Baby cockatiels

[Ximichi]

Hi! My two normal gray cockatiels recently started to lay eggs. They just laid their second. This will be their first time breeding so I'm quite worried. I've been keeping track of the dates the eggs came out, the weight, I have tried candling with my phone light (not sure how it's going so far). Should there be anything else I am looking for? I recently added some bird treat which is supposed to have vitamins needed when breeding and will start feeding them a little bit of egg.

Also! For my best box I used shredded paper from my shredder but I just ordered some aspen wood. Would it be alright to mix the two? I also ordered matter exact and a few syringes. I want to be prepared in case my pair doesn't take good care of the babies. I'm thinking about hand feeding simultaneously while my cockatiels are feeding them-- maybe once a day so they will get used to hands? What are your thoughts?

Any advice would be more than welcome-- I am quite nervous!

 

[texsize]

My cockatiels have laid a clutch of 5 eggs and I am expecting them to hatch on or about the 12 this month. Have done extensive reading so I will pass on what I have found out.

You have to wait until your birds start to incubate the eggs for a few days before candling will give you accurate information. I don't remember how many days of incubation is required.

Incubation does not start right away. That's ok, don't panic I have read that the eggs can sit for up to 10 days after laying and still be incubated to hatching.

For your second question I can only say " do your research" for baby food. I bought "Kaytee exact hand feeding formula only to find out that it is NOT RECOMENDED. I have read a lot of bad reviews for this stuff and I would not feed it to a dog let alone my baby cockatiels.
I will watch this thread in the hopes someone more knowable than I will recommend something.

And lastly don't let all the Debbie downers on the form get you down.
You might get some heat about having a breeding pair of cockatiels but " Stuff happens" it nature in action.
good luck keep us posted. I for one want to know how it goes.

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[Ximichi]

Hey!
I volunteer at a wildlife rehab center and they use the kaytee formula for baby birds so I bought it. I'm really upset to find out it's not good at all! I will do some extensive research on the product...
We also use puppy chow to feed baby pigeons at the center. I will do some more research on that too!


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[gracebowen]

Mine are currently raising their third clutch. I advise against handfeeding unless absolutely necessary. At two weeks you can bring them out and hold and pet them some. In my experience at 3 weeks they will start to look for you. Mine also learned to step up at this time. At four weeks they will fledge. Once mine fledged they avoided me. Maybe I did something wrong. Please let they fly for weeks before you clip if you clip.

If you clip I read to do it in stages, one feather at a time to give them time to adjust.

My eggs hatched about a week after I expected them too. I had just decided one was dead in the shell and was about to remove it when it chirped. A few minutes later it was out.

If you don't already start offering the parents fresh fruits and veggies daily. Offer every day whether or not they eat it. Mine took months to start eating them.

Pellets are still a work in progress too. Interestingly enough if I leave the bag of pellet on my bed they are happy to eat them. If I put the same pellets in the food dish they won't eat them.

 

[gracebowen]

Incubation is typically 18 to 21 days but my last batch hatched after that. So again for both of you if they don't hatch when expected just wait .

Also my grey split to pied and my visual pied so far have given me 2 pearl lutino 2 pearl pied and 2 that are at least pied (waiting till the feathers finish coming in). The pearl litino also looked to have a hint of cinnamon but I'm not sure.t hey had a couple of feathers that had brown spots.

I wasn't going to mention my clutch because of the slightly antibreeding sentiment here but I do have a little experience now and I want to share what little I know.

You both might want to set up a brooder asap just in case. Also if for some reason only one baby hatches you might put in a small stuffed toy for it to rest on. My baby sure liked hers.

 

[gracebowen]

Oh and both please let me know how your clutches do.

I don't know much about bedding. I have been using ripped up plain white paper towels.

 

[gracebowen]

I almost forgot baths are especially important now. Mine have a glass pie dish constantly. I change the water often. They dont like misting but they love their pie dish.

 

[Ximichi]

I might make an Instagram to track their progress or I'll make another thread!


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[GaleriaGila]

I'm so glad that there are such helpful people here... knowledgeable about so many species. Good for you, for seeking out advice and support. Best of luck to you!
Patagonian hugzszszszsz!

 

[texsize]

thank you for the good advice.
Do you have any experience with the Kaytee baby formula ?
I am not planning on hand feeding, I hope I don't have to try it.
I read that it is helpful to give to the parents the baby food because it is easy for them to regurgitate.

I read on the forum that the Kaytee is not good and I checked the reviews on amazon.com and found a lot of bad reviews there also.
I have something else on order but don't remember the name off hand.

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[gracebowen]

I have very little experience. My first clutch I had the bright ideal to supplement like the op is thinking about.

I got it out, boiled water etc...but it always got too cold too fast. Knowing feeding at the wrong temp could kill the babies I never tried again. Thankfully I never had too.

I hadnt heard kaytee was bad. In fact I thought it was recommended.

 

[Ximichi]

Thanks gracebowen! I've actually been asking some rehabbers tips for feeding..I heard if you fill syringes and then store them in some warm-hot water it'll stay hotter longer. I've also heard kaytee was recommended. I think I will go with that their first litter because I've seen so many people use it.. I am hoping that whatever bad effects people have had will not happen and that the parents will be able to provide them with most of the nutrients needed.


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[gracebowen]

I wouldn't try to handfeed at all unless it was an emergency.

 

[Ximichi]

Has anyone experienced cockatiels being loud at night while nesting..? My male keeps chirping and it's driving everybody nuts


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[texsize]

My male has been very quite since incubation has started.
He was a very vocal bird when I bought him and it was one of the reasons I bought him (besides being a beautiful white-face).
Maybe he is "singing" to the eggs so the baby's will know his voice.
My male's song should still be found on the cockatiel thread under "Cheeky's song"

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[Ximichi]

He's not particularly singing... He sounds like he's calling for his mate even though she's inside sitting on eggs


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[gracebowen]

That's what I was going to say. Calling mate and or telling her nestbox is safe.

 

[texsize]

First hatchling

I got up 5:00 am this morning (having sinus/allergy problems) and heard my first cheep...cheep....cheep...
So my first baby has hatched 2 days earlier than expected.
keeping my fingers crossed.
View attachment 17335

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[Ximichi]

Wow!! My clutch is far from hatching. I'm so excited!


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[texsize]

I so understand.
this is the 3rd clutch of eggs I have had laid by a cockatiel and the second by this cockatiel. The first 2 I was sure were sterile but the pair of cockatiels have been very diligent in sitting on the eggs this time.
good luck with yours.
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