Posted October 13, 200816 yr I am completley crushed. I had a yf violet in the nest ready to fledge anyday now and when i got home today i found her on the cage floor.The hen had plucked all the feathers out of one side of its head and it was dead i am not sure how long it suffered for i hope it wasnt long at all. I am now wondering why did she do it she has been a perfect mother from the start and now all of a sudden this. She didnt touch the other baby which was on the cage floor also.Any ideas? Will she do it again?
October 13, 200816 yr Opinion is divided on this. Perosnally, once a hen attacks a young one, then that is it for me. You may use her for breeding, but foster her eggs our to other hens. Best not to risk it I say. Sorry for your loss.
October 13, 200816 yr Sorry to hear your news missylu :hug: Hens are just so unpredictable, I lost a baby this morning too, to a hen who I thought was being a wonderful mother and she has just stopped feeding her two 3 week old babies and I guess dad isnt feeding them either. I thought everything was okay in this nest and didnt realise until I found one dead. I have now fostered the other to the only other nest I have going right now the same age and am keeping fingers crossed. Sorry again to hear your news, its frustrating and disheartening at times
October 13, 200816 yr I am so sorry to hear that, it's so upsetting when you lose a special baby that you expected to be fine. I know how hard it can be, I had a plucker once who killed a couple that I was particularly attached to. What a horrible thing to come home to. I agree that in my experience the hen can't really be trusted again unfortunately.
October 13, 200816 yr I am really sorry to hear this :hug: It is a very common thing to happen at the age when chicks are fledging. Worse with some hens than others...some hens just get purely FERAL. Its the time when the mums want to lay eggs again and need the chicks out of the nest at all costs. Some mums get so focussed on the next round of eggs that they do not want ANYTHING at all to do with the chicks either still in the nestbox or in the breeder cage. If the chick climbs back into the nestbox where mum is trying to lay an egg, it stands a very high chance of being attacked. If chicks are still in the nest, they too stand a high risk of attack. From around the age of 2 weeks most of the feeding of the chicks is by the dads and from that point onwards the mums withdraw a little each day until they decide its time for them to lay again. I too, would not trust the hen again. Best she is removed and the dad finishes raising the last chicks at this point.
October 13, 200816 yr Oh no... I'm so sorry for your loss. :hug: If they were ready to fledge... perhaps she was keen to start a new clutch, and this one might have been getting in her road??? The other unharmed one might have been happy to stay out of her way. Hugs on your loss mate xoxo
October 13, 200816 yr Author I know you are all right. I think i am going to bench her or just give her to my friend as a pet and not a breeder. I hate this side of it i am sitting here crying! She was so beautiful and my only yf this season so i was going to keep her for next year i think it is time to do some more culling i feel like bringing my numbers back to two!
October 13, 200816 yr I know you are all right. I think i am going to bench her or just give her to my friend as a pet and not a breeder. I hate this side of it i am sitting here crying! She was so beautiful and my only yf this season so i was going to keep her for next year i think it is time to do some more culling i feel like bringing my numbers back to two! :hug: I hear you mate. Last year I had several hens on eggs and I lost many newly hatched chicks to ants... I was crushed and vowed never to breed again... over 6 months later I did. I agree, I hate that side of it too... but just try and remember the wonderful reason you DO breed.... Biggest ((((hugs)))) again.
October 13, 200816 yr Yeah this part of it never gets any easier hey :hug: A yf violet sounds so beautiful
October 13, 200816 yr Author Yeah this part of it never gets any easier hey :hug: A yf violet sounds so beautiful She looked alot like your little cutie but was purple under her belly.... Thanks guys we will see what happens from here on in.
October 13, 200816 yr Oh mate, I am truly sorry If there are more babies in there, Wipe them over with come olive oil or Cod liver oil, Put some millet in the box too .....
October 13, 200816 yr Author There was one in there with it, but she didnt touch him but i moved him anyway just incase.
October 13, 200816 yr Yeah, It's gut-wrenching - isn't it? Just had the same experience last week. Of course it was my best young to date. I wouldn't get rid of the hen, I suppose it depends on whether she's a good breeding type or pet shop variety. If you do decide to keep her just remember to remove her at week 3 and let the cock birds finish raising the chicks. Edited October 13, 200816 yr by Neat
October 13, 200816 yr I feel for you :rofl: , I would love to breed a yellow face, violet, if you let her have a second clutch do you have any possible fosters for the chicks ? If you do, you never know you may be lucky enough to get another yellow face, violet.
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now