Posted March 15, 201015 yr Have you ever had a budgie eat their way out of a nest box? I had one almost do this last year but caught her just in time. She made a hole right through the concave, about 1 cm in diameter. Another few hours and she would have been free. Is this normal behaviour and how do you prevent it?
March 15, 201015 yr It doesnt happen often and nothing can prepare you for a hen that does this. I have had a couple eat out through the bottom and also eat the side out of the nestbox and the eggs rolled out
March 15, 201015 yr So do you just replace the box and try again or get rid of the hen? I dont get rid of the hen..........she's just being overly enthusiastic
March 15, 201015 yr So do you just replace the box and try again or get rid of the hen? I dont get rid of the hen..........she's just being overly enthusiastic Is it worth putting in wood shavings or oats to keep them occupied?
March 15, 201015 yr So do you just replace the box and try again or get rid of the hen?I dont get rid of the hen..........she's just being overly enthusiastic Is it worth putting in wood shavings or oats to keep them occupied?You could try....or put a block of wood in there for her to chew on ( off the safe wood list ) ..............basically its your call and you get to watch her behaviour and you can modify it depending on how she reacts to what changes you make..........no real set answer for this....every hen is different
March 17, 201015 yr Mine are doing it too, not really sure which one is doing the deed, but they have been nibbling away at the concave also. I noticed the bits of wood in there and knew chewing was going on, so checked how much tonight, and was really surprised how much damage they have done, when I gathered up all the bits of wood they had chewed up. At this rate, the same will happen if and when they lay eggs, they will fall through a hole in the floor! I too, will try putting some wood and perhaps some tissue paper in there to see if it stops them. They both go in and out of there all the time, so not sure who is the culprit. My money is on the hen (Edna), as she is a biter, perhaps this is where she is sharpening her beak to try out on me!
March 17, 201015 yr What size nest box do you use? Could it be that the birds don't feel like they are deep enough?
