I had one batch of 5 chicks, which were getting close to leaving the nest. When I looked at them yesterday I got a real surprise, the mother is from a batch where the father attacked the young at about the same stage of growth. In just one day she had plucked them all but one that was out of the nest & it was the worst case I have had, from being nicely feathered chicks they were almost bald on their bodies, only the tail & flight feathers remain, I have removed them from the nest to the floor of the cabinet. I guess she wants to lay again.

oh my gosh that is horrible Norm

you are not going to let her breed again are you?

I will have to think about that Elly. She & her mate are nice looking birds, but I mated a similar pair at the same time that didn’t look as good as them, but so far their chicks look better. Birds that do that definitely wouldn’t survive in nature, as their young would not survive. Some say it’s genetic other say it isn’t & it’s caused by deficiencies or boredom, she is on her first batch, usually I don’t see it on their first round but occurs later on.