cockateils

Question
I have two cockateils 1 grey very tame male,1 tame Latino female they have been together for about a year and a half,but they still don't like each other.the female lays eggs every month,I know this is not good for her and I have tried everything to stop her,how long does it normally take to pair bond.We have tried them with a nest box,and that didn't work,people have said it is because the male is to tame,and others have said he must be a dud,because when she is making all the sexual noises he should at least try,is this so ,do you think I am losing a battle and get her another male,or keep trying

Answer
Hi, Toni.

We know you have 1 female, but are you sure the other is also not female?  Females can lay infertile eggs without a male being present.  This may be why they haven't pair bonded.  How many eggs are being laid each month by this one bird?  You can take your female to a certified avian veterinarian for a hormone shot to stop her from laying eggs for a few months (sometimes up to 9 months).  Also, limit available light sources to 8-10 hours per day to discourage breeding.  And by all means, don't have a nesting box up.  

Some birds never pair bond.  Just because we put 2 birds together, doesn't mean they will like each other, much less bond.  I think that some birds can be so tame/so bonded to their humans that they don't want a mate, but usually, mom nature wins out and the hormones start raging!  It's just natural.  He could be a dud, but I doubt it.   

If you are removing eggs each time they are laid, don't do this!  Leave any eggs right where they are laid until the birds abandon them on their own (or hatch).  Removing them before they abandon them will result in the bird laying more eggs again right away.  When you leave them, this will at least cut down on the number of eggs being laid.  

I would have to know more about your cage set up, how these birds behave together (they must get along some or you would have separated them by now), how old the birds are, what you've done in the past when trying to breed them (did you put the nesting box up first), etc.  If the male is not feeding the female beak-to-beak, they are not pair-bonded, which usually means they won't mate.  I'd verify the sex of the male first.  Male greys are easy to sex visually if they are straight greys and not a color mutation.  If you're sure he's a male and you want to breed tiels, you may need to put her with a different male.

Be sure you provide enough cuttlebone to replenish any lost calcium from excessive egg laying.  Hopefully, your birds are not on a poor, all-seed diet.  If so, before allowing your birds to breed, switch them over to a healthier diet and let them stay on the healthier diet for several months before allowing them to mate.

Chrys