Hi, I currently have 2 hens with babies, both have raised babies successfully before. My problem is the first hen (4 chicks) seems to be not feeding her chicks overly well. Every time I check them their crop is half full. The second hen (3 + 1 more to hatch) is doing a wonderful job. The oldest chicks in each nest are 10 and 7 days old but are the same size.

 

Should I transfer one chick accross and also do I transfer the eldest or youngest and what age can you transfer chicks.

 

Thanks, I have not transferred chicks around before hence my questions.

Try to transfer chicks of similar ages.

The mother that has stopped feeding well............has her cere changed colour at all ?

Is she out of condition ..........cere colour-wise ?

Is her partner and herself well ? If sick they will save themselves by stopping feeding chicks.

Do they have soft food available to them ?

I am still colony breeding atm, so they have soft food available to the avairy every morning, I have put some millet in the breeding box to try to get her to eat more. Her cere has lost colour but she looks strong & healthy, the male is in excellent condition.

 

How many chicks should I transfer, it is the eldest chick that is struggling the most (4 days older). I could transfer that one and maybe chickie 2 to the other female - thay are comparable in age and size.

 

Thanks

I used to colony breed. One thing that can and does happen in colony breeding is a bird or two will take over the top or entrance of a nestbox and literally stop the actual parent from returning to their nest to feed their babies. A whole nest of babies can die this way due to starvation.

 

My suggestion is ..........you need to watch for some time and see if this is happening in this case.

Secondly if she has lost condition during the raising of babies that may account for her not wanting to complete the raising of her babies.

 

For now....................Yes you will have to move babies, or you will have to supplement feed them in the nest.