BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Birds Im confused?

Hi im new to the site and have a question...

Ive got a pair of cockatiels nesting at the moment and they have started sitting on their eggs already. The first was laid on monday and they were sitting on it straight away, I thought cockateils only started sitting on eggs after the third had been laid?

Hi Chris,

Although most cockatiels will start incubating the eggs after 2 or 3 have been laid - some will start with the first egg.

Ok thanks mavis, do you think there might be complications when the chicks hatch as there will be such a vast difference in days between hatching? Im not planning on hand feeding them at all but do you think i might have to?

You shouldn't have a problem as cockatiels are usually quite good about feeding each chick, even when the youngest is quite a bit smaller than the other ones. You may have to watch them just in case though. If this is their first clutch they may not be the best parents.

Yup its their first clutch, everything seems to be going ok now they are taking their turns in incubating the eggs and they are getting on fine.

Is it common for cockateils to only lay 2 eggs though? My hen laid one monday and wednesday but there have been none since.

Well - - they normally lay 4 - 6, but I guess your pair decided to start off small. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ok thats good, i guess thats why they started incubating so soon then