hi everybody i need some help

 

in one of my breeding cabinets i have just found the male dead.

 

the hen has just started laying and has 2 eggs

 

my problem is should i leave her alone in the cabinet or foster out the eggs and put her back into aviary and find her a new mate.

 

any help and advice would be appreciated.

 

also i have one male still with a brown cere what can i give him to try and bring him back into condition

 

 

many thanks

 

David

hi everybody i need some help

 

in one of my breeding cabinets i have just found the male dead.

 

the hen has just started laying and has 2 eggs

 

my problem is should i leave her alone in the cabinet or foster out the eggs and put her back into aviary and find her a new mate.

 

any help and advice would be appreciated.

 

also i have one male still with a brown cere what can i give him to try and bring him back into condition

 

 

many thanks

 

David

Hi David,

 

First of all I would want to know what your cock bird has died of as if it is contagious he may well have infected the hen. And if that is the case she may soon die and the eggs would go cold.

 

So with that in mind I would pop him into a sealed plastic bag and put him in the fridge and then I would ring around to see if you can find an avian vet who will do an autopsy on him.

 

Because of the risk of infection to the hen I would mark those 2 eggs and transfer them to another nest where the hen has just started laying if you can.

 

It's hard to really gauge the health of the hen when she is incubating but do try to keep an eye on her and check she doesn't get a pooey bum or fluff up and look sick. As she goes laying eggs try to foster them as well.

 

When you get the autopsy results you will have a better idea of how to proceed.

 

Best of Luck!

If your question is.......can she cope ? Yes she can........assuming she isnt sick as well.

Renee's advice is sound about finding out why the cock died......however

Because of the risk of infection to the hen I would mark those 2 eggs and transfer them to another nest where the hen has just started laying if you can.

risk of infection would be a very good reason NOT to transfer eggs to another nest.

Edited September 9, 200915 yr by KAZ

If your question is.......can she cope ? Yes she can........assuming she isnt sick as well.

Renee's advice is sound about finding out why the cock died......however

Because of the risk of infection to the hen I would mark those 2 eggs and transfer them to another nest where the hen has just started laying if you can.

risk of infection would be a very good reason NOT to transfer eggs to another nest.

 

Yes, it's tricky isn't it Kaz.

 

If she's fine then she can cope BUT if she's infected and then dies more likely you will loose the eggs ... and we don't know the chances of a possible infection being carried by transferred eggs ....

.... Also as the egg shell is porous if she is infected then will she pass it on to the future chicks?

If you decide to leave her be. Monitor her situation closely and render assistance if necessary.

You could put millet sprays in the nest box to make the food a bit closer to her so she doesn't have to leave the box and her eggs for a snack.

Candle eggs at 5-6 days. If cock was sick the eggs may not be fertile anyway.

Candle eggs at 5-6 days. If cock was sick the eggs may not be fertile anyway.

 

 

okay thanks heaps for ur help

 

i think i will leave the eggs and candle them to see if they are fertile

 

i have a few of pairs i could foster the babies too if they hatch.

 

also cant wiat for my dad to get home from holidays so i can get my new aviary complex going

 

i will start a new post with picture of how it looks now

If the eggs are fertile, leave the hen to raise them herself.

If the eggs are fertile, leave the hen to raise them herself.

 

 

really how many can she handle herself

i dont think she has finished laying yet.

She should be able to look after 3 to 4.

okay thaNKS HEAPS