Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok. I have i think a female cockatiel. It has the barring on the tail feathers and the spots on the wings. It is still going through the first molt but is at the end. I have noticed that it was rubbing its lower abodmen on it perch. So i did move it away from the other perch. Is that a sign of mateing? Also if it is a female when will she start laying eggs and what should i do to not encourge her to do that? I have read some of the talk on here. Would it be good to give her something to have the eggs in? i would not want the eggs to fall though the cage bottom. Cause i know that she will lay eggs? What should i feed her when she starts lay her eggs?

Thanks mkoaj

I would avoid giving her any nest-like object to lay eggs in, that would only encourage egg-laying. If she lays eggs, they shouldn`t fall through the grate. Cockatiel cage grates don`t have spacing wide enough to all it to fall through. She might lay the eggs in a food bowl, too, in which case you`ll have to give her a new bowl to eat out of.

To discourage laying make sure she doesn`t have access to dark, enclosed spaces like under blankets, in cupboards, behind pillows, etc... You should also rearrange the cage often (moving the location of toys, perches, and food bowls). If she starts showing nesty or broody behavior, you can also try cutting back light to only 10-12 hours a day.

Laying birds need access to a calcium source (cuttle bone or mineral block) and access to natural sunlight (or full-spectrum lighting for reptiles) for an hour or so a day. Full sprectrum lighting is what allows her to absorb the calcium she eats. (If you take her outside for natural sunlight, be sure to keep her safely inside a cage, or in a harness. Never leave her outside unattended.)