Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 8/5/2007

Question
Hi Chrys, im really hoping you can help me.
i have a cockatiel (male) who is about 2 years old, and we recently got a hen who is quite young. she has most of her crest feathers and tail feathers, so we're not really sure of her age.
they are both quite placid, and we have taught them to whistle and all that, and both love their cuddles and scratches and hate being in the cage, more so like being on our shoulders and out and about doing their own thing.

the two got along really well at the start, and it looks like we have a breeding pair, as they sure as go for it! so we got them a nesting box, and put that in the cage with them, with the usual sawdust in the bottom of it.
the problem is, the male is now getting quite agressive towards her, and he has been the only one to venture into the nesting box. he will chase her around the cage now, nipping and pecking at her.  the nesting box is quite large, and takes up about a third of the cage size. the birds only really go in there to eat, drink and sleep. they pretty much have free reign whenever we are home.
whenever our hen goes near the nesting box is when the issue starts.  he is also very protective of the food as well.
we are looking to get a bigger cage for them, but thought we could ask a question beforehand in case that isnt the issue in the first place.

is he becoming more aggressive as a protective territorial manner, or is he just being that way as they have been breeding?

the last thing we want is to have to seperate them, becuase they have been getting on really well, until the introduction of the nesting box. he was the first to venture into it, but hasnt really moved anything around in there or the like. but we also dont want to find one of our beloved birdies hurt either.

when the birds first started going at it, they had nothing in the cage but they did have various sticks and leaves and the like that they started clearing away from the one corner.

if we should take the nesting box out, what alternatives can we give them so as to try and best avoid binding and other issues that may arise?

i really appreciate any help that you can offer.

thanks heaps,

lahnie & maizy
australia

Answer
Hi, Lahnie and Maizy,

The first problem I see is that the female might not be old enough to breed.  Female tiels needs to be 2 years old before allowing to breed.  Second problem I see is that you have put sawdust in the bottom of the nesting box.  Remove the sawdust and do not put anything in the bottom.  This might be why she is not going in the box and why he is having such a fit.  Also, I'd recommend you put the nesting box on the outside of the cage.  The round opening is the only part of the nesting box that should be accessible to the birds inside the cage.  This will allow you to have access to the inside of the nesting box without having to intrude into the inside of the cage.  May also save you from having to buy another cage.

If you want these birds to breed/raise offspring, you need to limit the amount of time they are allowed outside their cage.  What happens is that birds who love to be outside their cage won't tend to their eggs/offspring as well if they have free roam.  I recommend you confine them more to their cage so they will be forced to focus on mating/breeding/caring for offspring.  Once eggs appear, I would recommend you keep them confined most of the time.  This really depends on the personalities of your birds though.  If they still care for their eggs/babies, etc., while you allow them out, then this is OK.  However, some birds would rather be out than tend to their nest/eggs/babies.  

Parrots tend to become more aggressive toward outsider birds and their humans when they are going to nest.  However, they shouldn't be aggressive toward each other.  Some males peck at or try to "persuade" their females to go to nest, but if this gets to the point where the male is hurting the female, then this is not good.  Some aggressiveness toward the female mate is normal.

Try the things above and see how the situation goes.  

Chrys