Cockatiel has paired with another species

[PunkyB]

In my Australian parrot aviary the larger dominant male cockatiel has decided to pair with a female lutino elegant parakeet. The two cockatiels are both male 4 years old and are brothers that were rescued so there are no female cockatiels for them to mate with

The elegant parakeet was added to the aviary to compliment the other grass parrots, but she completely shuns them and is convinced that she is a cockatiel

What concerns me (If I should be concerned??) is that the cockatiel and elegant parrot are mating frequently, building a nest together in an isolation cage, preening and feeding each other and taking eggs belonging to the quails from the floor of the aviary into their nest

Do I need to be concerned about this in any way? I was always told that you should be careful about different species mating as when one bird does not respond to certain behaviours in a way the other bird expects then there can be violence.

They have never been violent to each other, so my only concerns are should I allow this behaviour to continue providing there is not any violence and is there any possibility that they could mate? I have seen a galah and cockatiel hybrid before

Here is a picture of them eating together, please excuse the random lovebird he was visiting temporarily.

 

[SilverSage]

I wouldn't be concerned. Though I am curious; how are they getting the eggs to their nest?


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[plumsmum2005]

In my Australian parrot aviary the larger dominant male cockatiel has decided to pair with a female lutino elegant parakeet. The two cockatiels are both male 4 years old and are brothers that were rescued so there are no female cockatiels for them to mate with

The elegant parakeet was added to the aviary to compliment the other grass parrots, but she completely shuns them and is convinced that she is a cockatiel

What concerns me (If I should be concerned??) is that the cockatiel and elegant parrot are mating frequently, building a nest together in an isolation cage, preening and feeding each other and taking eggs belonging to the quails from the floor of the aviary into their nest

Do I need to be concerned about this in any way? I was always told that you should be careful about different species mating as when one bird does not respond to certain behaviours in a way the other bird expects then there can be violence.

They have never been violent to each other, so my only concerns are should I allow this behaviour to continue providing there is not any violence and is there any possibility that they could mate? I have seen a galah and cockatiel hybrid before

Here is a picture of them eating together, please excuse the random lovebird he was visiting temporarily.

Would love to see this

 

[SilverSage]

https://m.facebook.com/Cockatiel-x-Galah-Cockalah-401618029912072/

However please keep in mind that cockatiels are cockatoos, much more closely related than elegant parakeets.




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[PunkyB]

I wouldn't be concerned. Though I am curious; how are they getting the eggs to their nest?


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I haven't seen them do it, but I imagine the cockatiel is moving them as the elegant has a very long beak that is not good for manipulating things. The cockatiel routinely lifts a rather large heavy metal food dish and flies it over the other side of the aviary and then throws it on the floor if it is running low or has been filled with pellets that he doesn't like

I will leave them to it. Providing I see no egg laying from the elegant parakeet that would result in health problems then i see no reason to interfere. They seem content to take the quails eggs for now. They will be in for a shock if one hatches on them!

Parrots can be very odd indeed.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I recently saw (here) a photo of a Patagonian Conure and a Blue and Gold Macaw... absolutely astonishing blend of the two. He was healthy and happy-looking.

 

[gracebowen]

Oh boy if the quail eggs hatch you have to tell us what happens next.
When I had parakeets and tiels the tiels had babies. One of my keets came over when I was holding the baby and tried to feed it. Only problem was whe wanted the baby tiel on its back so I had to stop her.

 

[PunkyB]

Oh boy if the quail eggs hatch you have to tell us what happens next.
When I had parakeets and tiels the tiels had babies. One of my keets came over when I was holding the baby and tried to feed it. Only problem was whe wanted the baby tiel on its back so I had to stop her.

Well a baby quail eats solid food from the moment it leaves the egg, so I'm sure it wouldn't appreciate being vomited on by two strange colourful birds

Here is a picture though of the last group I hatched

 

[SilverSage]

Oh how adorable! As for egg laying it looks like your birds are flighted. Add some kale and cuttle bone to the diet if you are concerned


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[Tropical]

You are so lucky you have birds who like each other! My birds HATE each other and if one of them died the other would celebrate! :smile007:

 

[plumsmum2005]

You are so lucky you have birds who like each other! My birds HATE each other and if one of them died the other would celebrate! :smile007:

Come on now, hate each other? Do birds possess this emotion, think it unlikely? Bit of jealousy possibly over you as flock leader/mate/no 1? One reason why I will not add to my flock, Plum does not like to share even with Hubby "Hello", "hello" (as in what's going on here?). Six paces apart at least!