//URGENT//I witnessed my cockatiels mating

[SimplyBirdLover]

Hello, everyone..
Today's post isn't exactly ecstatic.
I was at my desk doing some work, as usual, and my cockatiels were next to me on their play gym.
I happened to look over and see Macquarie(male) stepping on Macleay's(female) back! I thought maybe they were just playing because I often flip them on their backs and play with them like you would a caique. Since they enjoy it, I was thinking maybe, they were trying to do that. (sounded like it made sense at the time) THEN, I see them doing the little dance (Im sure you can understand what I am getting at here)
I didn't sesperate them while in the act because I had read something online that said it could make things worse (Im not sure what they meant but, that was the first thing that came to mind) So, I allowed them to finish which too about another 40 seconds(?)
When they were done, Macquarie moved away and macleay just sat there.
So, my question is, could she have gotten pregnant that quickly? They went under their cage the other day and I swear I caught them then as well but, I am not 100% sure as I walked away assuming they were eating seeds from the floor.
I wanted to add that:
-they are eating a seed, pellet and dried fruit diet at the moment. I am working on getting them to eat fresh foods and chop is offered every day but, they dont like the wetness.
- Macleay is 6 months old (hatch date: 9/19/17)
-Macquarie is almost 9 months old (hatch date: 6/13/17)
-they have lived in the same cage since december
- Macquarie is a normal grey and Macleay is a yellow Lutino

Is it possible for her to be pregnant at such a young age? Should I purchase a breeding box for them?What is the best thing to do? I have SO many questions.. Im horrified.

 

[texsize]

I am not an expert but that sounds too young for eggs and babies.

 

[SimplyBirdLover]

I am not an expert but that sounds too young for eggs and babies.

I know that. That is why im so scared and desperate for help.
Birds should never breed unless they are AT LEAST 12 months of age

 

[texsize]

I guess what I mean is nothing will develop because they are immature.

but again you need to ask someone more knowledgeable than I.

 

[Kiwibird]

Sounds like it's time to invest in a second cage and not let them be out together again until the spring hormonal thing has passed. The good news is, they are likely to young to produce viable young.

 

[riddick07]

I wouldn’t have them out together if he’s hopping on every two seconds now. Physically she is a little young usually I think it’s 9 months were a breeding may take/she actually produces eggs. It’s been awhile since I did this research so I might not be remembering correctly. Sexual maturity without a high chance of difficulties is a lot older somewhere around 15-24 months. If her body is mature enough to take/produce then yes that’s plenty of time to begin producing and fertilizing eggs. Hopefully she’s still too young and/or like most young males he has no clue what he is doing.

 

[SimplyBirdLover]

Sounds like it's time to invest in a second cage and not let them be out together again until the spring hormonal thing has passed. The good news is, they are likely to young to produce viable young.

I have a very nice second cage. I will separate them

 

[SimplyBirdLover]

I wouldn’t have them out together if he’s hopping on every two seconds now. Physically she is a little young usually I think it’s 9 months were a breeding may take/she actually produces eggs. It’s been awhile since I did this research so I might not be remembering correctly. Sexual maturity without a high chance of difficulties is a lot older somewhere around 15-24 months. If her body is mature enough to take/produce then yes that’s plenty of time to begin producing and fertilizing eggs. Hopefully she’s still too young and/or like most young males he has no clue what he is doing.

He is not hopping on her every two seconds.I realize i shouldve made that more clear. This is the first time i witnessed it fully.

 

[riddick07]

I wouldn’t have them out together if he’s hopping on every two seconds now. Physically she is a little young usually I think it’s 9 months were a breeding may take/she actually produces eggs. It’s been awhile since I did this research so I might not be remembering correctly. Sexual maturity without a high chance of difficulties is a lot older somewhere around 15-24 months. If her body is mature enough to take/produce then yes that’s plenty of time to begin producing and fertilizing eggs. Hopefully she’s still too young and/or like most young males he has no clue what he is doing.

He is not hopping on her every two seconds.I realize i shouldve made that more clear. This is the first time i witnessed it fully.

Sorry didn’t mean that literally. I just meant if he’s already a hormonal male that they will need serperate times because he might bother her more often.

 

[itzjbean]

With springtime here the instinct rises, even in immature birds, to have offspring and reproduce.

You are wise to separate them for now. Mating like that may fertilize an egg, birds don't really get pregnant as they lay eggs, but the egg she may or may not lay could potentially be fertile, though with their young ages if there is an egg it will likely be a dud and not fertilized. Any eggs laid by your hen can be shaken up to destroy the possible fertilized yolk inside and sat back into her cage until she loses interest. Then you can toss the egg into the garbage. Limit their contact during these months to keep them from breeding.

I have a mated pair of tiels and the breeding season is upon us, too -- I witnessed them mating on Saturday. They will breed whether or not I put a nest box in, but won't lay eggs unless there is a nest box. I am prepared for a clutch this spring so they do have a nest box in the cage with them. But they are an established breeding pair and are mature (6-7 years old) and have produced chicks for me before. I am also an experienced hand-feeder and prepared to raise chicks should they need my assistance.

 

[SimplyBirdLover]

With springtime here the instinct rises, even in immature birds, to have offspring and reproduce.

You are wise to separate them for now. Mating like that may fertilize an egg, birds don't really get pregnant as they lay eggs, but the egg she may or may not lay could potentially be fertile, though with their young ages if there is an egg it will likely be a dud and not fertilized. Any eggs laid by your hen can be shaken up to destroy the possible fertilized yolk inside and sat back into her cage until she loses interest. Then you can toss the egg into the garbage. Limit their contact during these months to keep them from breeding.

I have a mated pair of tiels and the breeding season is upon us, too -- I witnessed them mating on Saturday. They will breed whether or not I put a nest box in, but won't lay eggs unless there is a nest box. I am prepared for a clutch this spring so they do have a nest box in the cage with them. But they are an established breeding pair and are mature (6-7 years old) and have produced chicks for me before. I am also an experienced hand-feeder and prepared to raise chicks should they need my assistance.

I am experienced in hand feeding I’ve just never personally gone through the breeding process and I don’t know very much about it.
I hand fed and weaned 6 conures at once last spring and they all grew to be very strong and loving little guys <3
The reason that I’ve never gone through the breeding process is because hey we’re given to me. My friend(at the time) had two suns that were assumed to be both males. She was no where near prepared to raise chicks and she didn’t want the parents raising them because she wanted to make sure that when the time came, they were able to have loving homes(people typically seem to get hand fed babies, for many reasons as I’m sure you know.)
Anyways, since she didn’t have the time, money, or knowledge on hand feeding, I ended up taking them.
I would be 100% prepared to hand feed if that time did come, however, I hope and pray it doesn’t until they are old and mature enough.