Can I Use a Cardboard Box for My Breeding Cockatiels?

Pet cockatiels need nest boxes in order to successfully breed. Nest boxes need to be at least 12 inches square. Cardboard boxes can be used for breeding cockatiels as long as they are large enough and have bedding.

  1. Advantages

    • Cardboard boxes of the right size or larger are easy to find and are inexpensive. They do need a 4-inch wide hole cut out of them for the cockatiel breeding pair to climb in and out of.

    Disadvantages

    • Cardboard is not as water-resistant as plywood or wooden nest boxes. Cardboard also can be chewed apart more easily by the parent birds. This is why some bird breeding websites like Avian Web do not recommend cardboard.

    Expert Advice

    • No matter what type of nesting box is used, the chicks must be checked every day in order to be sure that the pair is feeding all of the chicks. Cockatiel parents often cannot take care of all of their chicks, according to the American Cockatiel Society.