Cockatiel Incubator Instructions

Cockatiels are small, friendly parrots often kept as pets. Cockatiels are usually attentive parents when they breed, however, occasionally a cockatiel abandons its eggs. This leaves you with the responsibility of hatching the eggs and raising the chicks yourself. It is important for cockatiel eggs to be exposed to the proper temperatures and humidity levels to hatch. This requires the use of an incubator. You can make an incubator out of materials found in pet stores or around your home.

Things You'll Need

  • Styrofoam cooler
  • Light socket with electrical cord
  • Lightbulb
  • Pencil
  • Knife
  • Picture frame glass, 8-inch by 10-inch
  • Glue
  • Screwdriver
  • Small fan
  • Small dish
  • Water
  • Cheesecloth
  • Aquarium thermometer
  • Humidity gauge
  • Soft towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the lid onto the cooler. Place the light socket onto the top of the lid and trace a circle around it.

    • 2

      Cut around the circle using a sharp knife. Slip the lightbulb end of the light fixture through the hole, leaving the switch outside the lid. The fixture should fit securely into the lid.

    • 3

      Cut a hole into the cooler 1/2 inch smaller than your glass. Brush away any bits of styrofoam. Apply a line of glue around the hole and place the glass onto the glue, covering the hole. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

    • 4

      Use a screwdriver or pencil to poke a line of holes along the top perimeter of the cooler. Poke as many holes as possible as these make for good ventilation in the incubator.

    • 5

      Place a small fan into a corner of the incubator to circulate air. Make sure the grate on the fan is small enough that the chicks cannot get stuck in the fan and become injured.

    • 6

      Fill a small dish with water. Cover the dish with cheesecloth and secure it tightly with a rubber band. Place the dish into a corner of the incubator to provide proper humidity.

    • 7

      Attach an aquarium thermometer onto the inside of the glass on the incubator. Place a humidity gauge (available in the reptile section of pet-supply stores) into the incubator near the thermometer where it is easy to read.

    • 8

      Place the lid onto the incubator, turn on the light and the fan and allow the temperature in the incubator to reach 99 to 100 degrees. Allow the humidity level to reach 50 to 60 percent.

    • 9

      Place the eggs onto a soft towel in the bottom of the incubator. Place the lid securely onto the incubator and wait for eggs to hatch.