Cockatiel Breeding

Question
I have a pair of cockatiels that have been proven to be of opposite genders. They get along well, so I decided to house them together and put up a nest box. A few days later, the male began going in the nest box. A few days after that, there was an egg in there and the female was guarding the entrance, and checking on the egg every now and then but not incubating it (which I've heard is normal). The male hasn't been feeding the female and later on the day after the first egg was laid, the female became extremely territorial to everyone, including the male. She's calmed down, but is due to lay another egg today. It's late afternoon and so far I've seen nothing. I'm a High School student, so I'm not around to watch them much. The male courts the female with singing and tries to preen her (which he was able to do on a few occasions), but the female seems indifferent, even annoyed on occasion. Do you think I've rushed things? They haven't known each other for too long, and I think that maybe I may have rushed into putting the nest box on. Thanks!

Tiff

Answer
hi. thanks for your question.  
i always caution new owners of breeding pairs of the possible complications/dangers/and warnings that go along with breeding birds for the first time. breeding birds is literally a full time job...as you have observed, this includes time spend watching their behaviors and actually helping them care for their young when they cannot. thus, i strongly suggest that people who do not have the time to raise the birds themselves do not breed the birds in the first place. unfortunately, it does not just "happen" that captive birds are able to "get it right" the first, second, and sometimes third time whereby their human owners are "stuck" incubating the eggs and oftentimes raising the chicks.
the behavior that you are describing from both birds is perfectly normal.  additionally, in laying cycles, females (especially younger females) do not have an observable and predictable egg laying pattern. that is, she may not end up laying multiple eggs and if so, she may vary from laying one egg daily to one egg every two or three days to one egg per week.  this is not cause for concern.
as far as her territoriality, etc. this is also normal. she has begun laying eggs and has become protective of them.  the male, in a sense, has served his "purpose" for now (presumably fertilizing the egg) and she currently has no need for him. unlike humans, birdie "relationships" are based solely on procreating and both partners working to create and rear their young.  thus, they really have no "need" for one another when not breeding or raising chicks. with that in mind, you should not concern yourself with whether or not you have "rushed" their relationship. this behavior is normal. additionally, we are quick to assume that birds, like humans, need a necessary "courting" period to establish a "relationship". this is not the case in captive birds.  they each have found a mate (by default) with which to procreate...that is all that they want. its not like their breeding depends on whether or not they "like" one another.  plus, they would certainly mate/court whether or not the actual next box was there (where there's a will, there's a way!)
what i would be concerned with is whether or not you, as a bird owner, are prepared for the responsibilities of owning a breeding pair.  you mentioned that you are a student, so you will need to decide whether or not you have the time and resources to incubate and possibly raise the chick(s) should the parents abandon/reject/abuse them.  i would be more concerned with your own preparation for "chick rearing" than theirs. unfortunately, this often happens.  please consider this and entertain the possibility of not just removing the nest box, but separating the pair if you are not ready to be a cockatiel "foster" mom! good luck and i hope this helps. alicia