How to Breed Lutino Cockatiels
Lutino cockatiels are a color mutation of the original gray cockatiel. Breeding procedures are the same for all colors of cockatiels. Lutino cockatiels have yellow faces and crests and orange cheek patches. Their body color may range from white to pale yellow. Females have paler faces and cheek patches. Young birds and adult females display yellow striations on the underside of their wings and tails. The only ways to verify a lutino cockatiel's gender is to submit a feather sample to a veterinary services lab for DNA testing or if your female cockatiel lays eggs.
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Things You'll Need
- Pair of lutino cockatiels, one year of age or more.
- 36- by 24- by 24-inch rectangular-shape breeding cage
- Wooden nest box with hinged top
- Food and water containers
- Grit container
- Cuttle bone
- Sawdust
- Newspaper or litter for cage tray
- Cockatiel mix
- Millet sprays
- Breeding supplement such as Petamine
- Bird grit
- Ground carrots, spinach and dandelion leaves
Instructions
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Introducing Your Cockatiels
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1
Purchase an established pair of lutino cockatiels if possible. When purchasing a mate for a bird you already own, cage the two birds separately and gradually move their cages closer. Don't put the cages close enough for the birds to harm each other. The lutino cockatiels should become friendly within a few days to two weeks.
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2
Purchase a breeding cage suitable for cockatiels. You can find breeding cages on pet and bird supply websites. Breeding cages should be free of ornamentation, rectangular in shape, and constructed of wire strong enough to withstand cockatiels' bills. A breeding cage should be large enough to allow the birds to extend their wings without touching each other or cage bars. Place the breeding cage in a secure location free from drafts and excess household activity. Affix a wooden nesting box to the outside of the cage. Breeding cages typically include small side doors designed to accommodate the nest box opening. Align the nest box opening with the side opening and attach the next box to the cage using screws, bolts and washers or strong wire. Install perches and fill and place food, water, and grit cups in the cage. Wire a cuttle bone to the interior of the cage near a perch. Cover the bottom of the nest box with an inch of pine shavings. Provide dark leafy green vegetables and shredded carrots, millet sprays, and supplemental breeding food to your lutino cockatiels.
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3
Introduce the pair of lutino cockatiels to the breeding cage. Limit disturbances as cockatiels will not breed if they are stressed or fearful. The birds will start investigating their nest box. Cockatiels do not build nests. The female will lay eggs every other day until the clutch of eggs is complete. Cockatiels generally start incubating their eggs after the first two or three eggs are laid. Both parents may sit on the eggs together, or take turns, or the female may sit on the eggs while the male guards the nest box. Lutino cockatiel eggs hatch within 18 to 21 days.
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4
Clean the breeding cage and replace food, water, grit, and supplements daily. Replace cuttle bone as needed. Check the nest box by lifting the lid slowly. Avoid frightening parent birds as this can cause broken eggs or trampled babies. Do not clean the nest box until the baby cockatiels are a few days old. Baby cockatiels must be hand fed if they are intended to be tame pets. Remove the baby cockatiels from the parent birds for hand feeding at one to two weeks of age.
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Tips & Warnings
Learn correct hand-feeding techniques from an avian vet or bird breeder.
Tame pet birds can become aggressive toward humans when breeding.
Watch lutino cockatiels for signs of mate aggression. Separate birds if this occurs.
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