Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 5/30/2007

Question
QUESTION: My cockatiel had two eggs yesterday for the first time but she won't nest or sit on them. She won't go in the nesting box either. She had the eggs outside the box. Is there something I can do to get her to care for her eggs?

ANSWER: Hi, Emiley.

How old is this bird?  Does she have a mate?  Is there anything in the bottom of the nesting box, such as shavings?  Was the nesting box up before she started laying eggs?  

Chrys

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Chrys,
She is probably 7 years old and has never had eggs before. I wasn't even sure if she was a girl or not. There is a male in the cage with her and he is around 9 or 10. There wasn't a nesting box up before she laid an egg and I went and got one and put nesting material from the pet store in it. She won't go in it and has had another egg. It was cracked so I threw it away. That was 2 days ago and I haven't seen anymore eggs since. I don't know what else to do. Is there a trick to get her to nest or something? Any help will be appreciated.

Emiley

Answer
Hi again, Emiley.

Remove the nesting material from inside the nesting box...tiels don't like nesting material in their nest.  You can try placing the eggs inside the box, but they may abandon them because the nesting box wasn't up before they started laying eggs.  The male will do what he needs to in order to prepare the nesting box for his mate, and she should go inside once the male has prepared it for her.  Don't be surprised if they abandon the first egg and start laying a new clutch once the nesting box is ready.

Chrys