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I have a young pair of Greencheeks that didn't appear to be anywhere near ready to breed, so we pulled them from a communal breeding flight and put them into a smaller cage to give the birds who are in breeding mode a bit more space while we build a new larger flight. But...they suprised me with an egg! The cage is really too small to even consider putting a box in for them. I currently have an older (10+) tiel hen who has proven herself to be a very good mum. She currently has one chick which is 8 days old, and we just discarded two clear eggs 2 days before I found the conure egg. I've popped the conure egg into the tiel's box, and intend to put the second egg (just found it this morning) in with her today as well. I had planned to pull the tiel chick to handrear early next week. I was hoping that some of you more experienced cockatiel breeders (the bulk of my experience is with Lorikeets) would give me your input into whether or not you think this hen is likely to continue to brood these eggs? I have a friend who has an incubator, so I can always opt to go that way, but if this tiel is likely to brood these eggs and rear the chicks for the first few days, then my life would be a lot less complicated seeing as I have lots of different species on eggs, so lots of young coming in for handrearing over the next few weeks. Any and all input would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Patti

Patti In Oz wrote:I have a young pair of Greencheeks that didn't appear to be anywhere near ready to breed... The cage is really too small to even consider putting a box in for them. ...

Patti, I would toss the young conures' eggs, separate the pair into larger, separate cages next to each other, and give them time to mature. You'll get healthier chicks from them when they're old enough. Respectful advice from another former Texan and 'tiel breeder.

I don't think I explained myself quite right. The pair of Conures are mature enough to breed, (nearly 2-paired off about 6 months ago) but I can keep a fairly frequent watch on my aviarys and hadn't seen them engaging in any "pre-mating behaviour" and they seemed more interested in just trying to monster the other birds in the flight they were in. Just seems like a bit of a waste to toss a perfectly good clutch of eggs because I didn't realise they were getting ready to lay.

Patti In Oz wrote:Just seems like a bit of a waste to toss a perfectly good clutch of eggs because I didn't realise they were getting ready to lay.

Dear Patty,

The only experience I have from what your positing is asking about, is by using another one of my Eclectus Hens to brood my CA Grey eggs. The Eclectus is (IMHO) the best brooder out there for this type of "rescue." As for using a Tiel Hen as a brooder I would watch out for that one! My best guess would be to use the incubator if you don't have an Eckie. Yes it will mean more work but again isn't this what we are all in it for?

We work tirelessly, spend outrageous amounts of money, to care for God's most beautiful creations?

We wouldn't have it any other way

Dutch

I don't think that the tiel hen will continue to be broody for the time you need.
She should be starting to spend less time on the baby by now.

Yes, Alhee, that was my concern. But as I said in an earier reply. It's a shame to let these eggs go to waste if there's any chance. We now have 3 conure eggs in with the tiel chick. And they are all nice and toasty at this point. But today's the day we pull the chick, so we'll see if she continues to brood or if she leaves them. It's especially important now seeing as one of the conures has taken ill, and this might be our only chance to get a clutch from this pairing. If nothing else if she broods them long enough for me to candle them we would at least know we had a true pair.

Thanks for everyone's input thus far.

Unless your avian vet's diagnosis of the conure's illness rules out transmission, I'd be concerned that the illness might make the conure chicks, tiel chick, and parent tiels sick. That would be too awful

Good point Bluebird, but I've already done my homework on this one. There is a short list of diseases that can be passed from hen to egg, but the hen is not the poorly one. I rarely take my birds to an avian vet. (I can't even recall the last time I had a sick bird in my collection) But, I've done 60 hours of avian training as part of my wildlife work which meant that I automatically began my standard treatment protocol when I found little Newbie wasn't well. IE rehydration, supportive care, and an injection of a broad spectrum antibiotic. I have no faith in my local vet but I do have access to an avian vet via email/phone. Her input was to continue to treat the ill bird and his mate.....I keep a well stocked pharmacy at home because I deal with wild birds fairly frequently. And she didn't feel that the threat of transmission from egg/chick to the broody was a big concern. I pulled the tiel chick yesterday and good old "Lucky" my broody tiel went straight back to dutifully tending her new eggs (3 now). The conure pair, Newbie and Sprite are in isolation for now, but he definitely apprears to be on the mend at this point. And neither Sprite or any of the other birds that Newbie has had contact within the past 30 days are showing any signs of illness. So...fingers crossed I have a handle on that part of it at least.

Patti In Oz wrote:... I've already done my homework on this one... And she didn't feel that the threat of transmission from egg/chick to the broody was a big concern... "Lucky" my broody tiel went straight back to dutifully tending her new eggs (3 now). The conure pair, Newbie and Sprite are in isolation for now, but he definitely appears to be on the mend at this point. And neither Sprite or any of the other birds that Newbie has had contact within the past 30 days are showing any signs of illness...

Good, good, and good again. Wishing you and them the best.

I really hope you let us know if the eggs hatch.

Thanks Pssitcula!
Both of the teils have began to brood the eggs in turn so I am cautiously optimistic at this point.
They are a very good breeding pair and have proven themselves to be devoted parents over the past several years.
So fingers crossed!

Well, I guess it would be fair to say this was a failure and success both at the same time. We candled the conure eggs this weekend and they were clear. BUT....the cockatiel hen dutifully brooded them for 15 days, and I am certian would have continued to do so. I did observe the pair mating on several occasions, but then one or the other would go straight back to the eggs. The day after we pulled the eggs she laid one of her own. So, she's still brooding.

Poor girl, SUCH a life

I'm not quite sure how to take your comment Bluesbird.....

Just a little PG humor, Patti. Would you enjoy back-to-back pregnancies? I know I wouldn't. My tiels spend their days moving all around their cage, chewing on wood and toys and preening each other. They're aging now, but in their breeding days, I felt so sorry for them as they sat on eggs week after week and then had the rigors of feeding babies for weeks more. Just not my idea of the good life to have another clutch to sit as soon as one is finished.