VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

BREEDING COCKATIEL

• Several pairs of cockatiels can be kept together in an aviary, but breeding results are likely to be better if pairs are housed on their own.
• The breeding age is about 1 year but young pairs do not always best parents.
• The average clutch size is about 5 eggs.
• The cock bird incubates the egg for much of the day, with the hen taking over in the late afternoon.
• The chick hatch out after a period of 19 days
• Sitting bird should not be disturbed; it may cause damage to the egg or chick
• The presence of newly hatched birds will be evident from outside the aviary, young cockatiels have a loud easily discernible call.
• Bread and milk or a high protein insectivorous food may be a good food for breeding pair.
• These birds breed throughout the year, breeding activity can be restricted during warmer months by removing the nest.