concerned for my teil widower

[gr8fulhuman]

Hi, our family adopted 2 cockateils, female and male, a couple of years ago from a friend who was downsizing her home and didn't have room for them anymore. Anyway, Cheeky (girl) and Rocco (boy) loved one another and regularly engaged in copulation. In fact, two days ago they were going at it and we thought nothing of it because this was normal. But a couple hours later I noticed her sitting on the ground which she never had done, (except for egg-sitting), and upon looking closer I saw that her face was bloody and her eyes were closed. We removed her from the cage and tried to call a vet. I couldn't find a single emergency vet hospital who saw birds on a Sunday night, so we set her up in another cage until morning. I jumped online in a panic and just found a ton of emergency advice and info that contradicted each other. It was difficult to see because of all the blood but we could see her nostril holes and beak and mouth were covered on blood. I read that if she lost a certain amount of blood that she would die. We were worried that she couldn't breathe. We were so panicked and couldn't get a hold of a vet and we're so stressed when checking the internet, so we relied on our instincts. We tried to absorb some blood from her beak by gently applying a Q-tip. I had her wrapped gently in a towel so she wouldn't fly away. But she just started to move and more blood started to pour out. So we stopped and put her in a warm room in her carrier until morning. Within an hour she was dead. It all happened so fast. We still don't know what exactly happened. ..was it an aggravated date - rape type situation where it started with mating then it got overly aggressive? We don't understand why he would attack her like this. Now he's alone and ALL DAY he's been singing and calling so loudly. We were kind of upset with him for killing her, but we feel bad for him because he's all alone and doesn't understand where his mate went. I talked to his former owner and she said maybe it was a blood feather. But it was her face that was bloody. Is that a likely possibility? She said she hoped he wouldn't become despondent. So how do we know if he does become despondent? Can he live happily ever again without a mate? Should we get him another mate or is it likely she would get attacked eventually? Should we give him to someone with a big aviary and other cockateils? We've only been owners for two years or so, and never had any issues like this. I already feel bad for not knowing what to do when one birds attacks another to death so please if you are compassionate and have advice on what we should do please reply. I appreciate any help. I noticed that many posts get dozens more view that actual replies. I hope if you read this, then you have advice to share. Basically we need to know what to about our surprisingly aggressive newly widowed and lonely boy cockateil Rocco. With Gratitude, thank you.

[marie83]

Hi there, I'm really sorry for your loss.

I'm sure others will be a long soon who may be better able to advise you on things as this isn't something I've come across before with my own birds or those that I have worked with.
I just wanted to know if you are absolutely sure the male inflicted the injuries to the hen and that she didn't take fright and hit her face in her panic? or is there anything else in the cage that may have caused injury to her? Also has there ever been any aggression displayed between the two prior to this incident? The only instances of aggression between tiels that I've heard of before are between those whos cages are too small so they don't have the room to give each other space although I'm no expert on 'tiel aggression I do think its rare for things to end like this.

Whilst a vet who has loads of experience is always preferable I realise there are loads of people who don't live close enough to a bird vet when a real emergency strikes, in which case I would always advise getting the bird to any vet as they should know enough to hopefully stabilise (or at least make the bird more comfortable) a situation until a transfer can be made to a vet who is more knowledgeable with bird treatment. Most vets should at least know more than the average bird owner anyway although there are always exceptions.

[gr8fulhuman]

Marie83, thanks for your condolences and reply. Their cage is about 3 feet high and two feet wide. There is a box on the ground where they'd go sometimes together or to sit on eggs. We've seen some -not necessarily aggressive- wrestling kind of play. Or seemed like it. Gentle bites on the head when he'd try to mount her and she didn't want him to. If she did hit something it would've had to be REALLY hard enough to break up her face the way it was. I can't imagine her getting up enough momentum to cause that level of damage. We never even considered that he hadn't hurt her. I was stunned that there isn't an emergency vet here who sees birds on a weekend or holiday. Some vets rotate their shifts for emergencies and maybe there's one who sees birds but none were available when our emergency occurred.
When we first noticed her, the blood was dried and over her nostrils and it was when we tried to blot it off that she started shaking her head and fresh blood started dripping out. I feel so bad that that second wave of blood loss is what killed her. I feel terrible.

[gr8fulhuman]

I see I have been spelling cockatiel wrong. I'm sorry folks.

[Pajarita]

First of all, sorry for your loss. It could not have been a blood feather or a night fright. Contrary to popular belief, birds don't bleed to death from a blood feather and a night fright would have possibly caused something as serious as a broken wing but not a wound that would make her bleed to death as that would have had to have been a puncture wound. But I doubt she died from blood loss, it was, most likely, shock from it and not the actual blood loss itself (first thing you need to do with a bleeding bird is give it heat -85 to 95 degrees- and complete quiet because without them, they die). It could have been the male, especially if he was been aggressive before. Males are never aggressive with their mates, it just doesn't happen in nature, It happens in captivity but it's always because there are abnormal circumstances which, in this case, I would say it was sexual frustration. Cockatiels don't have sex or lay eggs all year round and they are not even producing sexual hormones this time of the year, the days are too short, so you must have been keeping them at a human light schedule (lights on before the sun is out and after the sunset). Sexually frustrated males do attack and even kill not only the females but also the babies (not their fault, they are in constant pain).

First of all, you need to figure out how to keep him to a solar schedule with full exposure to dawn and dusk and that means no artificial lights before the sun is out (this time of the year 8 am or later) or after the sun is halfway down to the horizon (this time of the year 4:45 pm or earlier). Take the box out of the cage (it just makes things worse) and reduce his protein intake (I don't know what kind of diet you had them on but they should not be free-fed their protein food -seeds, pellets, nutriberries, etc).

As to his calling, yes, he is calling for her not only because he misses her but also because he needs to have sex so, personally, I would get him another mate (they always do better in pairs, it's the way nature meant for them to live) but I would wait about a month or two before I allow them to be together (his sexual hormones levels need to decrease).

[marie83]

Actually its possible as I have had it happen to someone (a single tiel). The cage was kitted out inappropriately although im not a accusing the OP of that, just asking if it was possible.

[Lizz]

Cockatiels don't like to be alone. My Sweetie died not too long ago. Shadow was so upset at being alone that he stole Tammy from Tommy. Adultery in a cockatiel flock.

Mine are starting to settle down with the new female maggie even though Tammy is the only one interacting.

Yes get him a friend. It does not have to be a female. He just doesn't want to be alone.

[Pajarita]

Actually its possible as I have had it happen to someone (a single tiel). The cage was kitted out inappropriately although im not a accusing the OP of that, just asking if it was possible.

Yes, you are right, freak accidents do happen but there would have to have been something sticking out with a sharp end on it.

[gr8fulhuman]

Thank you all for your replies. In the morning we took off their cover and at night we covered them. At night though it would be dark outside and they live in a room where we are, so lights would be on. At the beginning I covered them at dark but the room light was on and we were talking (so I thought they knew we were all up, and they wanted to be a part of everything) and they would sing and chirp until we took off the cover, then they were quiet. I'm open to suggestions to the natural light issue...
Cheeky the female was laying eggs on and off so we put a box in because we wanted her to feel safe. We read different things about that, a lot of contradicting stuff. The eggs never would hatch and they would take turns sitting on them. We also read that laying eggs makes the female's bones weaker because she makes extra calcium and other minerals for the eggs so we took away the box to try to discourage the laying. But it happened anyway. Related question: don't birds (many animals do) like to have a hide box to go in to feel safe? Any opinions on on that?
About adding another bird in a month or two...I'm worried about another attack on a female and I feel conflicted putting a female in there for his sexual needs. I don't want any bird rape to happen. And if we put in another male, would there be an issue with competing testosterone..(or whatever male hormones birds have) thereby guaranteeing fighting?
I appreciate your experience and informed opinions. Thank you for your ongoing help, you guys!)

[gr8fulhuman]

Sorry for my ignorance, but what's an OP and a kitted out cage?