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Post by beachbird on Jul 12, 2005 21:52:06 GMT 10
 I have a pair of tiels who have been a pair for over three years. The hen hatched a clutch of two eggs in April, which have turned out to be the daughters of another cock who was in the aviary at the time. Since then, she and her usual mate have mated several times, and the hen has laid six more eggs. After leaving them in their nestbox for a month, I checked them all yesterday, and sure enough, they are infertile. Even though she has had babies, I feel sorry for the cock, as he was a great 'foster father' to her two chicks, ans sits on the eggs with such devotion, only to have me throw them out after twenty five or so days. I feel really sorry for him. He's always been such a wonderful mate to her. I don't know his age, as I got him as an adult. The hen is three. I raised her from a chick. Could he be sterile? And if so, why? Maybe he is just too old? He looks like he's definately an adult, but not a really old looking bird. He's active and otherwise healthy. All the birds are fed well. Anyone have any ideas?
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Post by lovemytiels on Jul 13, 2005 7:30:55 GMT 10
Hi Beachbird, my thoughts are at the moment, that the hen could have gone in to the nest box & laid the eggs without them mating, hence that is the reason why they were infertile. From my experience, a good healthy tiel can still produce babies to a ripe old age.Try to observe the pair & see if they are actually mating. Males will still incubate the eggs, even though they might not have mated. I have one female tiel here that does just that, lays eggs before mating & no matter which partner I put her with, she always does it, so I come to the fact that she will never be a breeder. I have tried for 3 years with her. Hope this helps, cheers Anna
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Post by beachbird on Jul 13, 2005 11:45:35 GMT 10
I can't be 100% sure if they've mated before she laid all these eggs, but I have seen them mating several times before and at least once since she laid the last one. So I can't say if that's what happened this time or not. She has had babies before. In April, she laid four eggs, two of which hatched ok. The chicks are now twelve weeks old, and sold. Their father is a cinnamon pearl pied cock, who is now in another enclosure with his hen. They've since hatched six babies, who are 5-6 weeks old, which I'm handraising. It sure is a mystery why this pair's eggs (both common greys) are always infertile.  |
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Post by Laraine on Jul 13, 2005 12:12:39 GMT 10
I had the same problem with my pair of turk parrots last breeding season. The hen laid two clutches of eggs and sat patiently on them for about 25 days. When I checked they were all infertile. I didn't actually see them mating but he was very attentive when she was sitting on them. I am wondering what will happen this season. Its a bit of a mystery.
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Post by beachbird on Jul 13, 2005 13:33:23 GMT 10
It sounds like we're experiencing the same problem, Laraine. I hope it rectifies itself, and we work out what's caused it.
Thanks for your comment.
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I have a pair of tiels who have been a pair for over three years. The hen hatched a clutch of two eggs in April, which have turned out to be the daughters of another cock who was in the aviary at the time. 
Mum & breeder of cockatiels, budgies and lovebirds. 
