Cockatiel breeding

[laducockatiel]

Hi guys,

I just wanted to know the very BASICS on cockatiel breeding. My uncle has two cockatiels he bought off a breeder and they had bred before, but they had never bought a nesting box so they haven't bred in his house yet. I have some questions that I would be more than appreciative if somebody (preferably someone who has experience in breeding cockatiels) could answer which are about cockatiel breeding.

- is it neccesary to change the nesting material in the nest box?
- how early can we start handling the babies (as, we would like to tame them)
- is it possible to tame the babies, even though we are not going to hand feed them?(they will be parent fed)
- we have already got a nest box, cuttlebone, a large cage, nest box bedding, vitamin drops to mix in with water. Will we need to get anything else?
- if the nest box doesn't mount to the side of the cage, where else will be a good spot to place it?

Thank you very much to anyone who replies. I very much appreciate it!

[liz]

Bunch of questions.

They will even nest in a tissue box put in the bottom of a cage. Mine nest in January.

Spending time with them can tame them almost as easy as feeding them. When feeding you are handling. Of couse hand feeding gives them the comfort of warm food at the same time.

I have never hand fed. My flock does the feeding. Parents feed while they are in the nest. Once they come out the whole flock feeds them.

[laducockatiel]

Thanks!

[liz]

Keep in touch with your progress.

[laducockatiel]

Yep, I should be setting up the nest box this weekend so I will try and share some pics.

[liz]

Why are you wanting to breed them?
Why don't you just accept them as pets. When they are ready they will "do their own thing".