Breeding behavior

Question
QUESTION: I have a male cockatiel, he keeps on plucking the feathers off of the babies. Whay should I do? Why do they do this?

ANSWER: Hi there,

Can you answer a few questions of me?

1: How old are the babies?
2: When you say pluck, is he yanking them out or nibbling at them?
3: Where are they all kept?

Charlotte

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QUESTION: The babies are like 3-4 weeks old. He is literally yanking them off.The are kept i their cage.

ANSWER: Hi there,

What an unusual one.

Simply take the male out and put him a different cage(solitary confinement) until the others are a bit older.

I simply can't think of why the little raskle would do that other than, he is finding them a threat in some way and is trying to dominate them. Budgies are known to be bullies. Taking him out would certainly stop that. Like you, I would be very concerned about leaving him in there with him. they are still young and very vulnerable.

Let me know how you get on, or other behavior problems you might have.

Charlotte

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

QUESTION: I took out the babies and started feeding them myself, in a few weeks they will be able to eat seeds. Do you think he was bitting them because he wants to reproduce again?

Answer
Hi,

Glad to hear your hand rearing. Isn't it wonderful pass time. I love it.

It could well be that he wants to breed again, or just that he wants more space, or perhaps he isn't really sure what to do fist time. To be honest, it could be so many things.

I would take the nest box out now for a while. Give them both time to recover. It can make a bird very ill if you breed them too often and frequently.

Charlotte