How do I make a incubator/brooder for Cockateil

My cockateil started laying eggs. Her and Dad were sitting. Mom laid egg #5 and then died. (Egg Binding problems?) Have Exact to feed and syringe etc. How can I make an Incubator and Brooder or is there another way I can help out Dad? Grandma gave me the birds and she thought they were not a mated pair. Surprise!

You're lucky that both cockatiel parents sit on their eggs :-) . Dad will do the job himself, but there's any problems, you can make a quick incubator/brooder by using an old aquarium or plastic critter keeper.

What you need is listed below:

**Tuna can or small animal food bowl. Keep filled with water. Used if the eggs need incubating.

**Reptile substrate warmer. Keep this under 1/2 the critter keeper so if babies get hot they can move about.

** Milk carton with one of the long sides cut out. Lined with paper towel and used when the babies hatch. I find this helps the babies stay warmer if they're very young.

**Towel to put over the kritter keeper.

**A reptile themometer and a Hygrometer **VERY IMPORTANT!!** . This helps you keep the babies at the right temp and humidity. Since I've added these I've been able to keep the babies at the right temp more often.

**Sock filled 1/2 way with uncooked rice. Heat this 2-3 minutes if it's cold outside and you'll be travelling distances. Wrap it in a face towel and stick it beside the babies agaist the milk carton. I've used this in the middle of winter, on a bus with 2 chicks. The babies did wonderfully with this thing!