Expert: Cynthia Kiesewetter - 10/6/2008

Question
Lst question I asked you said my female cockateil may have been trying to come onto the male cockateil.  Rosi laid 2 eggs saturday and a thrid on sunday.  There is a male in the cage so might be fertile.  We put the egss in a nest box but neither birds will go in there.  We put the eggs in a home made nest at the bottom of the cage because we thought the cockateils may have though we had taken them away, should we have left them in nest box?  they do go to the bottom of the cage but neither birds will sit on them.  Should I put them back in the nest box?  quick answer would help as I dont want these eggs to die if they are fertile.  

thanks

Answer
Jan,

Since neither of them are sitting on the eggs, the best thing you can do is discard them.  It seems that the female is interested in breeding and laying eggs, but not brooding them.  When the male and female participate together in creating a nest, chances are much better of a clutch being laid, brooded and surviving.

Cindy