ACKKKKKKKKK, I am so frustrated!! I put up my first 2 pair several weeks ago. One pair went straight to it and started mating constantly. The other pair although showing signs of mating behavior, did not progress to the mating stage. I returned them to the aviary for a weeks break and tried again for a few days..........No such luck, hen has decided she wants nothing to do with the male. I have again returned them to the aviary. I watched for several days to see if the hen may like another male, but she is chasing all of them away........Sigh so frustrating. I guess although in condition, she just isn't a breeder, so I am resigned to enjoying her as a pet.

 

Now my second pair. Everything has been going along wonderfully, or so I thought. I am now worried after reading a post about a hen in nest box being stressed. The advice was to remove the pair from the breeding cage immediately............................ACKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!! My hen has been in the nest box for the last 3 days, only coming out to eat and for a stretch. She is out just minutes before she returns to the box. While she is out however, the male is all over her. Constantly trying to mate. She is every so often receptive and they are still mating, although not as much as before. Her vent is pink and plump looking, and the feathers around it are thinned out. This thin patch extends about 1/4 of an inch in a straight line up. I have been watching her dropping for the descriptive tell tale signs of a hen being ready to lay. So far nothing. My concern now is, could she be stressed? How long should I wait for her to start laying eggs before I know she needs rest? Is she hiding from the male or is she preparing to lay......I just don't know as this is my first attempt at breeding.

 

I know I am stresses, just not sure about my hen. Any comments or advice is greatly appreciated.

Edited May 13, 200718 yr by KeetCrazy

Sounds like your hen is getting ready to lay. If she was stressed, she would be having nothing to do with the cock at all and trying all she could to escape his advances. A stressed hen in a breeding cage will get sick very, very quickly. Unless you are seeing signs of illness, it all sounds fine from here.

Edited May 12, 200718 yr by Kaz

Sounds like your hen is getting ready to lay. If she was stressed, she would be having nothing to do with the cock at all and trying all she could to escape his advances. A stressed hen in a breeding cage will get sick very, very quickly. Unless you are seeing signs of illness, it all sounds fine from here. :budgiedance:

 

Thank You so very much!! I am a worrier and I just wasn't sure. I am a bit more reassured. I will give them another week and see what happens.

Hi KeetCrazy. It is normal for the male to be "all over her" whenever your hen comes out of the box. They will probably keep mating while she is laying eggs, until she has her full clutch. The first egg is usually laid between 7 and 10 days after they first begin mating. Then they are laid on an every-other-day schedule until the clutch is full - usually 4-6 eggs (sometimes more, sometimes less). There is a good chance some or all will not hatch. If this is their first attempt at becoming parents, be aware there is a big "learning curve" for the birds. The older they are the more likely their success rate will be higher. By older I mean 16 months- 2 years old. Younger birds can and will raise families, but the odds that they will be mature enough in all aspects to be successful is not as great. To increase your chances of success, try not to look into the box very much at first. To check on the eggs (or babies later on) wait until the hen leaves to defacate. (She will not poop in the nest box. If she does, something is not right and she is probably stressed.) A quick lift of the top of the nest box is all you really need - just long enough to make sure the eggs are not cracked. You will need to be quick, because as soon as the birds see you coming towards the cage, the hen will retreat back into the box. :budgiedance: The more you check, the more stressed your birds will get, and being new at this parenting thing may not react in the best way. You don't want the hen to abandon the nest, or either parent to start plucking the babies or not feed them properly once they hatch. Stress will manifest itself in many ways. You will eventually handle the babies in the nest box, but I think especially for first-time parents the least amount of intereference from you, the better the chances they will be relaxed enough for mother nature to kick in. Allow the birds their usual out-of-cage time. The hen probably won't take advantage of it, but the male should. Flying around will allow him a chance to burn off excess stress, and he will be stressed soon enough what with feeding the hen so much.

 

I wouldn't worry too much that one of your pairs didn't go to nest as soon as the other did. The longer the bond takes in forming, the stronger it seems to be sometimes, and you need a very strong pairbond for the birds to properly take care of their young. Keep us updated on your progress!

Thank you for your reply. I am pleased to say my stress is somewhat over. Here is why:

 

click here

 

 

thankfully for my sanity, she FINALLLLLLLLLY layed her first egg. Sometime between 2 and 4 this afternoon. Whew what a wait. Please tell me this gets easier with experience. I was so stressed that I would miss something critical and end up with an emergency.

 

Well, now my journey really begins. Wish me luck that I have all fertile eggs and lots of healthy babies!

Edited May 13, 200718 yr by Rainbow

That's just great! I changed your photo to a link, it was too large for the boards. What do you have in the nest box? It looks like grass? You don't have to put anything in there at all - some hens like it bare. Some people say splay legs are a greater possibility if there is no bedding, but I never had a problem. Splay legs occur when the hen sits too tightly on the nest, which can happen no matter what you have in the nest box.

 

Congratulations on the egg!!!!! woo-hoo!!!!!

 

:beer:

You are getting awesome advice just wanted to let you know too if you what good reading information on breeding or care of the babies in the nest you can go to our Breeding FAQ section :budgiedance: there are some excellent article in there.

Thank you so much for all the advice!!! SORRY about the picture!! I sized it for another board and forgot in my excitement to change it before I posted....opppps, Thank you for the effort to change it :budgiedance:

 

I have what is called here in the states *Timothy Hay* It is in fact a dried grass. Good for bedding and they can nibble it too. I used it mostly so she could feel like she was hollowing out her nest (instinctive I think) She chucked it all out and snacked along the way. (vet recommended it for nesting box)

 

I have read the facts section on this board repeatedly. In fact I find myself there daily, as to not bother the vets office 15 times a day.....(Laughing out loud) Being new to all this I am always second guessing myself, so I am on a constant quest for information to confirm what as it turns out....I really already knew from reading it previously.

 

I am so very excited to see what comes from this nest. The first egg looks to be a good one, as it has a very slight blush to the color. I believe that is a good sign that its fertile. I have watched a wonderful set of videos about candling eggs ( posted on this site I believe) So in a few days time I will know if my first opinion was correct.

 

THANK YOU all again!!!! Wonderful to know such greatl advice and support are just a few key strokes away. :ausb:

Edited May 13, 200718 yr by KeetCrazy