Breeding Quakers

Question
Hi,  I have a pair of Quakers that I've had for almost 2 years.  I have never bred Quakers.  The female, Buzzy, is a very gentle, sweet, loving bird, whom I can handle and hang out with, up until this past week.  She had changed drastically.  When I go to unlock her food door, she bites my fingers.  We also have two new Cockatiel chicks, would like be bothering her.  She is getting alot closer to the male these days, so we hope that they will breed soon.  Is this normal breeding behaviour?  Thanks, Sharon

Answer
Hi, Sharon,

You haven't provide enough information.

Is there a nesting box set up?  Are these birds pair-bonded?  Based on the end of your post, I take it they are not pair-bonded if they are not "close" yet.  A pair of birds has to be pair-bonded before they will think about breeding.  Pair-bonded is when the male feeds his female beak-to-beak.  This is in preparation for the birds going to nest.  The female may be hormonal at this time of year, which might account for her behavior.  If the female can hear the tiel chicks, this may result in her becoming hormonal and she could possibly lay infertile eggs if she isn't pair-bonded to the male yet.

Nastiness in a parrot can also be due to poor diet, lack of certain things, birds sometimes have "bad" days just like we do, etc.  Make sure your female isn't sick or feeling badly for some reason.

Chrys