Can I add cockatiels to Aviary?

Toto · Joined: May 19, 2011 Posts: 3

Hello everyone!

I have a pair of Kak's in an outside aviary (6ft long, 3ft wide, 6ft high), the hen is currently sitting on eggs which, if they are fertile, should start hatching in 8 days time. These birds have come from a mixed aviary but have lived on their own for a couple of months, this is the first time they have bred.
I have been offered a pair of cockatiels, the hen is sitting on eggs due to hatch in 8 days time as well, I would like them to go in the aviary as well.

I want to know when (or if??) I can add the pair to the aviary? I don't want to upset the balance and risk injury to any of the birds or potential chicks.

Any advice is greatly appreciated, these are my first Kakariki's and I want the best for them! Thanks!!

pabloc · Joined: Sep 26, 2007 Posts: 988

Toto,

I have bred in a mixed colony cockatiels and kakariki, and as I mentioned before in other posts, it depends a bit in the individuals involved.
Some cockatiels and some kakariki are too aggressive to breed together, some other birds seem to get on well and can breed together.

You could try, but it's very likely that your cockatiels won't breed or they will breed poorly (abandoning eggs or chicks), as they usually get upset from the kakariki levels of activity.
It's very nice to keep them in a setup with no nests, as a holding aviary, but for breeding, it's mostly disappointing.

I currently only colony breed with 1 pair of tiels and 1 pair of kakariki, but the kakariki female is quite laid back, the male kakariki and tiel are somehow bonded (kakariki male feeds cockatiel male) and the female cockatiel ignores the kakariki.
But in this particular case the cockatiel cock was born at home and is familiar with kakariki.

The cockatiels that are not born at home, especially some cocks, aren't that fond of kakariki, so they didn't breed well together.

The best way to breed is to place 1 pair in each breeding cage/aviary, whatever the species. Colony breeding doesn't work out that well unless in very specific conditions.
I tend to agree with Steps it's not worth it.

Cheers/ Pablo