**Spike** updated post with pics

[racing_gurl07]

Not sure if you all remember my Cockatiel, Spike. But I would like to mate him, hes 2 years old or so. Is that too late for him to mate? Im trying to find a female bird now but cant seem to find one. There is one in Alexandria, Mn (where i used to live) at their pet store, but that pet store is so bad that i dont know if i get her if she will live or not. If I can mate him does anyone know where I can get a female cockatiel??

[Hellow]

I only know that it is not too late to mate your cockatiel.

[racing_gurl07]

Another Question....He has been SO LOUD latley, hes done moulting, he was like this last spring too. Why is that?

[Hellow]

Because this is their natural breeding season.

[racing_gurl07]

Since i cant get him a mate right now, It would take a while for him to get used to her, could i get him a fake bird to sit on the perch? would that help the noise at all?

[tikeyas_mom]

It is very hard to breed Tiels. And chances are he will not breed with just any female tiel. Do you know for sure that he is a male? Have you got him DNA tested to find out? Because that is the only real way to tell. I had a male and a female Tiel and they lived together 10 years, and never once bred. the reason he is being loud, could be cause of several different reasons.. He is bored, lonely, hungry, thursty, singing, playing, wanting out, needs his cage cleaned, needs a mist bath.. Out of all my years of owning birds, they usually get noisy just because they feel like it. And cockatiels are notorious for that!

[racing_gurl07]

Here are some pics of Spike i found, they were taken last year, he a little bit more yellow now.

[3muttsandaboston]

Yeah he is definalty a male. I would suggest not breeding him unless you know what you are doing. You will need to find a female who is at least a year old. breeding any time before a year can be dangerous for her health. Also you can't just throw the two birds together you will need to have them in separate cages for a while and slowly introduce them, just like people they may never get along. You will need a large cage with a nestbox attached. Also males scream for different reasons, sometimes they want more attention, sometimes they are hormonal, and sometimes they are just doing it for the heck of it. Good luck!

[Zippy]

Form the pictures I would say he is a male normal grey tiel.

[Husky_mom]

yup, grey male........

[Genny]

Definitely a male! He's gorgeous.

Yeah really make sure it's what you want to do because sometimes you have to be prepared to hand feed the babies (if they have any) because sometimes the mother won't. It's really a lot of fun though if you're really
100% into it I love my tiels and wouldn't trade them for anything, and the babies are wonderful too!