Hi.

Unfortunatly I only have 4 pairs down at the moment and I am preparing ahead.

 

One pair has 3 babies, all 15+ days of age and no eggs.

 

One pair has 1 egg (laid today)

 

One pair has no eggs nor babies. Nothing.

 

 

The problem I have is

One pair has 6 babies (so far...) with 2 more fertile eggs.

 

I do not want the nest to be overcrowded with 8 babies if not needed. The parents are very very good and I think they could raise the chicks if they need to, they have raised chicks before very well. If a baby hatches from one of the 2 eggs tomorow, can I transfer it to one of the nests? If so what one?

 

I doubt Ill be able to foster them to the hen with nothing. Also the hen with 3 big babies might be a problem also, putting a little tiny baby in their could be squashed or anything.

 

My only two options in my opinion are these:

Foster 2 of the eldest chicks from the big nest into the nest with 3 large babies, atleast they would not be squished (they are 9 days old+)

Or... Foster them to the hen with an egg 1 day old. Im not sure about this one because the hen is still laying and hasnt even started incubating yet. So yeah...

 

What would you do?

 

Thanks.

I'd be putting the 2 oldest chicks in with the nest with the 3 older babies! At least they have more of a chance at getting fed than a new born chick.

I agree with Bird lady

okay so I was correct thanks both of you.

Will fostering 2 16 day old blue chicks to a nest with 3 green 20 day old chicks cause confusion with the hen? Will she know that they are not hers and try to kill them?

Shouldn't be a worry most hens just continue to feed as normal, make sure you increase the amount of feed you give them to cater for the extra young

Will fostering 2 16 day old blue chicks to a nest with 3 green 20 day old chicks cause confusion with the hen? Will she know that they are not hers and try to kill them?

Not at all............hens are too silly to notice colours...as a green hen can often have blue chicks in her nest due to being split and she doesnt kill them does she ?

okay so that is excellent. Just making sure nothing bad will happen when I foster the young chicks in tomorow. the other 2 eggs hatched today so now their is 8 chicks in one nest, all a range of sizes. Atleast 2 will be fostered. Anyone ever had 8 chicks in one nest before?

okay so that is excellent. Just making sure nothing bad will happen when I foster the young chicks in tomorow. the other 2 eggs hatched today so now their is 8 chicks in one nest, all a range of sizes. Atleast 2 will be fostered. Anyone ever had 8 chicks in one nest before?

 

I have had ten in a nestbox.......all fine as parents were great feeders.

 

The only time you would worry about moving a chick I would think is if the chick is closer to the age of fledging where it looks almost adult....then a hen is likely to attack due to it looking more like an intruder in the nestbox than an added chick.

Maybe I should not foster them then? The parents are both excellent feeders and all chicks have been fed since the beginning. The chicks are not old enough to pose a threat yet.

Maybe I should not foster them then? The parents are both excellent feeders and all chicks have been fed since the beginning. The chicks are not old enough to pose a threat yet.

Its your choice based on what you see and what you know.........trust in yourself and your good judgement Pearce

I will check every day to make sure all chicks have been fed, if any problems occur I will foster the eldest. Thankyou all for your excellent help.

You are never know if you don't try, put the eldest 2 across,with the other pr.

You should of had then across, long before this.With a nest of 8 & all fertile,

I would of been moveing them as soon as I could mark the chicks,if you wanted to

keep a record of which nest they were from.

You are never know if you don't try, put the eldest 2 across,with the other pr.

You should of had then across, long before this.With a nest of 8 & all fertile,

I would of been moveing them as soon as I could mark the chicks,if you wanted to

keep a record of which nest they were from.

I have to agree with Macka....moving them sooner rather than later....as they grow and feather more its harder to get them accepted in a nest.