As stated in my past posts, I had 2 hens lay clutches (total 13 eggs, 11 babies, 1 DIS and 1 infertile).

 

okay, that being said, the other thing I mentioned in a post was that these two pair are in one flight with their two nest boxes and all the bubs.

 

I was advised, I think by KAZ, to keep watch, although good sucess with the number of chicks, one hen might start trouble for the other if they are looking to start a new clutch and their nest box is full of babies. WELL... I think that is happening now. I've heard three screaches today and each time I've looked the hen that has the 6 oldest chicks (ages 14-19 days old) has been peeking her head in on the other hens nest box (with chicks as young as 6 days old), which she never did until now.

 

My question is... should I just add another nest box for her to choose from so she will leave the other hen alone or should I remove the hen and let dad finish raising the bubs? I didn't really plan on letting her go right into another clutch... I'd like to give her a rest. But I'm not sure if its too soon to take the hen away.

 

Some advice would be appreciated.

Thank you

Chrissy

Edited December 17, 200816 yr by chrissy0705

So you have 2 breeding pairs in one flight cage? How big is the cage?

 

From personal experience I didn't have trouble when i added another nest box ( AFTER THE HEN FOUND THE OTHERS WITH CHICKS) but that doesn't mean it will or won't for you .... I was breeding in a small aviary not a flight cage..

I am not sure mate as the youngest chick is 6 days old - I've only removed hens when bubs were 2 weeks and older ...

 

Maybe wait for my experience members in this to answer , good luck

If the youngest chick is only 6 days old it is unlikely that the cock bird will rear it. Adding another nest is probably the best option but there is no guarantee the hen won't kill the other hens chicks anyway. Good luck - you might need it!

It is a small "flight" about 48"w x 24"d x 36"h. My usual breeding cages for one pair are usually 48"w x 24"d x 18"h. So I tried to almost double it. I know there will be comments on the size, but please keep in mind these are all in my home in my living room and I do the best I can with the space available.

 

I'm not looking to remove BOTH hens right now, just the one "making trouble". That hens chicks are 14-19 days old. The other hen that has the chicks that are as young as 6 days old I was going to leave alone. If she then started the same as the other hen I would take her out too. But the hen with the older chicks... the box is full, the babies are big, and she is spending more time out of the nest box which gives her time to make trouble for the other hen. But the other hen with the younger babies, is in the box all the time besides the occational stretch or drink of water.

 

That being said... would I be able to remove the one hen that has the older babies and leave dad to care for them and leave the other hen alone until she seems to be coming out of the box alot too? Then I can remove her and let the dads finish up?????????

Sorry I have no idea... but neat did say that she had removed hens after 2 weeks before (14 days) maybe give that a go...

Yes you can remove the problem hen with the older chicks and let dad finish up.

Can you simply divide up the flight cage their in with some aviary wire???

I would try and divide the cage like Liv has suggested.

 

 

So this time round I compromised. I put 2 pair in one flight with 4 nesting boxes. I watched for a while and all, including the females, got along well. I opened the nest boxes and each hen chose a box and stayed in it. They now have a total of 9 babies and neither hen has bothered with the other, their box, or their babies. I lucked out and compromised the aviary and cage breeding. This is the best luck I've had yet. Thirteen eggs total, only one non-fertile egg, 9 healthy babies hatched so far and 3 eggs to go.

 

As the chicks arent fledged yet Crissy, please keep a vigilant watch. I used to breed that way and many a time lost chicks at the 3-4 week stage by a hen that wanted to start a second clutch in another hens box while her chicks were still in the first box. I got excited about chicks coming through and feathering up beautifully to find them slaughtered not 20 minutes later. It can and does happen, more often than we think.

I dont breed that way anymore :rofl:

I will keep that in mind KAZ. Thankfully I am a stay at home mom and my keets are right in my living room with me so the first sound or sight of trouble I will be there. I will move a set and their chicks if need be at the first sign of trouble. I know no one way is fool proof when breeding. Even cage breeding a single pair can still turn out bad if mum or dad is a head case. I will hope for the best and see what happens.

 

 

These are the ones you are currently having problems with Crissy ??

Edited December 17, 200816 yr by KAZ

I would try and divide the cage like Liv has suggested.

 

 

That would be the simplest way wouldn't it... but problem. The way the nest boxes are set up it doesn't let me do that. If I divided the area in half, having one nest box on each side, the new dimentions of the cages would be 48"w x 12"d x 36"h. That's no good. See the nest boxes are side by side on the shortest (24"d) side. They fly back and forth the full length (48") of the flight from feed to nest box (perches in between). I can't divide it, at least not without moving the nest box locations. I either have to try adding another box or removing the hen....???? So what one would you lean toward?

the new dimentions of the cages would be 48"w x 12"d x 36"h. That's no good. See the nest boxes are side by side on the shortest (24"d) side. They fly back and forth the full length (48") of the flight from feed to nest box (perches in between).

 

That would be the main reason for the problem. nest boxes side by side is just waiting for disaster.

The divided demotions are still not bad so it can still be an option

If you divided it across the middle and put the pair with the older chicks in the bottom half with the chicks in an open box on the floor so they can be seen then that might work alright

These are the ones you are currently having problems with Crissy ??

 

 

Yes KAZ these are the ones I'm having trouble with... the one we talked about in the other post. Being at home all day and the birds being right here in the living room allows me to hear and see them all day. I noticed the one mum has been out more and more now that her chicks are getting bigger and today I hear the other hen screaming in her nest box and when I looked over the other hen flew away from the nest box opening. So just as you warned one hen might cause trouble for the other... it seems it might be on the way to that. It has been quiet for the rest of the day with them so far, but I'm sure if I wait much longer there's gonna be trouble.

Can you divide the cage ?

]That would be the main reason for the problem. nest boxes side by side is just waiting for disaster.

Totally agree

Can you divide the cage ?

]That would be the main reason for the problem. nest boxes side by side is just waiting for disaster.

Totally agree

 

 

I can't... did you see my post above that explains why?

Post a photo so we can problem solve for you

The thing I need you guys to understand is that things in US are not the same in Australia. You all have the space and temps to have outdoor breeding cages/aviaries, sheds, converted garages and basements, etc... I don't have that ability here in the US in PA where temps drop into the teens in the winter. Which limits me to the confinds of my home and living room. Please picture this all being done right next to your couch and TV... and bear with me.

 

So.... on the indoor flight/avairy we built, as recomended in many posts before, I placed 4 nesting boxes all at equal height along the back and side of the breeding flight. Four boxes = 2 hens. Of the 4 boxes in one flight area these two hens chose the boxes that were closest together. Once they picked their box and started to lay that was it... they've been there ever since. I closed off the other two openings for the extra boxes I had for them to pick from and the rest is history. So... these two hens picked the two boxes closest to each other on the side of the cage and did not pick either of the other two boxes that were on the back side of the flight that were spaced over a foot apart unlike these two boxes that are 6 inches apart.

Did you see my suggestion above?

Post a photo so we can problem solve for you

Please post a photo

Is this the ones???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you see my suggestion above?

 

 

Yes, MB I'm sorry I didn't reply yet... I wanted to ask are the chicks old enough to be in an open box at this stage? I know I can do the igloo thing if need be... is that what you are suggesting?

It depends how warm your house is, if they aren't going to get cold then they can be in an open box at any age they just have to be kept warm enough

Is this the ones???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NO NO.. that was my first attempt earlier this year.... it's more like this right now... (this is from my photobucket I had), but the upper half is all one section they are in and now and the bottom is divided into two sections.

 

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n400/ch...5a/DSCN3715.jpg

Edited December 17, 200816 yr by **Liv**
image to link as its over 640 by 480

I think that is what she is suggesting..

 

so that is divided in half now? There is no way you could put them in the bottom half?

Edited December 17, 200816 yr by JimmyBanks

I think that is what she is suggesting..

 

 

But that's the problem JB... if you see where the nest boxes are now (on the far right) they are side by side at the same height. The only way to divide it is to cut another hole in the middle section, move the nest box down, and divide the top into two parts. But that requires moving the nest box and "construction" while all the birds and the chicks are in it. Wouldn't that be too much on them during such a critical time?

Frankly, I would divide the area and lower one box under the "new floor" leaving chicks in boxes and dividing parents into new areas. Work out the quickest and easiest way to do it and act fast. Thats my solution.

I agree with Kaz. Division is really the only answer here - it doesn't have to be permanent, in a few weeks you can remove the dividers and be back how you were. Would be best not to breed that way again - it's all too risky and hard to fix issues. If the bottom section is divided into 2 sections i would recommend breeding down there in the future with both pairs in their own space

 

Can you post a new picture of your setup as it is today??