Copyright 2007 Cockatiel Foundation, Inc.
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ARTICLE
| EGG-LAYING BEHAVIORS & PROBLEMS Part 1 of a 3-part Series Aggression, Broodiness & Nutritional Needs of Egg-laying Hens © 2000-2007 LINDA S. RUBIN Originally published in August 2000 issue of BIRD TIMES Magazine & CAGE & AVIARY BIRDS, UK, June 28, 2007 "All Rights Reserved" |
| With the arrival of warm weather you may have noticed your companion male cockatiel has become downright aggressive towards you, even to the point of biting. Or, alternatively, your usually sweet cockatiel hen has become rather moody and developed into quite a grouch. Don’t take it personally, it’s to be expected, especially if your cockatiel has just celebrated its first birthday and become sexually mature. For good or ill, these are nature’s hormones coming into play and the rightful passage of your cockatiel coming into full sexuality. Driven by nature, your cockatiel is simply looking for a mate because it has a need to reproduce. When bred indoors, cockatiels are non-seasonal breeders – meaning that their breeding schedule does not have to coincide with a particular time of year. Reproduction in cockatiels however, is influenced by weather, specifically by the amount of heat, humidity and light to which they are exposed. In their native Australia, cockatiels live in the arid interior in desert conditions and they reproduce during the rainy season when the increased rain showers provide an abundance of seeds in the milky stage, which they ingest to feed their young. The increased humidity and rain also allow the parents to bathe frequently, providing additional moisture when the parents return to incubate their eggs. The length of daylight hours, or photolight period, also provides enough time for parent cockatiels to seek out an adequate amount of food so they may properly digest and regurgitate it back to their young. What does all this have to do with the moodiness of your pet cockatiel? Your companion is simply responding to the many factors that would prepare it for raising a family on its own. The primary factor is its age, which can range from eight to fourteen months, with twelve months as the average age when physical sexual maturity is achieved. Although some cockatiels may mature faster (e.g., in six to eight months), it does not necessarily mean they have the ability or the maturity to successfully raise young. Raising offspring at too young an age can endanger the health of birds that should wait until they are old enough to safely reproduce. Most reputable aviculturists will not set up a pair until they are a minimum of twelve to eighteen months of age. Next, increased daylight or photolight period, such as the increasing light when spring and summer weather comes into play can tempt cockatiels to respond as if breeding season had commenced. Additionally, increased temperature, adequate humidity, an abundance of proper foods, and finally – what the cockatiel believes is an appropriate nesting site and mate – all contribute to throwing a growing adolescent pet cockatiel into an early adult phase of its life. Male aggression may be more obvious to observe, because males clearly sing and strut about, showing off by opening their wings at the shoulder, bowing, and singing a warbling, perpetual song that may last for long periods of time. Male cockatiels will serenade shiny objects at a drop of a hat - from cage wire, mirrors, and other gleaming items - to singing lustily for their owners and to other objects to which they bond. Much to many owner’s surprise, these delightful sessions may end with an unwelcome hiss or hard, painful nip to the hand as it seems for no apparent reason, but it is all part of the struggle of raging hormones and frustration. Understandably, it appears, the tamer the bird, the far less fear it has of its owner and so the more likely the occurrence of an unexpected bite. It would be wise to keep the bird away from your face at this time, or away from very young children whose sudden movements might result in a painful bite. Frustrated males denied the opportunity to reproduce have been known to attempt to copulate with their perch by rubbing their tails in rhythmic movements while singing and chortling enthusiastically. There is no danger to this activity and owners need not be alarmed by this behavior. Maturing hens, however, may appear much more grouchy or focused on looking for a possible nesting site, especially if they are preparing to lay eggs. They usually begin by shredding paper at the bottom of their cage, then arrange a corner so that it is clean of debris in order to deposit eggs laid one at a time on an every other day schedule. In fact, both hens and males may shred or tunnel under their cage paper. If permitted outside the cage, it is not unusual for a hen to scout out her own nesting site. These nesting sites - which may appear tempting from the hen’ s point of view and not necessarily your own - may range, for example, from an unfilled area of a bookcase or an empty shoe, to a bare bureau drawer or even under the bed. Prior to laying eggs, hens may be seen lying or “squatting” straight across the perch, or sitting backed up in a |
| "Providing Resources to the Cockatiel Community" The Cockatiel Foundation, founded in June 2007, began out of a growing need in the avicultural community to offer its members programs for pet owners, breeders and exhibitors, in addition to services never before addressed in the cockatiel community. CF is establishing a Cockatiel Adoption & Placement Program to hrlp in the placement and rehoming of cockatiels to new, permanent "forever" homes. CF offers a wealth of information on color genetics, mutations, and breeding research. CF is addressing the needs of our Youth Members in the CF Youth & Education Program developed for tomorrows' next generation of cockatiel afficionados. Please visit our unique LOST & FOUND Center to report and reunite birds with their owners! Joining the Foundation When you join the Foundation as a Member, you will receive many benefits, including the Cockatiel Chronicle and have access to the Members' Only Yahoo Group for chat, PHOTO CONTEST, Members' Articles & more! Please read about our Membership benefits and peruse the website. COME JOIN US! |
| Disclaimer Articles on this website are not meant to take the place of proper veterinary and other medical care. If your bird appears ill or shows symptoms of illness, please contact your avian veterinarian as quickly as possible. Birds are prey animals and hide their symptoms in order to survive; by the time owners see symptoms, a bird may have become extremely ill. Owners are advised to seek medical attention immediately. To find an avian veterinarian in your area, contact the Association of Avian Veterinarians at www.aav.org. |
C. 2007 Shirley J. Bigham
Cockatiel Foundation, Inc.