Cocatiels

Question
QUESTION: My female cockatiel, just laid an egg at the bottom of the cage. She shares the cage with a male of course. Do I leave the egg alone...what do you suggest?

ANSWER: Hi there,

If you have no intention of breeding them, I suggest you take it out. It probably wont hatch now anyway as it may be damaged from the fall and not been kept warm. I have had tiels that lay eggs quite often and they haven't even got a mate, so perhaps blow it and keep it as a souvenir as its her first.

Charlotte

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

QUESTION: Hi Charlotte,
  The bird was sitting on the bottom of the cage when she laid the egg, it never fell. I place the egg in a plastic container with schredded paper large enough to hold the birds. I live in Florida, and their in a warm place for sure. Linda

Answer
Hi,

Ok, well without mum sitting on the egg from when its laid, or a proper incubator, its highly unlikely that the egg will survive. I suggest that if you want to breed them, to get a proper nest box for them. You can also buy special nesting material for them to build their own nest.

The egg that you have got of course, may not even be fertile to start with. You can shine a light through it to tell. Depending on how see through it is, will tell you if it is fertile or growing.

Charlotte