macka 0 Posted September 29, 2009 Member ID: 3,383 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 2 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1,136 Content Per Day: 0.18 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 6,440 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 02/05/07 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 31, 2012 Birthday: 24/06/1948 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I have the radio going 24/7 in the breeding room if the is a sign of feather plucking.I put in a spray of Millet,that seems to work. Link to comment
**KAZ** 0 Posted September 29, 2009 Member ID: 1,976 Group: Site Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 521 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 25,294 Content Per Day: 1.28 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 152,977 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 24/01/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 6, 2015 Birthday: 07/01/1956 Author Share Posted September 29, 2009 I have the radio going 24/7 in the breeding room if the is a sign of feather plucking.I put in a spray of Millet,that seems to work. Me too Macka...radio is on 24/7 and hens who show signs of plucking get millet and or a block of wood to chew. Sometimes these things happen quickly and for no good reason. Link to comment
**KAZ** 0 Posted October 1, 2009 Member ID: 1,976 Group: Site Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 521 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 25,294 Content Per Day: 1.28 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 152,977 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 24/01/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 6, 2015 Birthday: 07/01/1956 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 The five plucked babies Two in one foster nest and three in this foster nest Link to comment
**KAZ** 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 1,976 Group: Site Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 521 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 25,294 Content Per Day: 1.28 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 152,977 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 24/01/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 6, 2015 Birthday: 07/01/1956 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 UPDATE Link to comment
robyn 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 5,241 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 86 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1,887 Content Per Day: 0.10 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 10,750 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 25/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: June 19, 2018 Birthday: 21/12/1946 Share Posted October 5, 2009 (edited) Big improvement in chicks Kaz. Would they normally recover fully or could it leave plumage damage? Edited October 5, 2009 by KAZ Link to comment
**KAZ** 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 1,976 Group: Site Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 521 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 25,294 Content Per Day: 1.28 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 152,977 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 24/01/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 6, 2015 Birthday: 07/01/1956 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 Big improvement in chicks Kaz. Would they normally recover fully or could it leave plumage damage? It really depends on if the feather follicles were damaged and only time will tell with that. Link to comment
Dave_McMinn 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 3,092 Group: Global Moderators Followers: 0 Topic Count: 103 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 3,831 Content Per Day: 0.19 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 21,560 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 13/01/07 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2018 Birthday: 23/05/1975 Share Posted October 5, 2009 They look like they are recovering well. I really do hope that they turn out well, and there is no folicle damage. Do you retire that bird now? Or do you breed her and use that egg dropping invention of Daz's? Link to comment
**KAZ** 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 1,976 Group: Site Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 521 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 25,294 Content Per Day: 1.28 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 152,977 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 24/01/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 6, 2015 Birthday: 07/01/1956 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 (edited) They look like they are recovering well. I really do hope that they turn out well, and there is no folicle damage. Do you retire that bird now? Or do you breed her and use that egg dropping invention of Daz's? I was going to retire her BUT..........her original breeder has a habit of pulling hens out of nestboxes at chicks aged 2 weeks and lets the cocks finish raising the chicks. I believe the hens are then conditioned to not proceeding past the two week old stage. The hens breeder said to put her down for another round and his belief is she wanted them out of the nestbox for another round. I may try that but I will be watching her very closely if I do. Edited October 5, 2009 by KAZ Link to comment
Dave_McMinn 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 3,092 Group: Global Moderators Followers: 0 Topic Count: 103 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 3,831 Content Per Day: 0.19 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 21,560 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 13/01/07 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2018 Birthday: 23/05/1975 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Funny how some breeders are so keen on success they do not think of the welfare of the bird. Now I am sure that this breeder is a much more successful breeder than me, but that "pulling the hens out at 2 weeks" just seems wrong to me. Understandable in a breeding factory, but ethically not right to me. Link to comment
renee 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 4,388 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 75 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 2,462 Content Per Day: 0.12 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 13,420 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 28/05/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 28, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2009 (edited) Funny how some breeders are so keen on success they do not think of the welfare of the bird. Now I am sure that this breeder is a much more successful breeder than me, but that "pulling the hens out at 2 weeks" just seems wrong to me. Understandable in a breeding factory, but ethically not right to me. Actually pulling the hen out early is a tip if you want to preserve the health and well-being of the hen, most cocks if conditioned correctly are quite capable of raising the chicks to fledgling stage on their own. This year I have been doing it the other way round and pulling the cock bird out at week 3 and then when the chicks are ready to fledge, moving hen and chicks to kindie cage together and allowing the hen to keep feeding chicks. This has successfully cut down any attacks on chicks, which was the original goal. But this also means the hen is having a full 3 months turn around time. However, I have found that the hens have been going out of condition after a stint like this and another very experienced breeder has pointed out to me that the hens will take longer to recover because they continue to be harassed by the chicks in the kindie cage. So I will be reveiwing this system and will probably do things differently next year. Edited October 5, 2009 by renee Link to comment
Dave_McMinn 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 3,092 Group: Global Moderators Followers: 0 Topic Count: 103 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 3,831 Content Per Day: 0.19 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 21,560 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 13/01/07 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2018 Birthday: 23/05/1975 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Funny how some breeders are so keen on success they do not think of the welfare of the bird. Now I am sure that this breeder is a much more successful breeder than me, but that "pulling the hens out at 2 weeks" just seems wrong to me. Understandable in a breeding factory, but ethically not right to me. Actually pulling the hen out early is a tip if you want to preserve the health and well-being of the hen, most cocks if conditioned correctly are quite capable of raising the chicks to fledgling stage on their own. This year I have been doing it the other way round and pulling the cock bird out at week 3 and then moving hen and chicks to kindie cage together and allowing the hen to keep feeding chicks. This has successfully cut down any attacks on chicks, which was the original goal. But this also means the hen is having a full 3 months turn around time. However, I have found that the hens have been going out of condition after a stint like this and another very experienced breeder has pointed out to me that the hens will take longer to recover because they continue to be harassed by the chicks in the kindie cage. So I will be reveiwing this system and will probably do things differently next year. Top breeders may do it Renee, and you may think this is the way to go, but ethically I still have some concerns about it. There are things done in different arenas to "improve" some animals and I disagree with it. Cutting the tails off dogs is a great example. I think this practice of removing hens early to allow them to breed again with another mate, is a problem in the budgie world and it will obviously lead to learned behaviours that are negative. Simple as that. Now, you or others may continue this practice, or your own variation, but in no way is it something that I will ever do as I believe that ethically it is wrong. I suppose it comes down to what you want out of breeding birds - the best show birds or the best all round birds. You choose. Link to comment
**KAZ** 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 1,976 Group: Site Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 521 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 25,294 Content Per Day: 1.28 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 152,977 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 24/01/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 6, 2015 Birthday: 07/01/1956 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 I think in most cases those breeders remove the hen for the rest she will have before being put back in with the same cock once he is done raising the chicks. Link to comment
renee 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 4,388 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 75 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 2,462 Content Per Day: 0.12 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 13,420 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 28/05/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 28, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2009 I think in most cases those breeders remove the hen for the rest she will have before being put back in with the same cock once he is done raising the chicks. Quite so, I had omitted to mention that in the above reply. Link to comment
Dave_McMinn 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 3,092 Group: Global Moderators Followers: 0 Topic Count: 103 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 3,831 Content Per Day: 0.19 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 21,560 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 13/01/07 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2018 Birthday: 23/05/1975 Share Posted October 5, 2009 I think in most cases those breeders remove the hen for the rest she will have before being put back in with the same cock once he is done raising the chicks. Quite so, I had omitted to mention that in the above reply. I would be very worried if a breeder removed the hen and then put the hen with another cock within a short period of time. Link to comment
renee 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 4,388 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 75 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 2,462 Content Per Day: 0.12 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 13,420 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 28/05/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 28, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2009 I think in most cases those breeders remove the hen for the rest she will have before being put back in with the same cock once he is done raising the chicks. Quite so, I had omitted to mention that in the above reply. I would be very worried if a breeder removed the hen and then put the hen with another cock within a short period of time. Why? I know of some top breeders who put their top pairs together and then foster out all the eggs so the pair in question don't even raise a round ..... Or of cases where they let a pair lay a clutch, foster the eggs, close off the nest box, and then re-pair .... I have no particular opinion on these practices but I acknowledge that their priority is to breed a National winner as often as possible. However, I do understand that as a beginner breeder of show budgies the likelihood of projecting human emotions onto budgie breeding is higher. Link to comment
Dave_McMinn 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 3,092 Group: Global Moderators Followers: 0 Topic Count: 103 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 3,831 Content Per Day: 0.19 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 21,560 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 13/01/07 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2018 Birthday: 23/05/1975 Share Posted October 5, 2009 So is the desire to treat birds properly - damn novices!!!!!!!! Link to comment
renee 0 Posted October 5, 2009 Member ID: 4,388 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 75 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 2,462 Content Per Day: 0.12 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 13,420 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 28/05/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 28, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2009 So is the desire to treat birds properly - damn novices!!!!!!!! Well said! Link to comment
GenericBlue 0 Posted October 6, 2009 Member ID: 4,737 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 106 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 5,156 Content Per Day: 0.92 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 28,240 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/10/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 27, 2021 Birthday: 08/09/1973 Share Posted October 6, 2009 That could be the case Kaz but any other year I would have one or two feather pluckers and they did it every time but this year I had every nest do it which I don't blame stress or boredom as these are normally good mothers that have never plucked before. Since the salt they have stopped almost 100% . Every year up until now I have always put in a salt and mineral lick block with molasses that cows lick which the birds seem to love and this year I i haven't so I do believe the salt has something to do with it. hi sorry to be slow in the action convo about salt but ..just want to say i been soaking my silver beet in a bucket of water with a table spoon of salt for some years now i also never had plucker untill this year when i stopped it (exception of one ***** hen ) u do need to make sure the silver beet does not turn brownish yellow or it has to much salt in the water this is important you can soak any leafy greens in salt water over night lack of salt is a big reason many birds stay out of condition too Link to comment
**KAZ** 0 Posted October 11, 2009 Member ID: 1,976 Group: Site Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 521 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 25,294 Content Per Day: 1.28 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 152,977 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 24/01/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 6, 2015 Birthday: 07/01/1956 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 (edited) The babies are looking better in their foster nests...the redness has gone from their skin and new fuzz is already beginning to appear where they lost their feathers. They are being very well fed with new foster parents too. By The Way the yellow chick seems to be a lutino as I first thought and not a lacewing. looking better already kaz the little yellow one i thought his dad was split lacewing it is split lutino okay same same as far as sex linkage goes its still a hen lute nice should be well worth looking at when it feathers up cant wait Well, I was wrong. The yellow chick is a lacewing after all her feathers over her wing butts havent regrown yet and they may not... Edited October 11, 2009 by KAZ Link to comment
**Liv** 0 Posted October 11, 2009 Member ID: 3,771 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 147 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 6,621 Content Per Day: 0.33 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 39,450 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 23/10/07 Status: Offline Last Seen: August 8, 2014 Birthday: 09/04/1911 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Shame some havent grown back. Gorgeous chicks all the same and congrats on the lacewing... Link to comment
**KAZ** 0 Posted October 13, 2009 Member ID: 1,976 Group: Site Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 521 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 25,294 Content Per Day: 1.28 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 152,977 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 24/01/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 6, 2015 Birthday: 07/01/1956 Author Share Posted October 13, 2009 Lacewing hen is out of her foster nest now with some adopted siblings and here is her four true siblings that also were plucked.... Link to comment
Dave_McMinn 0 Posted October 13, 2009 Member ID: 3,092 Group: Global Moderators Followers: 0 Topic Count: 103 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 3,831 Content Per Day: 0.19 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 21,560 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 13/01/07 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2018 Birthday: 23/05/1975 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Siblings look like they have generally grown their feathers back well Link to comment
**KAZ** 0 Posted October 13, 2009 Member ID: 1,976 Group: Site Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 521 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 25,294 Content Per Day: 1.28 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 152,977 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 24/01/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 6, 2015 Birthday: 07/01/1956 Author Share Posted October 13, 2009 Siblings look like they have generally grown their feathers back well Yeah...just two still trying to win back their feathers....one green and one lacewing. Link to comment
Dean_NZ 0 Posted October 14, 2009 Member ID: 4,879 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 28 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 974 Content Per Day: 0.17 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 5,370 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/12/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2009 Ugh. I had a hen pluck her 3 chicks down feathers completely off at the end of this week. I figured as long as that was all she did it would be fine, but I was suspicious. So have been checking up on her lately, this morning all was fine, crops full all happy. Came back about TWO hours later and opened the box to find she had started plucking pin feathers. I am soooo mad!!! Fortunately she had just started doing all 3 heads, some less than others. One has a little bit of blood in its ear and she had a mouth full of pins so I (gently but angrily) moved her back into the main flight. Now she is calling constantly to the cock bird but I could care less. Argh! I hope the feathers grow back. Theres an albino hen, a YF cobalt or violet sky blue (not sure which yet) and a violet cobalt in there. They were GORGEOUS. Pics tomorrow Link to comment
**KAZ** 0 Posted October 14, 2009 Member ID: 1,976 Group: Site Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 521 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 25,294 Content Per Day: 1.28 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 152,977 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 24/01/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 6, 2015 Birthday: 07/01/1956 Author Share Posted October 14, 2009 Ugh. I had a hen pluck her 3 chicks down feathers completely off at the end of this week. I figured as long as that was all she did it would be fine, but I was suspicious. So have been checking up on her lately, this morning all was fine, crops full all happy. Came back about TWO hours later and opened the box to find she had started plucking pin feathers. I am soooo mad!!! Fortunately she had just started doing all 3 heads, some less than others. One has a little bit of blood in its ear and she had a mouth full of pins so I (gently but angrily) moved her back into the main flight. Now she is calling constantly to the cock bird but I could care less. Argh! I hope the feathers grow back. Theres an albino hen, a YF cobalt or violet sky blue (not sure which yet) and a violet cobalt in there. They were GORGEOUS. Pics tomorrow Who's looking after the babies ? Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now