Hi everyone. I was just wondering, the first clutch we had is nearing the end as the babies are getting older and are soon to be fledging and the mom might start to lay eggs for a second clutch in the near future. I do not want to have a second clutch so what do you recommend doing in order to end the second clutch? Do you just remove the eggs or leave them until 18 days (shake them first so the eggs don't fertilize) then remove them? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I don't have first hand experience but here are some ways you can prevent have further clutches.

 

1. you can addle the eggs and replace them with fake eggs as she lays them, if you remove the eggs she is laying and not replacing then she will continue to lay. Which means addle them immediately and add a fake egg don't wait until she is finished laying.

 

2. You can decrease daylight hours if they are in a cage by keeping them covered at least 12-14 hours for night time this will throw them back out of a breeding cycle.

 

3. Make sure you don't have the pair by running water as that increases mating behavior too.

 

As to remove the cock, I am not sure on that as it could cause the hen stress as she would be calling to him. I will leave that to the experts.

It’s very hard to stop them starting a new batch after they get going. It’s best to leave the pair to keep feeding as long as there aren’t any other problems. Then after the chicks have left the nest just remove the eggs & nest if possible. Some eggs get wasted, but it’s the simplest way.

If the hen is laying a third clutch or something and I dont want her too, I remove the hen to a warm cage and let the Dad finish raising the chicks. The hen may lay the next two eggs off the perch but then she stops as there is no nestbox. The warmth of a lamp help her recover, helps her lay the egg out of nestbox with no issues and stress. You will get one and maybe two eggs laid from the perch this way and she will stop.

That's what I did too, remove the hen to a seperate cage where she can get some rest from an overeager male wanting to start a new family, leave the babies with dad. He should finish weaning them.

Edited June 27, 200816 yr by Rainbow

Totally agree, by letting the dad raise chick if they are in the nest still,

I do to remove the hen if they are going for round 3.

However, I like the 2 clutches which is fine for them

I take the babies out just before they flegde (about 5 weeks) and remove the nest box. I put a deeper dish(about 1-2 inch deep) in the breeding box, put some seed in it and the babies all huddle in there and peck at the seed. Usually the first few chicks are flying at this stage. I leave both the Hen and Cock in the cage and have not had any problems with this method (touch wood).

Thanks for the replies. I will try removing the hen once the babies are old enough. I really appreciate the quick response.