Cockatiel nesting box guide – Everything you need to know

Have you ever wondered why your cockatiel breaks its eggs? If not, take a look at their nesting boxes and requirements. We’ve come up with a complete cockatiel nesting box guide for beginners as well as expert pet adopters. Of course, a cockatiel is friendly but also emotional.

Think about what happens if your cockatiel lays eggs in the open. Do they accept their broken eggs, or do they raise their young like foster parents without nest boxes? For all queries, we have only one solution. Therefore, to enhance the breeding of cockatiels, one should try to create a good interaction between a couple.

However, try expanding your knowledge of nest box sizes and tricks to building a box at home. Let’s get started knowing the best nesting box materials.

Cockatiel nesting box size

For each pet, you must arrange a safe home. However, it is much better to know what kind of pet you have. And what size box might be suitable. So a cage is needed, but the breeding box should be small enough to fit in a corner of the wall.

However, for a pair of cockatiels, the box should be 30cm in length, 20cm in height, and 20cm in width.

The size of this box is a perfect fit, otherwise, you can fix a slightly larger nest box. Therefore, if you are crazy to fix a large breeding box in a large cage. Then try setting a size of 30 cm length, 20 cm height and 50 cm width.

Although the size of the entrance hole is not negligible, you should keep the circle length 7 cm. Your cockatiel will not be satisfied with a hole larger than 8-10 cm.

If you are thinking about keeping two pairs of cockatiels in one cage, it is absolutely wrong. Just build a box for a couple in one wall.

How to make a cockatiel nesting box at home?

Making a cockatiel nesting box at home is not a difficult task, but it’s interesting. With our easy guide, it will be more engaging for you. Without wasting time, let’s make a cockatiel breeding house with us.

1. First and foremost, you should need basics like a Steak knife, box material, nails, hammers, inch tape, marker, glue, and scissor for cardboard. 
2. Secondly, cover your hands properly to avoid injury. 
3. After that, take box material and measure the size with a measurement tape. Mark with a pencil and give a shape with a knife.
4. Measure the enclosure hole and cut it from two sides. 
5. Take up glue or nails and join the parts of the box. Wait for some hours to dry the glue. 
6. The bedding of the box should be soft and cozy for the security of eggs and baby cockatiels. Use soft papers and newspaper pieces to give warmness in winters. 
7. At the last, fix the box in a cage with proper copper wire or rope. 

Note: Make sure that the nesting box is fixed properly without tilt. It can irritate cockatiel. 

Best nesting material for cockatiel

Nesting boxes are available in wood, plastic and metal. But the best material is wood because it gives a cockatiel the comfort of chewing. However, pine, red cedar, cypress, redwood, and plywood are common and useful for boxes. Below are some detailed benefits of each material you can add to your cockatiel box.

Cypress wood: Cypress wood helps in longevity due to its water and insect resistance. Still, as a softer wood, it makes the cockatiel more promising.

Red Cedar Wood: To make a stronger and more durable nest box, try red cedar wood. It is a bit expensive but weather resistant.

Cardboard: Cardboard cockatiel is healthy but not sustainable. This is for temporary use only and the error is useless content.

Where do you put a nesting box for cockatiels?

There are some conditions to put a nesting box for cockatiel. 

• If your cockatiels are trained and you are satisfied that they are secure. Then you can put a nesting box outside of the cockatiel cage. 
• Perhaps, if you have lots of pairs and numbers of cages, then avoid fixing the box outside. Because it can make you cockatiel sensitive and aggressive. In this condition, the best way is to place a breeding box in a cage.
• Although for just a single pair, fix a trained cockatiel nesting box anywhere. Most preferable is to be in a cage. 
• The last condition is the number of cockatiel pairs in a single large cage. In this concern, place a nesting box for each pair. 

What do you put in the cockatiel nesting box?

You should have some materials for the breeding boxes such as shredded paper, straw and hay.

Also, add wood chips for extra protection of eggs and baby cockatiels.

Wood Chips: Wood chips can be great for interior decoration. Actually, for a comfortable bed, soft wood chips are used to prevent any kind of skin allergy. But the drawback is that bugs and insects are attracted to soft wood rather than hardwood.

Shredded paper: Shredded paper not only provides comfort but also plays an important role as a playing material. Paper or newspapers can help prevent the egg from cracking.

Will cockatiel breed without nesting box?

Cockatiels want a nest box to encourage safety, privacy and protection. Therefore, cockatiels rarely breed without a nest box. They lay their eggs on the ground surface of the cage, but the eggs remain unprotected.

Does a cockatiel need a nesting box to breed?

Certainly, a cockatiel wants a nest box to breed. Nesting boxes and cages ensure instant bonding between a pair and encourage them to breed. Because of nestless breeding, most cockatiels hatch their eggs or leave their young alone. In short, cockatiels may not prefer to breed throughout the year unless they have adequate box requirements.

Last words

Soon, the cockatiel wants light, high nutrition, and a nest to breed. Wooden boxes are easy to make at home and are highly recommended for cockatiels. Fixing the box in a larger cage promotes breeding at most once a year.

Furthermore, the nest box needs to have a variety of requirements such as wood chips and soft wood. Perhaps, you can adjust the box to fit the best material in and out of the cage.