When To Remove Dad From Chicks

[Red 0]

Hi All,

Firstly I would like to thank you all for such an informative site. I have read it frequently for information. I now have 4 babies Born 2, 3, 5th & 7th Jan. Chick 1 fully feathered, has been popping out of the box occassionally over the last week.

Today when I returned he is out of the box and has even mastered (albeit in a wobbly manner) the swing.

Problem; every time he goes near Dad he is pushed off the perch / tail feathers pulled or his head pecked at.

No blood etc he either moves away or falls off the perch. Or appears to stand up for himself. Neither parent has fed him while I have been home.

Do I remove Dad? He has been diligent feeding while in the nest box, but appears quite amorous with Molly again tonight.

The 3 other chicks are still in the nest, chick 2 fully feathered, 3 & 4 getting there!

Many thanks in anticipation of some help.

Cheers Red

[Dave_McMinn 0]

If you want to have the hen have a 2nd clutch, and it looks like the young might be attacked, you need to ensure the young are feeding thmeselves, then they can be removed from the cage. If they are not feeding themselve yet, you can place them in an icecream container on the floor of the cage, with a seed base to encourage the to pick at the seed, and then the hen can lay in the box, but dad should also come down and feed the young, which eh shoudl be doing now.

[Red 0]

If you want to have the hen have a 2nd clutch, and it looks like the young might be attacked, you need to ensure the young are feeding thmeselves, then they can be removed from the cage. If they are not feeding themselve yet, you can place them in an icecream container on the floor of the cage, with a seed base to encourage the to pick at the seed, and then the hen can lay in the box, but dad should also come down and feed the young, which eh shoudl be doing now.

 

Thanks Dave. I don't want a 2nd clutch, just the survival of these 4!. They are not all eating yet. Mum & Dad have both been very interested & feeding them while in the nest, but the few times any of the young have been out Dad has been the same way. Does this Dad's behaviour sound usual or should I take Dad out and leave them with their Mum tomorrow? Chick 1 settled on the swing but I popped him back with the others for the night.

[Dave_McMinn 0]

Dad is acting this way as he wants to breed again. You should not remove Dad, rather you should remove Mum. Dads are the Primary care givers at this point in time, so remove MUm to a seperate cage (not back in an aviary as she needs to build up her strength) but leave Dad with the chicks to feed and raise them. Do not put Mum's cage right next to Dad or he will be "distracted" from looking after the young.

[GenericBlue 0]

Dad is acting this way as he wants to breed again. You should not remove Dad, rather you should remove Mum. Dads are the Primary care givers at this point in time, so remove MUm to a seperate cage (not back in an aviary as she needs to build up her strength) but leave Dad with the chicks to feed and raise them. Do not put Mum's cage right next to Dad or he will be "distracted" from looking after the young.

i agree with all the above :}

[Humphrey 0]

Dad is acting this way as he wants to breed again. You should not remove Dad, rather you should remove Mum. Dads are the Primary care givers at this point in time, so remove MUm to a seperate cage (not back in an aviary as she needs to build up her strength) but leave Dad with the chicks to feed and raise them. Do not put Mum's cage right next to Dad or he will be "distracted" from looking after the young.

i agree with all the above :}

 

 

Hi Guys this is interesting. I have a baby out of the nest today. 1 of 6. Mum was attacking it so I have removed the chick at present.

It is in a separate cage in a box with seed and water and I have fed it some egg and biscuit mix and will it monitor it tomorrow.

 

It seems that it maybe time to remove mum from the cage.

 

.

[Luce 0]

Quick question

when do I separate babies from dad? last year's clutch had a weird turn

the dad became 'attracted' to the daughter but no fighting

DO NOT need that happening again (:

[Humphrey 0]

Quick question

when do I separate babies from dad? last year's clutch had a weird turn

the dad became 'attracted' to the daughter but no fighting

DO NOT need that happening again (:

 

How old are they?

 

I have one of last years hatchlings bonding with her dad it seems.

There is no nest box for them and nothing has come of it.

[Dave_McMinn 0]

Dad can get a little confused at times, and it may seem like Dad's are trying to breed with youngsters, but it is just a passing thing. Leave Dad's with youngsters, removing Mum is the key

[**KAZ** 0]

Dave is right. What happens is the begging for food that chicks do is similar to what the hens do to be fed so he sees the begging response as the same thing. Also the stepping onto the backs of chicks, al;though it can look sexual is also often a dominance thing too. Sometimes sexual but more often due to his confusion about another budgie in the breeder cage and the budgie asking to be fed like his hen does.

[Humphrey 0]

Dad can get a little confused at times, and it may seem like Dad's are trying to breed with youngsters, but it is just a passing thing. Leave Dad's with youngsters, removing Mum is the key

 

 

Thanks Dave and KAZ. Dad and the chics are now in the nursery cage in a shoe box with paper and seed on the floor.

 

Dad is feeding them and they are starting to feed themselves with the egg and biscuit mix.

 

I can't get over that all six chics are different colours. I will post some pics.

 

.