Cockatiel Breeders

Being a cockatiel breeder is not an easy task. There are some things that you will need to know to get started. Cockatiel breeders should only breed this type of bird if they are truly interested in them. Cockatiels are beautiful and are very intelligent. Cockatiels can live a very long life and breeders and owners should develop a strong fulfilling relationship with their pet. Therefore, having this type of bird as pet is a serious long term consideration.

First thing you need to ask yourself as breeders is: Are my birds compatible? It would be easier to breed birds that are aviary – bred rather than those specimens caught in the wild.

To know if the cockatiels are compatible, as cockatiel breeders, you will need to keep a close watch on your birds for a couple of weeks or even a couple of months just to ensure that your pair is well-matched. There are some cocks that become excessively insistent – if this is the case, it would be best to remove him and transfer him to another place for a few days. Now if the cock still continues to be aggressive, it is suggested that you find another mate before the breeding takes place.

After finding that your cockatiels are compatible, breeders should start building nest boxes to prepare the birds to mate. It would be finest to have all these boxes somewhere where the place is shaded and have a suitable height for you to easily see them daily. Your nest boxes should be made out of thick wood and the size of the box should reflect the length and the size of your cockatiel – not including the tail of the bird – with a four- sided – figure base in order for your box to withstand the changes in the weather.

Cockatiel breeders must feed the birds with an oyster shell or a cuttlefish bone, extra supplements such as liquid or powdered concentrates, tonic seeds with vitamins which provide embryos with a good protein base to grow on and lots of oil seeds. Calcium filled food will also be good for your birds. Bread and milk is essential to make certain that your chick do not suffer from rickets.

It is important for breeders to watch the weight of the chicks during the first couple of weeks. You may have to stop fostering or hand- feeding your chicks if you notice that they are not gaining weight or even worse, they are losing weight. Your cockatiels should be ready to be on their own and feed on their own at the very least three weeks, and this would go up to three months. At this point, breeders should transfer them to a separate station or else, they will be the target of attack and can be killed by their parents especially by the father – the cock.

Cockatiel breeders should know how to recognize the different birds. Especially when some young cockatiels are rapidly attaining the adult plumage and when they are joining older birds in their cage. Cockatiel breeders can have this done by using leg bands – or rings – which can be available in either metal or plastic, closed or split. Usually, plastic bands or rings are utilized on smaller cockatiels however, they get easily destroyed. Closed rings are used on chicks that are about five to six days of age. For better identification, you might want to color code the rings of your birds.

Cockatiel breeders must remember that raising cockatiels in a dependable manner is an art. Getting your birds a bigger cage is better and providing them with toys, plenty of space and attention is something that breeders must provide.