My cockatiels laid eggs. Is mating normal during incubation?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Bird | Cockatiel | Female | unspayed | 1 year and 1 month old
My cockatiels laid 3 eggs a few weeks ago ( over a period of days) but after incubating them for like 12 days they are mating again, they still sit on the eggs but keep mating , is this normal? ( These are my first cockatiels I got them as a pair and they were a rescue no Avian veterinarian here in Yemen I mean like at all) ( They are in really good health now and happy)
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on December 20th, 2018
That can be normal, yes. You can check the eggs when they are not sitting on them to see if they are viable - eggs that are fertile usually start off very translucent and then become more opaque (darker/more solid color) as the embryo develops inside. (12 days should be enough to see this change.) If the eggs don't seem viable, or the parents stop sitting on them, they can be removed. If they aren't hatched after 3-4 weeks, they are likely not viable and should be discarded. Make sure you offer an extra source of calcium for your female in the form of eggfood or a cuttlebone. This can help replenish the calcium that was used in making eggs and prevent egg-binding (an egg getting stuck) if she decides to lay more.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on June 26th, 2018
If the egg is not viable, it would be best to remove tit. You can sometimes place in fake eggs to get her to give up the real one, or to give her something to sit on if she wants to be broody, however removing any nesting material can help to discourage her from laying any more as well. (Don't be surprised if she does, however, as many pet birds will lay an egg every 2-3 days as they are making a clutch.) Making sure she is on a balanced diet and giving a few extra supplements such as cuttlebone or eggfood can also help replenish any calcium used to lay the egg and keep her healthy.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on March 23rd, 2017
They typically lay one egg every two days until the have a clutch of 2-8 eggs. If she is housed alone, the eggs will be infertile. She will need a fortified seed mix or commercial pelleted diet and extra calcium. Allow her to incubate the clutch for 21-30 days before attempting removal. You can take them out sooner if she abandons them.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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