| 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 corner of the cage, with their tails raised high in the air while emitting a soft, warbling song, that sound like pitiful cries. This gentle song is utilized by hens to signal to males that they are receptive and ready to mate. Bird keepers should carefully watch a hen during the breeding cycle, especially if she begins to lay eggs, because it is imperative that hens receive enough calcium in the diet. The outer shell of each egg is composed of calcium and if the amount of calcium in the diet is inadequate, the hen will draw the necessary calcium from her own bones putting herself at risk for illness and disease. Providing fresh cuttlefish bone (with the soft side facing towards the bird), dark green, leafy vegetables ranking high in calcium, along with other supplements to the diet is essential in order to maintain good health. Because most pet cockatiel hens lay eggs at some point during their lives, many cockatiel owners are concerned with how to prevent periodic or continuous bouts of egg laying that may have gone out of control. Essentially, there are three categories of egg-production in cockatiel hens that are frequently encountered. One of the most common encounters is the unexpected appearance of eggs that may, or may not, be fertilized by a mate, which can appear as a complete surprise to the bird keeper. The second is the planned, intentional breeding of cockatiels to produce healthy offspring for which the aviculturist is well-prepared and educated. The third type of egg production results from the determined action of a single hen to produce eggs regardless of whether she bonds with another bird, or lives alone. Of course, if the hen is without a mate of the opposite sex who could fertilize the eggs, all the eggs will be infertile. One of the most worrisome concerns is the occurrence of chronic egg-laying in adult cockatiel hens, especially when eggs are produced in large quantities. I often receive mail from troubled owners with companion female cockatiels that begin to lay eggs, sometimes clutch after clutch within a short span of time, others perhaps less often, and some repeating the cycle after a rest. Because egg-laying is highly stressful, hens should be watched closely and given nutritional support throughout the egg-laying process and beyond, when the eggs are willingly abandoned. Always provide an adequate source of calcium through a dietary supplement containing calcium, phosphorous and vitamin D3. Calcium is a major component in the formation of the shell around the egg. Lack of dietary calcium can cause a dangerous deficiency for egg-laying hens; female cockatiels that are deficient in calcium will draw the necessary mineral from their own bones leaving them vulnerable to disease, osteoporosis, and life-threatening problems such as soft- shelled eggs and egg peritonitis. Offer fresh cuttlebone making it available inside the cage, soft side facing inward. Cuttlebone can be easier for eager beaks to chew whereas the harder mineral block may be more of a challenge to ingest as quickly. A few ridges scratched across the surface of the cuttlebone with a clean knife will usually entice the more hesitant birds to investigate. Scrape cuttlebone with a clean blade as a powder on top of seed mixes, favorite table foods, or daily fresh foods such as greens, egg-food or other soft foods. Cockatiels that are accustomed to eating a pelleted or extruded diet (always provided with some seed) are already have an advantage because pellets will supply most of the dietary calcium necessary. However, because seeds alone are deficient in calcium, and because calcium works in conjunction with vitamin D3 and phosphorus, birds on a solely seed-based diet may require additional supplementation. Specialty and supplemental products that contain the correct balance of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D3 can be added to the diet to maintain adequate blood levels of calcium overall. Another readily available source of calcium is |
| "Providing Resources to the Cockatiel Community" The Cockatiel Foundation, founded in June 2007, began out of a growing need in the avicultural community to address all areas of cockatiel culture. The Foundation offers 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 necessary for the placement and rehoming of cockatiels to new, permanent "forever" homes. CF address the needs of our Youth Members in the CF Youth & Education Program developed for tomorrows' next generation of cockatiel aviculturists. Additional special interest programs include: Companion Care Nutrition Avian Medicine Hobby Breeding Professional Breeding Color Mutations Genetics Exhibition and more ... The Cockatiel Foundation serves all cockatiel owners needs - from breeders, exhibitors, and pet companion bird owners - to cockatiel adoption, placement and youth education for tomorrows cockatiel afficianados. Please read our Membership benefits and peruse the website. When you join as a CF Member, you will have access to the Members' Only Area. COME JOIN US! |
Copyright 2007 Cockatiel Foundation, Inc.
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| EGG-LAYING BEHAVIORS & PROBLEMS Part 1of a 4-Part Series Aggession, Broodiness & Nutritional Needs of Egg-laying Hens COPYRIGHT © 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" |
C. 2007 Shirley J. Bigham
Founded June 3, 2007
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