Hi all, yesterday we had a major drama. One of my cock birds killed one of his young which was only 3 days old and then savaged his mate. We have removed him and replaced him with a younger more gentle male and placed him with a fairly aggressive female. Have we done the right thing ? or should we discard him completely. appreciate your input, Alex.

I would not put him straight back into a breeding situation right now, if ever. He is hormonal and under stress. He needs TIME OUT

Puting him with another hen,will not help.If he kills in the nest & puting another cock in with the hen with the chicks,might not be a good idea,I would just leave the hen to bring up the chicks.Just make sure she has a good supply of food.

Yes I thought the same thing, the male with the mother and chicks will be seen as an intruder and attacked, or he will attack more young. Leave mom to raise them alone (or foster if you can) and put the cock in a cage alone to rest before joining the flock.

Why did you put him with a violent female? Did you want to teach him a lesson or something? o_O

Edited August 22, 200717 yr by Michelle

Puting him with another hen,will not help.If he kills in the nest & puting another cock in with the hen with the chicks,might not be a good idea,I would just leave the hen to bring up the chicks.Just make sure she has a good supply of food.

 

 

... great advice Macka.

Why did you put him with a violent female? Did you want to teach him a lesson or something? o_O

Thanks Michelle for your reply she is not violent per se but very dominant, so I took her very placid little mate out and put the wife beater in with her, so far its working out okay he is not game enough to try and dominate her. As for my poor little girl she has accepted her new cage mate and he is, as we speak trying very hard to make friends with her. Thanks Again Alex.

Hi all, yesterday we had a major drama. One of my cock birds killed one of his young which was only 3 days old and then savaged his mate. We have removed him and replaced him with a younger more gentle male and placed him with a fairly aggressive female. Have we done the right thing ? or should we discard him completely. appreciate your input, Alex.

Thank you all for your response, so far its all quiet on the Port Macquarie front, the situation is being very heavily monitored and at the first sign of dis-harmony all of your advice will be put into play. Once again my deep thanks to all. Alex

Alex,the cock bird that killed the chick,is it from the box with the 7 chicks.

If so I would take the other cock bird out you put in there,because he will kill

them .He will look on the chicks as compition to the hen.Murder.

Macka's right and just you things are going good, that's when he will do it or the hen.

I have substituted a male half way through a batch & it worked out well they went on to raise the chicks, but as I was advised it is always a risk. I have taken an infertile male out & substituted another male almost straight away & never had problems, but it seem as you see from others advice, it’s potentially dangerous.

Alex,the cock bird that killed the chick,is it from the box with the 7 chicks.

If so I would take the other cock bird out you put in there,because he will kill

them .He will look on the chicks as compition to the hen.Murder. :hap:

No Macka there were two young in his cage and 4 eggs we removed the poor little dead baby and placed the other with my first hen who immediately adopted it she has two young of about the same age and no other eggs. His ex mate has had 2 of her eggs hatch and she is coping very well the little quiet male is still trying to be friends but she is being a little stand offish at the moment. Where the wife beater is there are no young birds or eggs for that matter in the box just the dominant hen, he is trying to sweet talk her but she is playing very hard to get. Thanks for your response Alex.

This hen could easily hatch these eggs out and raise the babies alone in a breeder cage. Its not worth taking the chance with the new male. I would remove him and let the hen continue with her eggs alone. Do you know if the eggs are fertile or how much longer to hatch date ?

This hen could easily hatch these eggs out and raise the babies alone in a breeder cage. Its not worth taking the chance with the new male. I would remove him and let the hen continue with her eggs alone. Do you know if the eggs are fertile or how much longer to hatch date ?

Hi again Kaz, yep they are fertile 2 have hatched I have removed the little fellow and put him in a cage of his own for the time being and have put additional food dishes inside the nesting box for little missy, she is almost a lutino but has very faint white patches and normal black eyes, she's a beautiful little bird. Cheers Alex

It sounds like things are under control... good luck with the rest of the bubs & eggs.