You all know that I have a small zoo. I also have birds in my blood. My Opa (grandpa) bred cockatiels and budgies. He taught me everything about breeding, and most of the birds I had in my life where from him.

I now have a cockatiel, Marty. She's sort of a rescue, given to us by a guy that works with my husband. She was from a very good breeder, hand raised, very tame. The guy bought her for his son only to find out that his son is allergic to birds. Even then it took him a year before he decided he had to find her a new home. When he did make that decision there was only one person he could think of to give her to. Me (I used to work with him a long time ago, long before hubby did).

So now we have Marty. She's a very rare color, so rare in fact that sexing her was impossible (cockatiels are sexed by their coloring). The breeder had no clue whether Marty was male or female. The co-worker thought she was male since she never laid eggs (birds lay eggs even if they're not bred).

Well we took care of a friends male parrot for 4 days, had him in the same room as Marty, and shortly after he went home, Marty laid her first egg. That was a few years ago.

She now lays eggs every month. Here's the concern. A female bird that's not bred will continue laying eggs, one after the other. The risk is that her uterus can fall out. Literally fall out. The only solution to this is to push the uterus back in, put in a stitch, and hope that it doesn't fall out again. Most times it does, the next time she lays an egg. It's a death sentence.

A bird that is bred lays less eggs, because she's busy rearing her hatchlings. A bird that is bred will lay eggs around 2 times a year, which is a lot better than every month.

So, long story short (okay, not so short) breeding her could save her life. So I'm seriously considering buying a male and breeding my Marty. Not only could this prevent her dying, but she'd have a mate, a friend, and frankly, I have so many animals that I really don't get to spend the one on one time with them that I'd like, so this would really be a great thing for her.

The problem is, I'm scared. I do know a lot about breeding, used to breed finches, but I've never actually bred a cockatiel. They're not as easy as finches. I'm afraid to make a mistake, I'm afraid of losing my Marty, and honestly, once we get the male I know I'll love him too, and when the babies hatch, I may not be able to get myself to find them homes. I could end up with more birds than I'm prepared to have.

I need a few tips. Anyone out there that's bred cockatiels? Any advice? I do know the basics, but putting what I know into practice, is a bit scary. Also, finding a male is proving to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. I'd like a rescue if at all possible.

Any tips would be appreciated. Sorry for rambling.

Bumpity bump bump.

Anyone? Am I the only cockatiel expert here? That can't be. :(

Have you ever heard of giving her a fake egg? I have heard that works for birds that can't seem to stop laying eggs..

She has given her a fake egg and she seems to know it is fake. Alty is concerned as she is laying so many eggs so close together. What a shame that there is no medication that will stop this urge or need in females to lay eggs. I have been discussing this with her for quite a bit today and was shocked there is nothing a vet can do.
You can't take your female in either to get her fixed so she will have no eggs to lay either. The poor female birds what they go through for their lifespan.

Have you ever heard of giving her a fake egg? I have heard that works for birds that can't seem to stop laying eggs..

Lucky, we tried that, we even tried leaving her eggs in her cage longer, to fool her into not laying another. It doesn't work. She lays at least once a month. This month it's been every week. :(

I wrote to the humane society, and even though they will not let me adopt a rescue for breeding purposes, which I completely understand and respect, the person that wrote to me did tell me that I'm 100% right. The only way to stop her from continuously laying, is to breed her. I was sent a bunch of links on why I shouldn't breed (not for the birds health, or because of over population, but because they have to try to dissuade me from breeding, which again, I understand). All the links were things I already know, and all the tricks to get her to stop laying are things I've already tried. So really, breeding her is the last option.

There is no other remedy. There's no fix for this. It's really sad. Someone has to come up with a way to sterilize a female pet bird. I don't want to lose her simply because her body keeps producing more eggs. :(

Here's the truly funny part. There seems to be a shortage of cockatiels in my area. I can't find a single one in rescue, I can't even find one on kijiji for owner surrender. Nothing. In fact, we went to a few pet stores, not to look for a bird, but when we were doing Christmas shopping, and there weren't any cockatiels for sale in any of them. Budgies, finches, canaries, even a dove, but no cockatiels. So finding her a mate won't be at all easy.

I wish you were here in the U.S. For $30 you can rescue a cockatiel.

I wish you were here in the U.S. For $30 you can rescue a cockatiel.

I'd do it in a heartbeat.

The more I look into this, the more I think I'm doing the right thing. But it's hard. I'm so against breeding. But frankly, no one has given me any other option to save Marty's life, and that's literally what breeding her will do. :(

My daughter is really excited about this. In fact, she wants to pay for our new feather baby, when and if we find him. She wants it to be her bird baby. :)

Maybe this is what's meant to be.

Yikes, I just looked up cockatiel breeders in my area (registered breeders) and there aren't any! Not even one!

Finding a male is proving harder than I thought it would be. :(

I'd do it in a heartbeat.

The more I look into this, the more I think I'm doing the right thing. But it's hard. I'm so against breeding. But frankly, no one has given me any other option to save Marty's life, and that's literally what breeding her will do. :(

My daughter is really excited about this. In fact, she wants to pay for our new feather baby, when and if we find him. She wants it to be her bird baby. :)

Maybe this is what's meant to be.
Are you near any U.S. state? Is it OK to take one home with you?

Are you near any U.S. state? Is it ok to take one home with you?

I'm not. I'd have to drive for over a day to get to the nearest US border. :(

If I could get to the US, I'm not sure of the laws regarding taking a bird back. I think the bird would likely have to be quarantined. :(

I'm not. I'd have to drive for over a day to get to the nearest US border. :(

If I could get to the US, I'm not sure of the laws regarding taking a bird back. I think the bird would likely have to be quarantined. :(
:(

Good news.

We're getting our new addition tomorrow. I placed an ad on kijiji looking for a mate for Marty. I got a call today from a lady that took in a male cockatiel a few months ago from a church member. The bird had lost his mate, and she had two tiels of her own so she agreed to take him in in hopes that her two would accept him and he wouldn't be lonely anymore.

It didn't work. Her two are an established couple, and they didn't want a third wheel. They picked on him, pecked at him, and now he's still lonely, sad, and abused by the other birds.

The only concern is that he isn't tame. He was used mainly for breeding before his mate died. But, I can work with him. Marty is very tame, so I'm sure that will help.

The current owner says that he bites, he hisses, he's very nervous around humans. I'm okay with that. I've been bitten by angry birds before. ;)

So we pick him up tomorrow. He'll be in quarantine in another room for at least a month. After that I'll put his cage beside Marty's and see how they react to each other. Once I see them getting along, I'll let them have play dates. So, if everything works out, Marty should have a cage mate within a few months. It takes time and patience. :)

By the way, the new bird is named Beau, and he's a grey cockatiel. :)

I've been bitten by angry birds before.
That would be a terrific name for a computer game -- Angry Birds!!

Glad Beau has found his forever home!

That would be a terrific name for a computer game -- Angry Birds!!!!!!

Glad Beau has found his forever home!

Me too.

I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous about this. It's been a long time since I had to tame a bird. Marty was already very tame when we got her. I've tamed birds before, but never one as old as Beau. I know it can be done, I just hope I manage to do it. He's been through a lot the last few months. Poor little bird boy.

I will be getting his wings clipped, just to make taming him easier. I hate doing it, and never normally clip my birds wings, but it's really for his own safety and will make him easier to tame. Now I just have to find someone to do it. I can, but I don't like to. It's not easy to clip a birds wing if the bird doesn't already trust you. This is going to be very stressful for him, but in the long run it's the best for him right now. I'm hoping I can find someone that's willing to come to my house and do it. I'll have to look around.

My main concern is that I get him, go through everything to tame him, and then introduce them and they hate each other. It shouldn't happen. Birds are flock animals, they like to be with their own kind. But Marty has always been alone, and Beau has been in a relationship, had his wife die, and then got thrown in with another couple that treated him horribly. He may be a bit weary of other birds right now. I'm hoping he can warm up to Marty, and she can warm up to him.

Another concern is that once they're a couple, they will belong to each other. Birds are funny, they pick one person/bird and that's they only one they'll go to, the only one they want to be with. Right now I'm Marty's person. If it all works out, Beau will be her new one and only, which will make her less tame. In other words, I'll be replaced. :(

But it's all for the best, both for her, and for Beau.

Is it weird that I already love him, and I haven't even met him?

Me too.

I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous about this. It's been a long time since I had to tame a bird. Marty was already very tame when we got her. I've tamed birds before, but never one as old as Beau. I know it can be done, I just hope I manage to do it. He's been through a lot the last few months. Poor little bird boy.

I will be getting his wings clipped, just to make taming him easier. I hate doing it, and never normally clip my birds wings, but it's really for his own safety and will make him easier to tame. Now I just have to find someone to do it. I can, but I don't like to. It's not easy to clip a birds wing if the bird doesn't already trust you. This is going to be very stressful for him, but in the long run it's the best for him right now. I'm hoping I can find someone that's willing to come to my house and do it. I'll have to look around.

My main concern is that I get him, go through everything to tame him, and then introduce them and they hate each other. It shouldn't happen. Birds are flock animals, they like to be with their own kind. But Marty has always been alone, and Beau has been in a relationship, had his wife die, and then got thrown in with another couple that treated him horribly. He may be a bit weary of other birds right now. I'm hoping he can warm up to Marty, and she can warm up to him.

Another concern is that once they're a couple, they will belong to each other. Birds are funny, they pick one person/bird and that's they only one they'll go to, the only one they want to be with. Right now I'm Marty's person. If it all works out, Beau will be her new one and only, which will make her less tame. In other words, I'll be replaced. :(

But it's all for the best, both for her, and for Beau.

Is it weird that I already love him, and I haven't even met him?
So happy for you and for Beau!!

So happy for you and for Beau!!!!!!!!

Thanks TJ. The more I think about it, the better I feel about it. I know this is the right thing. I can't wait to pick him up tomorrow. Everything is set, Marty's old cage is washed and put together, ready for Beau. I'm excited. :)

Beau is home.

I called the vet before we went to pick him up, to ask if they do wing clipping. I figured it would be easier to do it right away, it would mean one less car trip, and all the stress in one day, so he doesn't have to stress out again later. That wasn't going to happen today, but while I was on the phone, I told the vet about Beau, and that I'd be quarantining. My vet asked why. I told him I had read that you should. I told him Beau's history, and the vet said that I didn't need to quarantine him. He's been around other birds his entire life, so if he were sick, we'd already know it. No need to worry about that.

So his cage is right next to Marty's and he's already interested in her. He's as close to her cage as he can get in his. He's whistling at her. Marty on the other hand is playing hard to get. She's ignoring him like a little Diva. That's my girl. Play hard to get, but baby, I don't think you'll be able to resist him for long. He's a handsome fellow. :)

An update.

It's been two weeks since we brought Bo (I changed the spelling of his name for a fresh start) home.

At first Marty played hard to get. Now she's changed sleeping perches. Birds usually pick one perch and that's where they sleep. It's like humans picking a side of the bed. Usually they don't change where they sleep. Well, Marty has. She is now sleeping on a plastic perch, not the cotton one she usually sleeps on, that's as close to Bo's cage as she can get while still in her cage. In other words, she likes him.

Bo is loving Marty too. I caught them trying to nuzzle through the bars the other day. Bo serenades Marty all day long. He whistles beautifully, and knows many songs, which leads me to think he's not nearly as wild as the second owner thought. I can't see anyone spending the time to teach a bird songs, without spending the time to tame him.

He never panics when I reach in to his cage to give him food or change his water. He will avoid me, but not panic, or hiss.

I'm waiting to clip his wings, don't want to stress him. I think I'll do it next week, myself. I don't like doing it, but I do know how, I've done it before, which is why I don't like it. It's stressful on the bird, and I hate being the cause of stress. But, it's the best for Bo right now.

I'll let them have their first play date, with no bars, in around 2 weeks.

So that's the update. All is well in bird land. :)

It's been two weeks since we brought Bo (I changed the spelling of his name for a fresh start) home.
Now she is going to get confused with the Obamas' dog with the same name.

She is now sleeping on a plastic perch, not the cotton one she usually sleeps on, that's as close to Bo's cage as she can get while still in her cage. In other words, she likes him.
Can you move the cotton one to where she is now, like, switch them or at least make her perch more comfortable? I wouldn't want to sleep on a plastic perch.

I don't like doing it, but I do know how, I've done it before, which is why I don't like it.
You won't get nervous and...

LOL! When I'm nervous I'm even more careful, so being nervous is a good thing.

I've done this many times, I just don't like doing it. I also don't like cutting the dogs toenails. It just isn't something I like doing. It makes me cringe. I always feel that it hurts them, even though I know it doesn't. Same with wing clipping, it doesn't hurt, but I feel like it does, or should, so I get upset doing it. It's all very silly.

I tried moving her old sleeping perch. She got very upset. The plastic perch isn't that bad. It's top quality. Much better than what poor Bo has in his temporary cage. I bet he can't wait to get into the big cage and have all the top notch stuff. :)

I bet he can't wait to get into the big cage and have all the top notch stuff. :)
That's probably why he is making nice with Marty. And what does he have to look forward to in that cage?

That's probably why he is making nice with Marty. And what does he have to look forward to in that cage?

Oh, Marty's cage is Birdie paradise. Bo is currently in the cage that Marty was brought to us in, the cage she lived in for her first year or so of life. Its not tiny, a cockatiel can spread his/her wings in it, flap, it's average size for a tiel cage. But, I didn't like it. For my pets, when it comes to those that need to be caged, the bigger the better, and I always buy the biggest I can find and afford.

Marty's cage is easily 4 times the size of the one Bo is in. There's enough room that they can fly in this cage if they so choose. I could have at least 4 cockatiels in this cage with room to spare.

Marty has perches galore, two of them twisted rope (Bo has a twisted rope one in his cage as well, which will be moved to the big cage once they're both in it) toys, you name it, all the bells and whistles. Marty is spoiled. Bo is too, but I didn't want to spend too much money on toys for his temporary cage, because it's temporary. But all the toys he has will be moved into the communal cage once they're housed together.

If it continues to go well Bo will be in Marty's cage in less than a month. That's the plan anyway.

I'm going to clip his wings today. Just writing that made my stomach go into my feet. I hate this, but it's the best for him right now. Still, I wish I could talk someone else into doing it. Sigh.

What kind of a toy does a 'tiel play with?

I'm not a bird person, My aunt had a canary called Hans. "Hansie, want num-num?" she'd ask, holding out a soda cracker.

What kind of a toy does a 'tiel play with?

I'm not a bird person,. My aunt had a canary called Hans. "Hansie, want num-num?" she'd ask, holding out a soda cracker.

There are so many tiel toys. A person could spend thousands, and still not have every toy available. Mirrors are a great toy, bells (as long as they're safe) twisted rope is great for perches, it's soft on the feet, and flexible. Bo has a swing in his cage made of twisted rope and wood, he loves it. They each have an edible perch in their cages. It's salt, and cuttlebone, so it's good for their digestive system, and helps keep their beaks and toenails trimmed (a tiels beak grows, and if it's not trimmed down by natural means, it can grow to the point where it literally stabs them in the neck and chokes them to death). The only downfall to the edible perch is that it's pink. Marty is yellow. When she chews on it breaks down and is a lot like chalk. So Mary has a pink tail, pink on her beak and pink feet from the perch.

So many many options. It's fun to go tiel toy shopping. :)

Best tiel, or any bird, treat, is millet spray. It comes on a stalk. I hang it in the cage and they eat at their leisure. They consider it a treat, but it's actually very good for them. It's like timothy hay for rabbits, a must have. They go nuts as soon as they see me with the millet spray bag. Best, millet spray is available where I work, $1 for a bag of around 12 sprays. In the pet store you can spend $5 or more for a bag of only 6, same brand name and everything.

I warn you, don't get me started on bunnies or birds, I'll talk your ear off. :)

I have a great video of my old bird Tweetie, also a tiel, singing to a makeup mirror. I wish I could figure out how to post it. It was taken with a video camera, so no memory card. I'm not sure how I would go about downloading it to my computer.

One thing I have learned, that I actually didn't know before, and really should have, is how to differentiate between male and female tiels, and least greys. The male greys have yellow faces, the females have grey (just like in the wild, the male of the species is usually the colorful one). That's what made Marty so hard to sex. She's a lutino, all yellow. Even the females are all yellow. So unless I was willing to pay for DNA sexing (not cheap) there was no way to know if she was male or female, until she started laying eggs, then it was obvious. :)

Aren't caged birds really messy? My aunt had to clean under Hansie's hanging cage all the time -- the floor was always crunchy with seed bits and empty pods plus feathers. Hansie would even deliberately kick out stuff to fall on the floor.

Aren't caged birds really messy? My aunt had to clean under Hansie's hanging cage all the time -- the floor was always crunchy with seed bits and empty pods plus feathers. Hansie would even deliberately kick out stuff to fall on the floor.

There can be some mess. My cages aren't hung, they're on a table, so that makes it a bit easier. It really depends on the size of the cage, and the height of the bottom piece. Most cages have a very low bottom piece. The one Bo is in is only around 5 inches. Marty's is easily double that. A daily sweep and it's not bad at all.

Actually, in my house cleanup isn't that bad at all. Rascal loves bird seed, and bunny food. Anything that's kicked out of cages, is usually devoured before I have a chance to clean it up. :)

He's a good mouser too. Rascal, not the birds. :)

Update on the birds.

I am teaching Bo how to whistle "happy birthday", and he's doing great. Darn he's a quick learner.

So far he has the "happy birthday to you" part down pat. :)

Marty is loving Bo. This week they're going to meet face to face. :)

Progress! Marty and Bo are both out of their cages. They're sitting on the extra computer chair together. It was a bit chaotic for a moment. Stupid me had the blinds open, Marty came out and flew into the window. :( She usually comes out and goes straight to my shoulder, but I never have the blinds open normally. I just wanted a bit of sunlight in the room.

Well, while Marty was flying around, Bo decided to come out. Marty was easy. She landed, I put out my hand, she climbed on and all was good. Bo, he isn't tame, so I tried to get him to go on my hand and he just freaked out even more.

But right now they're sitting together. Their first play date outside their cage. Now if I can only figure out how to get Bo back in when it's time. :(

In other words, no, I didn't clip his wings. I decided to wait. In hindsight, that may have been another stupid decision. :(

Progress! Marty and Bo are both out of their cages. They're sitting on the extra computer chair together. It was a bit chaotic for a moment. Stupid me had the blinds open, Marty came out and flew into the window. :( She usually comes out and goes straight to my shoulder, but I never have the blinds open normally. I just wanted a bit of sunlight in the room.

Well, while Marty was flying around, Bo decided to come out. Marty was easy. She landed, I put out my hand, she climbed on and all was good. Bo, he isn't tame, so I tried to get him to go on my hand and he just freaked out even more.

But right now they're sitting together. Their first play date outside their cage. Now if I can only figure out how to get Bo back in when it's time. :(

In other words, no, I didn't clip his wings. I decided to wait. In hindsight, that may have been another stupid decision. :(

How did it all work out?

How did it all work out?

They spent around an hour on Bo's cage. They wouldn't get too close to each other, but Marty stayed with Bo, and normally when she's out of her cage she sits on my shoulder. If someone tries to take her away she flies right back to me. So the fact that she stayed with him is a really good sign.

Getting Bo back into the cage wasn't easy, but it also wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. Wing clipping next, as soon as he stops molting and the blood feathers grow out. :)

All in all, a good first date.

They spent around an hour on Bo's cage. They wouldn't get too close to each other, but Marty stayed with Bo, and normally when she's out of her cage she sits on my shoulder. If someone tries to take her away she flies right back to me. So the fact that she stayed with him is a really good sign.

Getting Bo back into the cage wasn't easy, but it also wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. Wing clipping next, as soon as he stops molting and the blood feathers grow out. :)

All in all, a good first date.

Ahhhhh, a very sweet rescue story!

Okay all, here's a picture of Bo, finally.

Excuse the quality, I have a crappy camera.

43027

43028

Okay all, here's a picture of Bo, finally.

Excuse the quality, I have a crappy camera.

43027

43028

Oh what a cutie pie!!

Just to be fair, I'll also post a picture of Marty.

43029

43030

The cage in the first picture is the cage Marty was in when we got her. It's the cage Bo is currently in. Marty has a new cage, that she'll eventually share with Bo, that's around 4 times the size of the one in the picture. :)

Oh what a cutie pie!!!!!!!!!

Thanks TJ. I think he's very handsome. Marty thinks so too. :)

Thanks TJ. I think he's very handsome. Marty thinks so too. :)

Gosh, I wonder what their kiddos will look like? Cutie pies for sure!

Gosh, I wonder what their kiddos will look like? Cutie pies for sure!

From what I've read about coloring, the females should be Lutino's like Marty, and the males should be greys like Bo. Lutino's are a hard color to get, so they'll be very sought after. Grey's like Bo, who is a full grey, will be sought after as well. :)

In other words, I should have no problem at all finding homes for them. :)

Yup, Marty is a blonde!

Bo is cute too!

Yup, Marty is a blonde!

Bo is cute too!

Marty is such a blonde, but she's loveable as all get out, and like all blondes, all males want a piece of her. :)

At this moment Bo is whistling up a storm, trying to get Marty's attention. Marty is blonde, and she knows she's a hot babe. So, she's being the typical female. She's ignoring him. :)

From what I've read about coloring, the females should be Lutino's like Marty, and the males should be greys like Bo. Lutino's are a hard color to get, so they'll be very sought after. Grey's like Bo, who is a full grey, will be sought after as well. :)

In other words, I should have no problem at all finding homes for them. :)
If only we didn't have the cat...

I was a Blondel but he wouldn't whistle while I was on the phone. Did you tell him I got my hair did?

If only we didn't have the cat......

We can work around the cat. I'll find a way. :)

I was a Blondel but he wouldn't whistle while I was on the phone. Did you tell him I got my hair did?

He only has eyes for Marty. She's got him wrapped around her little claw. He's a smitten birdie. He doesn't puff up for just anyone you know. ;)