Thanks tielfan for the info on the nestbox
To update you all on developments and after reading some of the sticky information on breeding end of september i purchased shredded aspen and put the nest box back inside the cage. I did this on the weekend of 29th/30th Sept. I put a second cuttlefish bone near the nest box, spinach and a mineral block (she is definately attacking these more) a sign i thought
The following morning my male cockatiel was hoping in and out rather confidently (FYI for years he would never enter any confined space being quite a nervous boy) Then she was going in the nest box.
Within one week! i noticed a very white egg in the nest box! (and that was one day after my mum said both of them were very wet like they had jumped in the water bowl).
They are comfortable with me peaking inside the box from distance. But if he is inside he gets very protective of anyone getting close to the cage door so I am being very careful with their space and not opening it.
But on the third morning i found a second egg outside the nest box. After reading around i wasn't sure if she could have actually moved it out of the nest box (i assume would be difficult especially at night) or if she laid it outside but i decided to put it in the nest box quickly without them seeing me. It didn't look damaged but then during the day i noticed it was broken inside the nest box and my boy had some egg shell under his chin. Not quite sure what happened, could it be that the egg was not going to develop so she didn't lay it in the nest box, or maybe accidentally broken inside the nest box, or because i handled the egg. It was definitely this second egg that was broken. We removed the birds from the cage when they were out of the nest box and removed the broken egg. They have still been spending a lot of time in the nest box, before and after the second broken egg so I hope they are fine.
Tomorrow will be the 5th day since first egg, so i am expecting maybe a third egg to come.
I am still cleaning the cage daily (checking food and making sure fresh water) but not touching anything inside the nest box (apart from removing broken egg). But can someone advise me:
They are both in an out of the nest box still and none are sleeping in the nest box overnight. I read that when the incubation process starts (where she has laid more than 2 eggs or around after 7-10 days) then one of them will constantly be sitting on the eggs. In anyone experience does that sound right? will she or he then stay in the nest box overnight? or did your cockatiel do this immediately?
I also wanted to know if its dark can the cockatiel navigate into the nest box to lay her egg, or will she lay it anywhere when it happens. I am a bit concerned on this part. Or should i find a small lamp and put it near the cage so they can see. At the moment as soon as it is reaching sunset neither of them have no interest of going in the nest box