cock bird got out of the aviary, wont go into it but was a freak escape...anyhow hen is on 6 eggs what will happen when he is not there to feed her? i have her in with one other pair, i dont think the other cock will feed her as he is a bit funny with her what do i do?

If I was you I would take her away from the other pair as they could start to fight. I would let her sit on her eggs and maybe put some seed in the nest box for her.That's maybe a short term solution - I'm sure other breeders will have better ideas.

Good luck!!

I have a similar problem:

I had six budgies(3F 3M) in an aviary and all are paired up and breeding without disturbing each other, but earlier today I found one of the males dead on the floor. The cause of the is not apparent and never showed signs of sickness the day earlier. BUT lately he had been keeping his wings slightly open as if he was hot unlike the other budgies in the aviary. To make matters worse his partner(first time mother) is raising 3 chicks and another egg which could possibly hatch. We noticed the chicks about a week ago when they started to cry.

 

The body of the deceased budgie named Bobby, looked off-coloured around the beak and his cheek feathers were messy (If this helps to determine the cause of death). And as mentioned before he showed no signs of ill-feeling the day earlier and was content to play around on my arm and communicate with the other budgies.

 

 

 

Could someone please give me advice on what actions to take:

 

What is the possible cause of death?

 

Is this death a possible virus which could infect the other birds?

 

Will the mother be able to cope on her own? ( Although I don't think this may help, but we do have another male budgie who lives inside the house)

 

 

To anyone who can give me answers I thank you.

Missmad- how many eggs are the others sitting one? If it's a small number you could foster some to her giving the now single mother a smaller lot to care for. I have a single mum with two chicks that she is caring for well. It's her first time as well. I give her a small bit of millet each day in the box and added a bottle lid of seed in the corner. As extra to the seed, water and vegges outside in the cage.

 

Owner70- I cant tell you want killed your male, it could be contagous an autpsy by a vet might help. The messy face could be from feeding the young or vomitting.

 

Again you could move the last egg to another and if the other couples are only feeding a few you could also move the bubs if they are around the same age. I personally don't colony breed and so am not sure what the other couples will do to the single mother.

Her stress levels would be less if this had happened in a breeder cage and she was to raise her babies alone that way. In an aviary situation, she will feel less inclined to leave the nesting box to feed herself due to "possible threats" from the other birds. I would not remove the mother as any disturbance to her or her nesting box may well result in her abandoning the nestbox. Even moving the box to another cage would be a disturbance she would most likely not tolerate. I would remove the spare birds to another cage and let this mother try and raise her clutch alone in the aviary for the duration of the hatchlings time in the box and fledging. I would also do as Nerwen says by feeding her some millet in the nesting box and putting some seed in there too. Making sure she is well nourished and healthy. She will venture out for water when she feels safe to do so and having removed the other birds temporarily, she will be happy to do that.

I breed both ways....colony in an aviary and also in breeder cages. Some of my birds are fine with aviary breeding and others not. But I DO watch my flock very closely for signs of mismatched personality squabbles and try and make it all work in their best interests.

Good luck with your hen.

i am unable to move anyone as i have 2 pairs in the same aviary both on 6 eggs....only thing i can think can i foster to a clucky female? that is the girl that had the problems with the last lot of chicks that now has none? i was going to give her another go at breeding and see how the second lot of chicks panned out on a local breeders advice and hse is in and out of the nest box although i expect eggs wil be a few weeks away as i dont think the she will let her male mate again yet either. mum has been approached by the other male in the aviary and he tried to feed her she gave it to him and went back to box i checked eggs and they are still warm so thats good, ill put seed etc in the box and see how she goes. her eggs are not meant to hatch till after the first lot in there so ill see whos hatch etc and maybe work something out then.....

i am unable to move anyone as i have 2 pairs in the same aviary both on 6 eggs....only thing i can think can i foster to a clucky female? that is the girl that had the problems with the last lot of chicks that now has none? i was going to give her another go at breeding and see how the second lot of chicks panned out on a local breeders advice and hse is in and out of the nest box although i expect eggs wil be a few weeks away as i dont think the she will let her male mate again yet either. mum has been approached by the other male in the aviary and he tried to feed her she gave it to him and went back to box i checked eggs and they are still warm so thats good, ill put seed etc in the box and see how she goes. her eggs are not meant to hatch till after the first lot in there so ill see whos hatch etc and maybe work something out then.....

 

Sorry she will probibly kill the chicks as she will think that another hen has tried to take her nest box.