I had two sisters colony breeding in an aviary, both sisters started feather plucking their young when the pinfeathers were just about opening. Then one of the cocks, one was paired with died. I placed another cock in for the hen that lost her mate, but he wasn't interested & she went down on eggs again & I noticed she was being real friendly with the other sister's mate, who is one of my Dusk cocks. Well she hatched four chicks, which are from the Dusk he helps feed her, but his hen now has two chicks. The hen that lost her mate has raised all four chicks real well & for the first time didn't pluck one feather. They have left the nest. So maybe it is only boredom, when she had to work hard going out to feed herself she didn't pluck.

If it were a deficiency, you would have thought it would have been worse.

Edited March 8, 200817 yr by Norm

did I read that right??? one dusk cock is breeding with sisters? does he help out both sisters or just the newest one? I have absolutely no experience when it comes to what your asking, but I will watch with interest.

did I read that right??? one dusk cock is breeding with sisters? does he help out both sisters or just the newest one? I have absolutely no experience when it comes to what your asking, but I will watch with interest.

 

Yes he’s trying to keep them both interested. He's seems more interested in the neigbhour than his own wife...

Thats a really good point Norm. Perhaps it IS boredom. I haven't had any budgies pecked so far **Touches wood**, but i can imagine that having to raise 4 chicks on her own would alleviate any boredom/anxiety or any other behavioral issues.