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Birds--General/Cockatiel and Parrot

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Expert: - 1/8/2007


Question
I have a Female Cockatiel and a Male Parrot. I let them out alot at the same time, and I think they might have mated. The reasen why I think some is because My cockatiel has layed 5 eggs, 4 that she is sitting on and 1 that she moved to the other side of her cage. She has layed eggs in the past but has never sat on them before. Not only that she is being very protective of them. My question is could it be posible for them to have mated? They are close to the same size my parrot is a Quaker parrot.

Answer
Hi, Christina.  Thanks for posting!

Your tiel and your quaker did not mate.  Your female tiel is laying infertile eggs.  Just leave the eggs where she has laid them until she abandons them on her own.  Once she abandons them, you can pull the eggs and destroy them.  Female parrots can lay eggs without having mated when their hormones start running rampant.  

By the way, your tiel is also a parrot.  Any bird with a hooked bill is a parrot.

Chrys

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Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

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