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??

It will have to be tomorrow Liv. It is 7pm here and my toddlers are due for tubbies and a Christmas movie by 8 pm. I will try to take pics in the morning and post ASAP, if I don't come to a resolution before that. Thanks to everyone for all the help. I didn't expect to have to "restructure" things... I was hoping to just remove the hen or add another box back on for her to nose around in, but I know the chicks will fair better if mum is with them so I'll have to really look at the set up and come to a conclusion fast.

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?

Yes JB it is divided in half and the bottom half is divided in half again. So it has three sections right now. One top part and two lower parts. I wish I could put them below but there are eight other birds in those sections right now, four in each one. Unless I switched them all and put the eight in the below two sections up top together and split the two pairs in the bottom two??? I'll have to look at that tomorrow and see if that's something I can do.

That is what I would do Chrissy

Yes JB it is divided in half and the bottom half is divided in half again. So it has three sections right now. One top part and two lower parts. I wish I could put them below but there are eight other birds in those sections right now, four in each one. Unless I switched them all and put the eight in the below two sections up top together and split the two pairs in the bottom two??? I'll have to look at that tomorrow and see if that's something I can do.

 

That sounds like the easiest option Chrissy, hope you can do it without to much disruption to the hens... Do you know how big the two bottom sections are? If they are big enough you may find for future breedings that would be a better option next time from the get go. Hopefully your hens will behave until tomorrow and you'll be able to do something

 

Keep us posted.

Have you hand reared before, moving the nests is always a massive risk the parents will reject the chicks. If it doesn't work you will have lots of hungry mouths to feed.

If she divides vertically again that will probably be more of a disruption than if she just switches the birds around from the different sections don't you think... If I am understanding Chrissy right she's already devided t up so it looks something like this:

 

____________

| |

| |

| A |

| |

|___________|

| | |

| B | C |

| | |

|_____|_____|

 

Might be easier if she took the birds curently in A and put one pair in B and the other in C and the birds that are in B and C put in A...

 

Am I right in saying thats your set up at the moment Chrissy?

If she divides vertically again that will probably be more of a disruption than if she just switches the birds around from the different sections don't you think..

No dividing is the better way to go.

If she divides vertically again that will probably be more of a disruption than if she just switches the birds around from the different sections don't you think... If I am understanding Chrissy right she's already devided t up so it looks something like this:____________| || || A || ||___________|| | | | B | C || | ||_____|_____|Might be easier if she took the birds curently in A and put one pair in B and the other in C and the birds that are in B and C put in A... Am I right in saying thats your set up at the moment Chrissy?

 

Close JB.... but section B and C are split vertical instad of horizonal.

___________________________

[ ]

[ A ]

[ ]

[_________________________ ]

[ B ]

[_________________________ ]

[ C ]

[_________________________ ]

 

I originall had the whole thing open, then divided it in half, then divided it into 4 equal parts, then opened the top half back up to house the 2 pair and all the babies. I went longer rather than taller so they can fly back and forth the length of the flight.A has the two pair w/ nest boxes and chicksB and C have 4 other pair waiting (8 birds)

 

Have you hand reared before, moving the nests is always a massive risk the parents will reject the chicks. If it doesn't work you will have lots of hungry mouths to feed.

 

I have not hand reared 100%, I've done supliment feedings, but I like to have the parents raise if at all possible. I don't interfer unless I see a problem... like this.

 

Do you know how big the two bottom sections are? If they are big enough you may find for future breedings that would be a better option next time from the get go. Keep us posted.

The bottom two sections are about 48"w x 24"d x 18"h. They are big enough for breeding and that is why I had it divided into 4 equal sections at one time... I figured I had 4 breeding cabinets out of it, but when I had the two pair choice those boxes I opened the top so they had double the space since there was two pair...

Edited December 18, 200816 yr by KAZ