Dear Bird Lovers,
Recently, my cockatiel pair just laid five eggs in their nest box. We are one hundred percent sure one is a male and one is a female. Diablo (male) was mating with Grey Grey (female) and shortly after we did DNA testing a our local Avian veterinarian, and the test confirmed we have a male and female cockatiel.
Both the proud parents are very protective and defensive about their eggs, which is to only be expected. The male, Diablo, is more fierce for his eggs, but then again he is a male. Sometimes they’ll be nice and let us check every once in a while, but that is very rare.
And we wanted to know if there are other ways to tell if we have fertile eggs on our hands. We have tried candling them, but the parents get mad at attack us. And we thought that they are fertile, but now I’m not so sure.
Is there any other way to tell if we have fertile eggs other than to candle them? We don’t bother the parents, nor the eggs, that much, so we don’t interfere. But we would like to know if we can one hundred percent surely tell the people that are going to purchase the chicks when they are weaned if we have fertile eggs.
Here is the information about the parents and eggs if that matters:
Diablo
Species: Cockatiel/Tiel-Nymphicus hollandicus
Gender: Male
Age: 1 1/2 years
Mutation: Pied
Health Rate: Healthy/Maximum
Body Length: 13 inches long counting tail
Weight: 91 grams
Height: 12 inches tall, 14 inches counting crest
Grey Grey
Species: Cockatiel/Tiel-Nymphicus hollandicus
Gender: Female
Age: 1 1/2 years
Mutation: Normal Grey
Health Rate: Healthy/Maximum
Body Length: 14 inches long counting tail
Weight: 90 grams
Height: 12 inches tall, 13 inches counting crest
First Egg:
Species: Cockatiel/Tiel-Nymphicus hollandicus
Laid: November Fourth, Tuesday, 2008
Gender: Unknown
Age: 15 days old since laid
Mutation: most likely Normal Grey
Health Rate: Well, incubated and isn’t cracked or scratched
Body Length: Haven’t checked
Weight: Haven’t checked
Height: Unknown
Second Egg
Species: Cockatiel/Tiel-Nymphicus hollandicus
Laid: November Sixth, Thursday, 2008
Gender: Unknown
Age: 13 days old since laid
Mutation: most likely Normal Grey
Health Rate: Well, incubated and isn’t cracked or scratched
Body Length: Haven’t checked
Weight: Haven’t checked
Height: Unknown
Third Egg
Species: Cockatiel/Tiel-Nymphicus hollandicus
Laid: November Eighth, Saturday, 2008
Gender: Unknown
Age: 11 days old since laid
Mutation: most likely Normal Grey
Health Rate: Well, incubated and isn’t cracked or scratched
Body Length: Haven’t checked
Weight: Haven’t checked
Height: Unknown
Fourth Egg
Species: Cockatiel/Tiel-Nymphicus hollandicus
Laid: November Tenth, Monday, 2008
Gender: Unknown
Age: 09 days old since laid
Mutation: most likely Normal Grey
Health Rate: Well, incubated and isn’t cracked or scratched
Body Length: Haven’t checked
Weight: Haven’t checked
Height: Unknown
Fifth Egg
Species: Cockatiel/Tiel-Nymphicus hollandicus
Laid: November Twelveth, Wednesday, 2008
Gender: Unknown
Age: 07 days old since laid
Mutation: most likely Normal Grey
Health Rate: Well, incubated and isn’t cracked or scratched
Body Length: Haven’t checked
Weight: Haven’t checked
Height: Unknown
I hope this helps, but I have a few questions, still. We decided not to hand feed, it would take so much time. We are going to handle the babies to get them used to human touch, and I was wondering what age is best for this?
Also, my friend, Morgan, asked her mom if she could have one, and it is a most likely yes. But they have to go on vacations, and if they do go on vacation, they want me to take care of the bird while they are gone, which will be a week tops. Would it be better if I just came by like twice a day to feed and water the bird, and maybe handle? Or would it be better if I just took him to my house and cared for it?
I was also wondering what age they are normally weaned at. Because I don’t want to sell a young cockatiel. So what age is best to send them to another home at?
Also, what age should I put them in a brooder or other thing? I have seen some pictures with the chicks at the bottom of the cage, do you do this? What age should I remove them from the nest box?
Thank you, and all the answers would be greatly appreciated!!!
