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Post by dianapalmer on Jan 11, 2014 2:22:10 GMT
I thought it was really cute that Piper had a crush on Emma. However, this evening I came into the liviing room to find Piper perched on Emma's back and Emma in full mating position, her back arched and her tail up. There were unusual squeeky noises coming out of one or both of them.
I have put Emma back in her own cage. However, she's not happy about it.
It seems as though I need to keep them separate. Does anyone else have thoughts aobut this? I really don't want Emma to be stmulated into egg production.
I think Piper is about 6-7 months old. Emma is about 4 months old..
I really wasn't expecting anything like this.
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Post by lisamarie on Jan 11, 2014 2:46:32 GMT
They are two different species, so they cannot mate. Emma also isn't sexually mature yet (i don't think). Tiels take anywhere from a year to a year & a half
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Post by roxhum on Jan 11, 2014 4:49:01 GMT
I want to comment. I am speechless...
And people think those of us on the west coast are the wild and crazy ones.
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Post by Sarah on Jan 11, 2014 5:28:17 GMT
This is not at all uncommon, actually. Even though they are different species.
For now, keep them apart and do the usual things to try to cut down on breeding hormones. Long hours of sleep, light foods, mix up their cages, that kind of thing. Also, when you are showing a female tiel affection, do not stroke her whole body. Limit your touches to the head, or she will think she is being propositioned all the time.
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Post by Pammy on Jan 11, 2014 5:56:59 GMT
Oh Emma! I would be afraid too, Diana, about egg production in your baby. I hope you can ward off that from happening.
Sarah, you have said that before about stroking a female cockatiel's back being perceived as a flirtatious gesture. Is that also true for males, or can I go ahead and pet Mistletoe's back without him feeling weird about it?
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Post by Sarah on Jan 11, 2014 8:35:45 GMT
Mistletoe may feel weird about it. Pirate sometimes does - Males are going to feel weird about a gesture like that obviously. I don't recommend petting a tiel from head to toe ever really, but it is one of my vices to love to feel his silky feathers  I try to limit myself to scratching his head, but with a male you don't HAVE to be quite so strict about it. He won't appreciate it very much when he is grown up though. |
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Post by dianapalmer on Jan 11, 2014 15:32:42 GMT
Sarah,
Do you think I need to keep Piper and Emma separate for playtime also? I think I probably do. But I feel bad, because I know she likes to explore their cage, and seems to like being with them.
Maybe I should get a female budgie for Piper?
I think Emma may be five months old, not four, do you think Piper's behavior could stimulate egg production at this age?
If one has opposite sex cockatiels who behave this way, do you also need to separate them?
I know I'm peppering you with questions. I'm kind of looking out the future and, if I were to get another cockatiel and it turned out to be male, I could end up with four different cages!
I did notice (yesterday, before the incident) that Piper had what looked like pin feathers on top of his head. Does this mean he is going into adolescence? Could the problem be mostly him? But, then, why was she reciprocating? When I put my hand in the cage to separate them she hissed at me. She hasn't done this since I first got her.
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Post by roxhum on Jan 11, 2014 16:30:08 GMT
I have a question about stroking the back of a female. Probably a dumb question but as I walk through my life with one or two female cockatiels attached to me, they like hanging out on my chest where they can attempt to destroy a chain that I always wear. Is it appropriate when I need to bend over for something to place my hand over their bodies so they don't fall off me. That is what I have been doing and they don't seem to respond one way or another
As a side note I tend to wear a vest and sip it up all the way to save my jewelry and any little mole or freckle on my neck. Don't know what I am going to do in the summertime.
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Post by lisamarie on Jan 11, 2014 18:03:21 GMT
Diana, you're just being a responsible mom by asking so many questions. Unfortunately i can't answer them, but i hope someone else can!
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Post by dianapalmer on Jan 11, 2014 20:24:32 GMT
Thank you, Lisa.
I do feel so bad about separating them :-(.
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Post by Pammy on Jan 12, 2014 0:52:14 GMT
Diana, my guess is that if you got a female budgie friend for Piper, that would cure the issue with Emma. On the other hand, you could find yourself in the exact same predicament with Piper and the new little girl. I believe the pin feathers on Piper's head mean he's going into a molt. Roxhum, I do the same thing you're describing when I'm leaning forward and Mistletoe is on me. Of course we have to cup their little backs if we don't want them to fall off. I think that's probably way different than stroking their backs repeatedly. Oh, and I had to laugh about your vest and you wondering what you'll do when summer gets here.  |
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Post by luvsanimals2 on Jan 12, 2014 1:15:31 GMT
wat is their night time hours? more than 12? feeding low fat diet only?
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Post by dianapalmer on Jan 12, 2014 15:37:31 GMT
Luvs,
They were getting about 12 nighttime hours. I am trying to increase it.
They were getting a bit more seed oiver the holiday period. But, I am noiw back to vegetable afternoons. Do you think I need to cut out the seeds altogether?
Pammy,
I'm not as worried about Piper mating with a female budgie, ad I am under the impression budgies are less likely to start laying eggs if there's no nest box. I am not sure I am right about that, however.
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Post by luvsanimals2 on Jan 12, 2014 16:21:23 GMT
nah, high fat is like peanut butter, eggs and such, seeds are ok
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Post by dianapalmer on Jan 12, 2014 17:37:25 GMT
They don't get any of those.
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I try to limit myself to scratching his head, but with a male you don't HAVE to be quite so strict about it. He won't appreciate it very much when he is grown up though. 
