Hello! I was seeking some info as to what my pair is doing. My dominant pied blue and white hen and her mate are going to the nest box and tapping on the outside of the box and flying around very excited. She will sit on the outside perch of the box and poke her head inside and the male flies up to the box and hangs there and they both are making sounds that I have never heard before. Does this mean that they are going to breed soon? Also, it appears that they are sort of kicking one another with their feet. What does this mean as well. Thanks for the help!!

 

Eric

Yep sounds like they are bonded and ready to use the nest box- is it the male doing the kicking? They males kinda pat the female on the wings or back with their foot to see if she is willing to mate

Yep sounds like they are bonded and ready to use the nest box- is it the male doing the kicking? They males kinda pat the female on the wings or back with their foot to see if she is willing to mate

 

Will the female also kick? It's funny to watch them. They'll fly to the box and hang on the outside and together tap and bob their heads. Will the female also offer the male food? I hope to see eggs soon!!!!

I have heard that if the female feeds the male it may mean she is sick, so I would expect that she would feed the babies and he would feed and and the babies.

I have heard that if the female feeds the male it may mean she is sick, so I would expect that she would feed the babies and he would feed and and the babies.

 

I have heard that also. But they are both feeding each other. Does the female visit the box more than the male? What happens is that my hen will fly to the box and go inside and the male will go the box once he sees her in there. What behaviors do your breeding pairs exhibit?

Well I don't breed but what I know is this.

 

Your hen is checking out the box and ensuring this is what she wants.

He is probably going in there after she is done checking it out and checking it with her and afterwards they may mate.

 

The hen is the one that picks out what she wants and where to lay her eggs so it would be very normal for her to check it out more then the male.

Well I don't breed but what I know is this.

 

Your hen is checking out the box and ensuring this is what she wants.

He is probably going in there after she is done checking it out and checking it with her and afterwards they may mate.

 

The hen is the one that picks out what she wants and where to lay her eggs so it would be very normal for her to check it out more then the male.

 

thanks for the reply. It is very amusing to watch them. She will sit on the nestbox perch and he will hang on the bars beside her and the both tap on the front of the box together. It seems that they are very happy.

One peculiar thing is that this nest box has hung on the outside of the cage for almost two months. Now they are really checking it out. Do you think she may lay eggs soon?

Some have stated that both feed each other but I have never seen that.

 

She will continue to go in the box and if you have wood shavings or some other bed in it she will dig about and clean it out until she is happy. You may not see them mating. From checking out the box it can be a week to 2 before the first egg appears depending on when they breed. Look out for large runny poops this is a sign that and egg will appear soon. Plus if your hen gets a red and swollen vent.