I separated a cock bird from a hen after she had laid four eggs and the cock bird decided to eat two.

 

He was happy in another cage but recently started running back and forth along the perch. I noticed red on the perch and checked his feet to find a blister/sore on one foot.

 

I returned him to the cage with the hen bird and they both went nuts, preening, feeding and carrying on together.

 

My question - is it possible the cock was pinning for the hen? Do they form such a strong bond?

 

Or is there another explanation for this behaviour.

did you remove him so that he couldnt here her call

when you separate birds they will call for each other same sexed or not, and like hath said if they heard each other then that is even worse because they can hear the bird but can't see it which drives them crazy. Like being in a maze and not being able to get out. Very stressful on both birds.

 

I would remove the nest box if they have one so she doesn't have the desire to lay more eggs. And if that doesn't work you can pair them with the same sexed birds to see if that stops the laying.

 

Where you trying to breed them and then he started to eat them? Trying to get history on them both.

I find it's usually the hen who eats the eggs - not the male. Could this be possible? And yes, bonded pairs will stress when separated but if they can't hear or see each other they should get over it eventually.

Thanks, I can see now that I didn't have him far enough away from her.

 

Yes I was trying to breed them and they laid four eggs, when the male ate two. She was refusing to mate with him at the time.

He had yolk all over his beak area. So I figured he was the guilty one.

 

The last two eggs were fine with the hen, but were thrown out when the male was reintroduced to the female.

 

They are both three years old and were quite keen to breed when a nest box was introduced.