Posted April 12, 201015 yr I've had a pair in a breeding cage for about 4 weeks with no result,i was just about to put them back in the avairy,when all of a sudden the hen has started attacking the cock,the first time i did'nt witness it and he was abit bloody on his head. Well today i have been watching them, and she's been in the nestbox with him sitting outside when all of a sudden there was this all mighty racket and she had him pinned to the floor. I went to block the nestbox enterance thinking she's not interested in breeding and that's the problem. The hen was hiding in the nestbox and i'm tap tap taping on the box waiting for her to pop out,so i lift the lid and sitting inside is an egg i don't know what to do i'm scared she's going to kill him. Do i just keep a close eye on them (i'm home all day) or do i seperate him Thanks Libby
April 12, 201015 yr seperate immediately... if you have another hen sitting on eggs I would foster the egg out... no matter what though you need to put the hen into isolation... Edited April 12, 201015 yr by JimmyBanks
April 12, 201015 yr I've have a hen who does that, I find she is protecting her eggs from the male but with my hen she is fine with the male on a perch outside the nesting box... She just doesn't seem to want her male near the nesting box till the chicks are older... Has she just attcked him when he goes near the nesting box or she attacks him no matter where he is...? Is this her first time breeding, if not did she do it to the last male... She could be a overprotecting hen or doesn't like the male she is with... So the egg would be infertile in that case and she is laying because she has access to a nesting box...
April 12, 201015 yr I have lost cock birds to hens like this. Some hens go to nest and do the egg thing all on their own and dont want to mate with the cock. Chances may even be the eggs arent fertile. But to save him you have to remove him. I would stop her completely and give her 6 months in the flights after a short rest to stop the egglaying cycle in a holding cage. Try her again much further down the track but watch her very carefully. She could be a overprotecting hen or doesn't like the male she is with... So the egg would be infertile in that case and she is laying because she has access to a nesting box...agree
April 12, 201015 yr Author I'll remove her to a holding cage asap,they have had a clutch together previously,but for their previous owner not me.When i got him he had a bit of cere missing obviously now caused by her, i wish i'd been told about how aggressive she is when in breeding condition. The hen is happy for him to sit on the perch by the nesting box and feed and preen her,not sure if he's trying to get in there which upsets her.
April 12, 201015 yr are you sure they have had a clutch together? Some not so reputable breeders say that to get rid of trouble hens
April 12, 201015 yr Author are you sure they have had a clutch together? Some not so reputable breeders say that to get rid of trouble hens I got the birds of a private breeder, and saw the babies from the previous clutch with the parents so they have definetly had a clutch before.
April 12, 201015 yr A stressed or hormonal hen will do this and sometimes there is no real reason.....but its best to save the cock to remove him to another cage and halt the breeding and rest the hen. On of mine........ Cock and what he used to look like the hen the cock died soon after being attacked. Edited April 12, 201015 yr by KAZ
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