch source}
- An aviary is actually ideal for breeding pairs but not a possibility for most people. This is a large room specifically designed for your birds to live in. If you have the ability to use an aviary, do so.^{[10]XResearch source}
- If you decide on a cage, go for a welded wire cage. You'll need to add a nest box at some point and it's easier to do so when working with a cage of this kind.^{[11]XResearch source}
- If you decide to build your own cage, do not use chicken wire with 1 by 1 inch openings. These are not safe for cockatiels as they can fit their heads through and get stuck.^{[12]XResearch source}
2
Provide a nest box. If you're breeding your birds, they'll need a nest box. This is a small box big enough to contain the 4 to 5 chicks cockatiels typically have when breeding.
- Next boxes should be at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) high and 12 inches deep. They should have a 3 inch (7.6 cm) wide hole in the front so breeding pairs can access chicks. You can purchase a nest box at a pet store or build your own. However, it might be better to go the pet store route. You want to make sure the box is safe for your cockatiels and will promote the health and safety of their chicks.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Some people use cardboard boxes in place of nest boxes. If your birds breed unexpectedly, this may work as a temporary solution. However, commercial nest boxes are relatively inexpensive and tend to hold up well.^{[14]XResearch source}
3
Add perches. For their health, cockatiels needs stimulation in their cages. Also, mating usually occurs on perches. Therefore, have at least 2 perches in your cockatiels' cages if you expect them to breed.
- Make sure perches are secure. If you don't feel comfortable installing them yourself, hire someone to do so. If a perch falls while a bird is standing on it, accidents could occur.^{[15]XResearch source}
- Keep perches low enough that males can easily stand on them. If a male cannot properly mount a female, breeding will not occur.^{[16]XResearch source}
4
Watch the heat. The heat of your cage should be monitored during the breeding process. It plays an essential role in the healthy development of your chicks.
- Heat allows an embryo to develop. Therefore, make sure the cage is not too cold or drafty.
- You should also strive to keep the heat stable. Sharp variations between hot and cold temperatures can confuse your cockatiels. If the weather suddenly becomes warm, for example, your cockatiel may leave her eggs. If it becomes cold again quickly, she may not realize she needs to return to the eggs and keep them warm. This could result in the embryo dying. Keep the cage at a stable room temperature.^{[17]XResearch source}
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Seeking Outside Help

If you don't know your both your cockatiels' ages, you need to figure this information out before breeding. A vet can help determine the rough age of your cockatiel. If possible, ask for your birds' birth dates from the breeder or pet store where you purchased them. If your cockatiels are not at least 15 to 24 months old, breeding is risky. Younger birds encounter more problems when breeding and fertilization is generally less successful.^{[18]XResearch source}
2
Have your cockatiels professionally evaluated. You should never simply breed two cockatiels without veterinary approval. You should have your birds thoroughly examined by a vet before beginning the breeding process. You want to make sure they're physically capable of breeding successfully.
- Make an appointment with an avian vet. Explain to him or her you're thinking of breeding your cockatiels and you want to make sure this is safe.^{[19]XResearch source}
- Your vet may want to do some blood tests in addition to a physical exam. Females with low blood calcium levels should not breed until levels can be raised.^{[20]XResearch source}
It can be difficult to determine a cockatiels gender through a physical examination. There are some behavioral and physical characteristics that may offer hints. Males are louder, for example, and females have more markings under their wings. However, the only way to tell for sure is a DNA test. If you don't know the gender of your cockatiels, have your vet conduct a DNA test to determine this. DNA can be gathered from blood or feathers.^{[21]XResearch source}
As the chance of genetic disorders increases with inbreeding, you should not breed your cockatiels if they are related. Return to the breeder or pet store where you purchased your cockatiels. Ask for a pedigree to make sure the birds do not share common ancestors. If you cannot obtain a pedigree, you may want to err on the side of caution and avoid breeding.
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