Just when you think everything is great, bam... Mum of Aquarius's nest laid new egg to-day, I removed egg because I don't want a second round. When I checked box's a while ago baby chick (last of clutch) had been attacked. It's got a bit of damage to side of beak and plucked above cere. I've cleaned it up as best I could. Then what to do. It's not eating seed yet, I took Mum out of nest and put hurt chick back and am hoping Dad feeds it and other 3 still in nest.

Question's :

1. Could Dad finish four chick's on his own? Hatched 8,10,12,14 0f april. I have been using seed in box for bedding but these four haven't yet left nest.

 

2. Did Mum attack chick because I removed egg? Should I have left egg, or would she still have done it?

 

Keeping fingers crossed Dad comes to the rescue and bub is o.k. in morning, it snuggled up into other chick's when I left it, so hope it's not to stressed.

Oh Robyn......that's terrible..!!! poor little thing....

 

I'm not experienced enough to advise you, I'm sure dad will feed him/her...I'll be keeping an eye on this post so keep us updated.

this is quite common in hens about to start their second round, you didn't cause this. You have done the right thing by removing the mother. Dad will finish the feeding, just ensure he has plenty of soft food to make feeding easier.

this is quite common in hens about to start their second round, you didn't cause this. You have done the right thing by removing the mother. Dad will finish the feeding, just ensure he has plenty of soft food to make feeding easier.

Agreed

Just when you think everything is great, bam... Mum of Aquarius's nest laid new egg to-day, I removed egg because I don't want a second round. When I checked box's a while ago baby chick (last of clutch) had been attacked. It's got a bit of damage to side of beak and plucked above cere. I've cleaned it up as best I could. Then what to do. It's not eating seed yet, I took Mum out of nest and put hurt chick back and am hoping Dad feeds it and other 3 still in nest.

Question's :

1. Could Dad finish four chick's on his own? Hatched 8,10,12,14 0f april. I have been using seed in box for bedding but these four haven't yet left nest.

 

2. Did Mum attack chick because I removed egg? Should I have left egg, or would she still have done it?

 

Keeping fingers crossed Dad comes to the rescue and bub is o.k. in morning, it snuggled up into other chick's when I left it, so hope it's not to stressed.

 

 

Go out and buy yourself some millet sprays and put some in the box and also some on the floor of the cabinet, the chicks will pick at them and also dad will eat it and feed the young the same seeds, this will help in the transition from dad feeding to the chicks eating on their own. I have had two chicks come out of the box today and I witnessed them eating from the seed jar tonight, It does help them find the food.

this is quite common in hens about to start their second round, you didn't cause this. You have done the right thing by removing the mother. Dad will finish the feeding, just ensure he has plenty of soft food to make feeding easier.

Agreed

Thank's Anne, Liv and Kaz. I could have cheerfully rung her neck yesterday. But she's been terrific up until now. Should you remove 2nd round eggs if other chicks are still in box or not.

Just when you think everything is great, bam... Mum of Aquarius's nest laid new egg to-day, I removed egg because I don't want a second round. When I checked box's a while ago baby chick (last of clutch) had been attacked. It's got a bit of damage to side of beak and plucked above cere. I've cleaned it up as best I could. Then what to do. It's not eating seed yet, I took Mum out of nest and put hurt chick back and am hoping Dad feeds it and other 3 still in nest. Question's :1. Could Dad finish four chick's on his own? Hatched 8,10,12,14 0f april. I have been using seed in box for bedding but these four haven't yet left nest.2. Did Mum attack chick because I removed egg? Should I have left egg, or would she still have done it?Keeping fingers crossed Dad comes to the rescue and bub is o.k. in morning, it snuggled up into other chick's when I left it, so hope it's not to stressed.

Go out and buy yourself some millet sprays and put some in the box and also some on the floor of the cabinet, the chicks will pick at them and also dad will eat it and feed the young the same seeds, this will help in the transition from dad feeding to the chicks eating on their own. I have had two chicks come out of the box today and I witnessed them eating from the seed jar tonight, It does help them find the food.

Hi Matt, I have been using seed only for bedding in nest box since first few were around 2 weeks. Would extra millet sprays make a difference.Kaz advised using seed only, some time ago and chicks really advance by having it in box,they have been popping out one by one already feeding greens etc as well straight out of nest into cabinet.

 

p.s. Matt if you haven't followed Aquarius's saga. This is Cock bird you advised on with Iodine treatment. Hen laid 10, hatched 10 last chick died o.night but I'd say he's fertile!! Thanks again.

Edited May 10, 201015 yr by robyn

Thank's Anne, Liv and Kaz. I could have cheerfully rung her neck yesterday. But she's been terrific up until now. Should you remove 2nd round eggs if other chicks are still in box or not.

When this has happened to me, it depends on age of chicks and if I want the next round to proceed. If chicks are nearly at fgledging stage and you want the next round, then I remove them to a container on the floor of the breeder cage so the Dad can care for them. If the chicks are young and need to be in the nestbox still you can remove the eggs and hold onto them for a week or so. All depending on age of chicks and what you want to do about the next clutch.

I have been using seed only for bedding in nest box since first few were around 2 weeks. Would extra millet sprays make a difference.Kaz advised using seed only, some time ago and chicks really advance by having it in box,they have been popping out one by one already feeding greens etc as well straight out of nest into cabinet.

Matt wasnt aware of the seed in nestbox. You dont need the millet sprays in this case as well as the seed.

Thank's Kaz,

I checked on chick early but Dad was in and out feeding so left it until later. Looks like chick has been fed, it's still very bright looking around etc, doesn't seem stressed, it's face is not badly hurt just it's edge of beak where it joins cere look's lifted and was bleeding yesterday. No blood to-day head not bloody just plucked I think.

you can remove the eggs and hold onto them for a week or so.

 

 

what I do sometimes with eggs when Mum lays and chicks are too young and in the nestbox

That's something to think about for future ref Kaz. It's to cold now for another round and she's already rared, nearly, 8 chicks.

So do you just keep eggs at in aviary at air temp. and then place back under hen? Are they viable eggs after that long without incubation? Do hen's accept them or do you have to add them before she reach's end of laying cycle?

That's something to think about for future ref Kaz. It's to cold now for another round and she's already rared, nearly, 8 chicks.

So do you just keep eggs at in aviary at air temp. Depends on the temperature of the room. If cold I cover with seed.

and then place back under hen? Back under that hen or another hen

 

Are they viable eggs after that long without incubation? Yes

 

Do hen's accept them or do you have to add them before she reach's end of laying cycle? You have to add them to other eggs, not them being the only eggs.

Copied and pasted for future info.

Took picture's to-day of chick's injury. Look's a bit like a split finger nail type of thing. It seem's to be bleeding a bit, when Dad feed it I assume. It's not infected lookng so I'm on a watch and wait cycle for now.

Can anyone advise if it needs any more attention?