Why won't my Cockatiels mate?

[harley_paul]

Hi

I have had a pair of cockatiels in the past that mated fine and hatched out the babies as though they had read all the books, so I have had some breeding experience albeit only with one pair.
However I now have another of pair that have lived together in the same cage for a couple of years and although they seem to do most of the normal things that cockatiels do before mating they never actually have mated.
The male (3 years old) enters the nest box several times everyday, he also "pleasures" himself on the perches, does the wood pecker impression, whistles his whole repertoire while in the box, does the wing displays and exhibits all the usual signs that he wants to mate.
The female (2 years old) will sit at the opening of the box but has never entered it. She does the tail elevated crouching/peeping position while looking at the male but he seems to take no notice of her in this position.
They both have a varied diet and are in good health generally.
Is there anything that I can do to encourage mating (if you know what I mean)?

[zupidupi]

You could try some vitamins to stimulate reprodution. I put them in their water.
From your text, I assume they have never mated before. Maybe the male is not sure how to do it.
I do have a few males like that. Some have no interest at all in females, mating, nests... some do want to mate but it's like they don't know how to do it...
maybe if they saw some other pair mating, they would be encouraged to repeat it.

sorry if i cant help much

[harley_paul]

Hi Zupidupi,
Thanks for your response and I will certainly try the vitamins.
You are right in your assumption that these two have never bred before. I'm sure it hasn't dawned on him yet that he is supposed to mate with the female.
I started to think that maybe I have a gay cockatiel !! :-)

[Lady Polgara]

I think the idea of letting your birds see other cockatiels mating is a good idea. I have heard that some bright spark had the idea of showing vidios of mating pandas to the panda pairs in the zoo and hay presto the panda birth rate was up 80%... so maybe you should get some birdie porn for your pair...

[zupidupi]

bird porn ahahahahaha XD

[AvianMom]

LOL @ bird porn.

It sounds to me like your male doesnt know what hes doing yet. I could be wrong. I think my pair was about 3-5 years old when they first started mating and getting it down. Id just be patient, especially with the box there...im sure theyll get the hang of it sooner or later

[Teri]

I had always kept my two in separate cages side by side because i wasn't ready for them to mate and when I put them together I expected it to take a while. No...within 4 months I had my first egg.

Some boys (and girls too) are just faster than others, whether bird or human.

Be patient and let nature take it's course.

But the idea of birdie porn is very funny.

[Psychotic Parakeet]

More sunlight or exposure to light could do the trick.

[keenguy]

Are they a bonded pair? Have you ever seen them preen each other? When did you get them?
Clip the males nails if they are sharp.

[harley_paul]

Hi Keenguy,
You might have a point about the bonding, as thinking about it they have only preened each other occasionally.

Paul

[Rex]

I was just going to post about that this arvo....guess you beat me too it! Mine won't mate either, but they got the works (food,water,box,sunlight). I've had mine since chicks, and they're the only pair I've got. The hen goes into the box constantly, but she never lays eggs, and chases the male away from the box. He whistles to her and they preen, but nothing else happens. Are they you're only pair?

[harley_paul]

Hi Rex,

Mine seems to be the reverse to yours, in that it is my male that visits the box frequently but he dosen't like the female going near it. When she does sit at the opening she makes no attempt to go inside!
They are my only pair, so I will persevere.
In some of the previous responses, mention was made to "bird porn" and just out of curiosity I clicked onto You tube and clicked on some clips of cockatiels mating and have to say that both my birds watched with interest and whistled in response to the noises the mating birds made. Not sure if it gave them any clue as to what to do, but it was interesting to see it had some affect.
Just hope they weren't juvenile birds as I don't want the police coming round looking at me like some pedo!!!!!!

[Buttons the Quail]

lol. keep trying, mine won't breed either. They do the same as Rex's, but then it is Winter here.....

[kanva]

Hi All,
I've a pair, box, light is there but no sunlight and they never enter the box.
Male mornings "pleasures" himself on the perches. But they often beak at each other meaning... just with beaks they seem to fight not aggressive. Whole day they will be sitting on perch doing nothing.. its been 3 months since I put the box.. no use.. they seems to be happy and health and never play with anyof the toys.. I dont know if they ever will breed..

Any idea or help would be great in breeding and making them more playful.

Cheers
Pasha

[harley_paul]

Hi Carolina and Pasha,

I know its no consolation to you, but it makes me feel better knowing that I am not the only one with this problem. All I seemed to read before hand said that cockatiels breed so easily it seemed almost as though you showed them to each other for a couple of shakes and before you could blink they were mating, but apparently not!!

Good luck

Paul

[Buttons the Quail]

lol, yeah that's more of a diamond dove and bengalese thing I also feel better knowing I'm not the only one with non-mating cockatiels.

[denisesfeathers]

I also have a pair that the male will stand on the female but he looks confused on what to do next lol. Give them some time if not then I would separate the pair and get them different mates. if a female or male is chasing the other from the box that is a bad sign that they are not bonded.

[di_dee1]

Not every bird will be attracted to every bird of the opposite sex. Are you attracted to all of the opposite sex that you meet? lol

[Limpyduckling]

lol bird porn. You've got a good point there.I thought all males knew what to do. LMAO

[Birdy120]

I have the same problem, my pair just won't mate my female goes in the nest box time to time and they have done all the right things around the nestbox like tapping, singing, and chattering in and around the box but just won't mate

Good luck everyone else