The hen is doing well without the male with the 3 babies in the nestbox, she eating the seed and egg/biscuit mix and then going and feeding the babies.They all have food in their crops.The sick one is still no better.

Is it's crop digesting?

Yes, it's crop is emptying but it is having problems breathing and is very lethargic so i giving it small frequent feeds, its poos are mainly water.

Let it go to sleep. :hap:

i am having problems still with my hen, i feel i cannot work it out. i took out the male yesterday and this morning i check the babies at 7 am they where chirping and had empty crops and the hen was not in the nestbox. i had to go out this morning and i have come home and it is 10 am and the babies are still chirping with empty crops. What do i do now.Could i take out the hen and put the male with the babies.

 

 

 

To much interference by everyone, I feel.

People shouldn't action every recommendation posted on here, as most is speculation and can create more problems than rectify.

 

As I said removing a parent can lead to problems, sound like she has shut up shop.

 

Hand rearing isn't the answer either as they never develop as well as naturally reared ones.

But now you have no choice.

 

Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all. Let them be for a few days.

Than check to see if things have improved or not.

Edited June 26, 200817 yr by KAZ

Well, the hen has been looking after her babies all day, without the male around annoying her she has been able to take care of them properly.

Good luck Deb. It's great news to hear that mum has taken over feeding again. It will be sad to lose the little one if you do, but at least the other three are on the road to good health and life :hap: We can only do what we can do

Good news Deb, just keep doing what you are, at least if you only loose the sickish one you have won.