I was hoping she wouldn't, but Hectors hen has laid another egg with Stormy in the nest. The hens mother died from binding so I dont want to kick stormy out and remove the box giving her no place to finish her clutch, but three in a row is too much(even if one clutch was infertile). So what would you all do?

If eggs are clear still and you do not want her to have another clutch remove the eggs as she lays them and make sure she has a supply of calcium to keep her strong... :laughter: Once the young that are in the nest have left than remove the pair or remove the nesting box... She will keep laying while she has a nesting box available to her...

 

Another idea is to foster the eggs out to another hen at around the same laying dates... :laughter:

 

I should also state (as I was kindly reminded) that removing the eggs will encourage the hen to keep laying, so maybe allow her to laying and once the other young have left than foster the eggs out if fertile... I assumed the young in the nest are leaving very soon that is why I suggest what I did above... Sorry to anyone who disagreed with what I said...

Edited April 11, 201015 yr by LittleBudgie2005

How old are the chicks ? and how healthy is the hen. Generally I only allow two rounds and stop them. If this is your intent, then remove her to a seperate cage away from all the others ( out of earshot ) and allow her to stop her egglaying cycle ( no nestbox ). Put chicks in a tub on the floor of cage so dad can complete the raising of them and teaching them how to eat. Put budgie seed as bedding in the container they are in. Removing eggs as laid will only make the hen try and replace them making her lay more than she should anyway. Like trying to fill up a bucket with water while its leaking :laughter:

Edited April 11, 201015 yr by KAZ

Its not laying eggs that hurts the hen its feeding chicks. If she has only fed one round and still looks fit let her go another round. Goodluck Clearwing

I put a dummy egg in the box to replace the one she laid. she does look a little thinner than normal, and would likely benefit from a break. Like I said her mother died of egg binding and I dont want to risk losing her that way. I will remove the box when the chick fledges in a few days.

Theres only one chick, and s/he's 25 days old today.

The chick is 25days old and fledging in a couple of days...? Thats not right... Young fledge at 6weeks of age and thats 42days old... 7days in a week x 6 weeks = 42 days... :/

The chick is 25days old and fledging in a couple of days...? Thats not right... Young fledge at 6weeks of age and thats 42days old... 7days in a week x 6 weeks = 42 days... :/

A lot fledge at 4 weeks..........28 days.

Edited April 12, 201015 yr by KAZ

I have always kept my in till about 6 weeks when they are eating seed... Hmmm... We all different though... :rofl:

my last brood fledged at 4-5 weeks, LB. Thats just when they felt it was time to come out. her 2nd egg is due today.