Big Problem, advice needed!

**KeetsforMe** · 05-27-2008, 12:12 PM

Two of my Tiels house together. My 4 year old male, Caesar and my 1.5 year old Cinnamon, Bailey. Up until now, Bailey has shown no interest in Caesars persistant mating calls each night. But today, I saw him feed her. Then, she was on a perch making this strange call and he came over and appeared to mount her from behind, sort of sideways.

I was under the impression they would not breed without a nest box (they do not have one) is this normal? How long would a normal mating session last, this one only lasted about a minute.

HELP! I dont want babies yet! lol
The first session was less than a minute, the second was almost two minutes.

**KeetsforMe** · 05-27-2008, 12:16 PM

Ok, they just did 'it' again.....

**Albe** · 05-27-2008, 03:03 PM

If you really don't want babies you may want to seperate them for the time being.

**Margaret Madison** · 05-27-2008, 04:01 PM

It is hard to tell in the photo, but it almost appears that you have two males. If not, you will probably start to see eggs being laid within a few days.

Cockatiels do not have a mating season per si and they can and do mate all year through. They also can raise a clutch on the cage floor and I have proof of that here - http://http://www.mmadison.com/photo...ockatiels_.htm. That was just her first clutch on the cage floor. Once she had the hang of it, she raised a second clutch that way too.

We used to jump up and separate our birds when they started mating, but they got smarter and just started doing their deeds in a quieter manner. <wink> Anyhow, the best way to prevent them from mating is to have a "boy cage" and a "girl cage". We have 18 cockatiels right now.

**KeetsforMe** · 05-27-2008, 06:29 PM

I really dont want to seperate them. He was with a cage mate before, and I took her away. He finally moved on, and has decided to try and make Bailey, his new partner, which is fine. They can be bonded, I just dont want them to breed! I plan on starting to breed next year, but right now is just not the time. If she should lay eggs, then I will let nature take its course. I was so certain, they would NOT mate without that nest box, I guess I was told wrong.

I'm 99% certain Bailey (the one on bottom) is a female, since I was told she had laid an egg before. She also has barring on her tail, and her face is much more pale.

**siren27ca** · 05-27-2008, 09:06 PM

You could try seperating them but put the 2 cages side by side so that they can still chatter back and forth and see one another. That is what i had to do with my pair. It seemed to work pretty good.

**Melkor** · 05-27-2008, 10:21 PM

mine have been mating for about 3 weeks now yet no sign of eggs. Though I think the male only got the "hang" of it over the last week or so. And yes they started going without a nestbox and as the female is free flighted and only locked away at night she was investigating my bedroom and the living room for possible nesting sites. She still eyes off my wardrobe occasionally.
Babies may be inevitable for you if they've already mated.