I am devestated to report that one of my crested hens who was put down to breed with a cock for the first time only about a week ago tonight scalped her mate resulting in his death :glare: He was one of my best grey cocks so it is even more devestating She has started to become interested in the nest box and I guess maybe she didn't want him near HER box :glare: I have decided to leave her in there on the off chance she lays an egg in the next day or two and I'll foster it under another hen. I don't know whether to risk trying to breed her again, I don't want to loose another boy to her temper but I did really want atleast a few babies from her

Sorry to hear it M.B. I didnt know that such a thing was possible?

Neither did I but she has the blood on her face to prove it and I know it has only happened late today as GenericBlue was here until about 2:30 today and we spent most of our time out looking at the birds. The area they are in is VERY mouse proof so I don't believe it could have been caused by anything other than her

through reading through other breeding posts such as Kaz's I know it can happen and others have lost their cocks to this type of hen, most of them say retire them they can't be trusted. Lets see what they say. I am sorry about your loss :glare:.

She'll just go back to thw communal aviary in about a week if no eggs are forthcoming and I'll think on her for a while. Mybe it would be less of a problem if I tried her in apatio aviary size cage where the cock can get awya from her if needs be or maybe if I let her pick her own mate rather than choosing one for her...

You need to put the cock inthe breeding cabinet first then add the hen!

then at least she wont think she shall own the area.

Sorry to hear this......some hens just get far too hormonal. I have lost a good cock to a hen in this way. Quite a shock when it happens. I dont know that I would give up on the hen but I would give her a very long rest from breeding....like about 10 months.

Aww MB So sorry to hear about your cock bird. Thats a real shame. I hope you can still use the hen... :glare:

I'm soooooo sorry to hear this MB. :glare: My stomach got upset just reading this post. That is just horrible. I pray I never have to witness it myself. I feel for you and hope you get the miricle of an egg or two to pass on his memory. Best of luck.

That would be so terrible to find in the cage. Its not nice finding a dead bird at the best of times. Sorry for your loss.

Sorry to hear this MB. Happened to me last year. I have repaired up the hen with another Cock and will take him out after the chicks are hatched.

Edited January 7, 200916 yr by KAZ
removed accidental double post.

oh MB that's awful.

 

I'd say your hen really, really doesn't want to go down right now. Is she a couple of years old? Did you breed her or is she an import? You may find if she's an older import that she's been too heavily bred and needs a good long rest (at least 6 months). Then follow the advice you've been given and introduce the cock into the breeding cabinet first.

She s a maiden hen who I bought a few months ago. don't plan on tryng to breed her again rght now anyway

She s a maiden hen who I bought a few months ago. don't plan on tryng to breed her again rght now anyway

 

UhOh. That doesn't bode well. Good Luck!

Hi guys,

 

I thought it was quite common for budgies to pluck dead budgies, and thats why some breeders put some forms of meat into their avairy occassionly, so is it possible that the cock died before the scalping started :party0011: .

 

:party0011: Sorry for my absence from the forum, but as a home based day carer the school holidays mean 7 kids everyday, so needless to say a very, very busy time of year for me!

I had only been out there a couple ofhours before hand and he was fine, hopping around chirping happily so it would be pretty unlkely he just dropped off the perch.

Hi guys,

 

I thought it was quite common for budgies to pluck dead budgies, and thats why some breeders put some forms of meat into their avairy occassionly, so is it possible that the cock died before the scalping started :party0011: .

 

:party0011: Sorry for my absence from the forum, but as a home based day carer the school holidays mean 7 kids everyday, so needless to say a very, very busy time of year for me!

You will know a scalped budgie when you see one as they arent just "plucked"

No they are scaped as Kaz said, not just plucked.

If she lays an egg (or eggs) do you think I should leave them with her or foster them? I only have one hen at the moment on eggs

If she lays an egg (or eggs) do you think I should leave them with her or foster them? I only have one hen at the moment on eggs

I would foster if you can, in case her feral moments extends to the chicks as they hatch...if any.

okay, that shouldn't be a problem as I suspect the eggs under the other hen are infertile but she seems to be a great sitter so it would be nice for her to have atleast one bub to raise

WWWOOOWWW thats real bad!

Sorry so much