eggs

Question
QUESTION: Hello, my question is about my cocaktiel eggs.What do I do when the eggs that was laid has been negelated? One of the birds has actually pecked at 1 of the eggs.She hasn't laid eggs in awhile. Can I save this egg myself by keeping it warm somehow? I'm not a breeder. Thanks for you help......
         Laura F.

ANSWER:  Are these a bonded pair ?  Do they have a nest box?

How long after the egg laying did it get pecked?

How old are your birds - how many and what sort of enclosure?


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Good morning,bonded pair meaning what?I bought them at different times and where both young I was told I believe they are at least 5-6 years.I had a nesting box which the male destroyed after a period of time.Had it on the floor of the cage, then I was told to have it hang.I don't know what the heck to do now.The egg was laid 3 days before the pecking.Then she laid another,sat on it for a day or two off and on, then left it alone.Can I safe the other egg??
thank you for responding so quickly.........Laura F.
ANSWER:   It sounds like a bonded pair, meaning the male and female "like" each other and engage in mating.
 The nesting box is usually attached to the cage. There are doors in the sides of the cage that open, the nest box is attached on the outside of the cage with the hold securely against the open cage door so the birds can't get out and about, but can get into the nesting box.
 'Tiels will lay 4 to 6 eggs over a period of as many days (sometimes more, sometimes less).  This doesn't mean they are all fertile. And even if fertile - it doesn't mean all will end up hatching.
 Unless you have an incubator that automatically turns the eggs or are willing to spend the necessary time attending to them yourself (strict temp monitoring and turning degrees is vital) - abandoned eggs are often just discarded.
  Leaving the eggs that aren't cracked or broken will help discourage egg laying, even if the tiels don't pay attention to them. After about a week or so without any attention whatsoever, simply discard them.
 If breeding is going to be pursued you also need to know about emergency chick feedings and of course the chicks need to be pulled (taken away from the parents) at a certain age and finished with handfeeding (which means staying up all night for feedings every 2-3 hours) for a couple weeks.  Otherwise you won't have very tame babies.

 What's happening right now is that the pair are trying to mate, but there's not a proper 'nest' (thus the need for a well set up nest box).
 
 Here's a link that should help you with the details:

http://www.cockatiels.org/articles/breeding/breed2.html

 Good luck! Let me know how it goes.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Good morn,it's me again.:)One last question, and I won't bother you guys anymore I promise. I also have a Love Bird which I've had for a while. For the sake of space, could I place the Love Bird in with my cockatiels? Thanks a bunch for all your help. You are more relieable then the pet store that I've been dealing with............ Laura F.

Answer
There is no limit on your questions :) keep asking whatever and whenever!

 Now, as for saving space - it might be worthwhile for you, but it's really not fair for the birds. The first rule of bird ownership (no kidding) is to provide the very largest possible cage that is made for the species you have.  Considering that they would normally have the entire sky - we have to go out of our way to make them thrive in our little houses. And then we put them in their own even smaller houses :(
 
Many birds in cramped conditions will fight with each other and sometimes deaths occur.
 Also, self-mutilation (feather plucking) is a habit that once begun is really hard to change. Nothing looks more pityful than a naked bird who should be in glorious feather.
 Another reason? They will bond with each other and be less likely to be nice to you.
 Finally (whew!) - these different species when thrust together will certainly become territorial, with the same species ganging up against the other.  Very rare cases of combos will ever work out and those that do are generally in huge aviaries with their own territories.

 Thank you by the way - for caring this much. I'm glad you're asking first, rather than trying to fix a problem later.