[kimberleykhan]

My cockatiels have had cluthes in the past and both have been great parents however they had 5 eggs and every time an egg hatches I see a healthy baby then the next thing I know it is dead within a day and this has happened with 3 hatched babies so far. Today when it happened I looked closly at the baby and saw blood which leads me to think that the father is doing it as the mother doesnt seem to want to move off the remaining eggs and the father was near the baby. I did take him out and put some food and water in the nesting box for the female as she doesnt want to come out of the nesting box. I am not even 100 percent sure it was the male but to me that is how it seems. My question is why would he start doing this to every baby? He is about 4 years old and a great bird and he is not liking being apart from his mate. Is it possible for the female to take care of the remaining 2 eggs on her own? I do know how to handfeed so I can help her once they get a little older. When should I return the dad back with her. Thank you for any of your thoughts.

 

[Vickitiel]

I'm so sorry this happened! Keep the male separate and let the female raise the chicks. She should be capable of doing it on her own if it's only a couple of chicks. Once the chicks are about 3 or 4 weeks old you could try letting the dad in to see them, but keep a very close eye on him and remove him immediately if he seems like he is going to hurt them, but he may not once they are grown enough.

One cause for a parent to pick at their babies till they bleed is an iodine and/or sodium deficiency. You can purchase an iodine mineral block for him to chew on and it may help with that in the future.

 

[kimberleykhan]

Update

I did take the last 2 eggs and put them with my whiteface cockatiels and today a yellow baby hatched and is doing well.

 

[Vickitiel]

That's great how many cockatiels do you have?

 

[kimberleykhan]

Both babies hatched and are doing great witht he foster parents.Both babies I can tell are lutino.

 

[Vickitiel]

That's great to hear! Please keep us updated on how they are doing and feel free to post some pictures!