How to Breed Albino Cockatiels

There are no true albino cockatiels. While there is a combination of genetic sex-linked mutations that produce a cockatiel that appears albino, with all white feathers, red eyes and pink feet, it is more accurately called a lutino-whiteface cockatiel. The lutino mutation causes the feathers on the body to be white, and the whiteface mutation causes the feathers on the face to be white.

Things You'll Need

  • Cage
  • Nest box
  • Nesting material
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Instructions

    • 1

      Acquire a breeding pair of cockatiels that will produce lutino-whiteface cockatiels. There are two ways to produce lutino-whiteface cockatiel chicks; purchasing high-quality male and female lutino-whiteface cockatiels is the easiest way. The other way, used by many breeders, is to concentrate on breeding a good line of lutino cockatiels and a good line of whiteface cockatiels and breeding a lutino male to a female whiteface. Once the offspring from that pairing are mature, breed one of the males to a female whiteface; 25% of the female offspring from this pairing will be lutino-whiteface cockatiels.

    • 2

      Keep the breeding pair in a cage of suitable dimensions. Your cockatiels' cage should be at least 30 inches long, 18 inches wide and 36 inches high. A cage with welded joints and an opening for a nest box will make it easy to attach the nest box.

    • 3

      Attach a nest box to the cage. The nest box should be made of wood and should be at least 12 inches high and 10 to 12 inches wide and deep.

    • 4

      Line the nest box with about 2 inches of suitable nesting material, such as corn cob, decomposed non-toxic sawdust, shredded newspaper, clean dried grass or straw or aspen wood shavings. Pine, cedar or redwood shavings should never be used because they give off toxic aromas.

    • 5

      Feed the cockatiels a healthy diet that consists of high-quality cockatiel seed, vegetables, sprouted seeds and grains. You can also add a calcium or vitamin supplement to the diet to ensure the female gets all the nutrients she needs. Another good source of calcium is egg shells, which can be crushed and added to soft-cooked foods, such as scrambled eggs.

    • 6

      Provide fresh water at all times. The water should be changed at least once a day.

    • 7

      Provide at least two sturdy perches and that the perches are not too close to the top of the cage, as the male needs adequate room to mount the female. Keep a few toys in the cage as well to relieve boredom.

    • 8

      Check on the hen and her chicks several times a day once they hatch. If the hen refuses to feed certain chicks, remove them and hand-feed them. If you choose to hand-feed all the chicks, remove them at 2 to 3 weeks of age.