I came home today to this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/bet...h/bloodyeye.jpg

 

I have 2 females and one male, the father. I have removed him to a nearby cage, and the other female has been isolated in her own cage since breeding began, so it was either the father, the mother, or one of the other chicks that attacked. From what I've read, the father seems more apt to be the aggressive one at this point. No chicks have officially left the nest box. oldest chick is 32 days, youngest will be 4 weeks on sunday. I have seen some of the chicks trying to crack seeds on their own. Can the mother finish the job by herself, or do I need to intervene somehow? If so, how?

 

the chick is fine, albeit a little nervous after the trauma. thank you in advance for any advice...

Edited June 18, 201014 yr by KAZ
photo changed to a link as it was oversized as per forum rules

if the father attacked, remove him. In my experience, the problem has been the mother more often than not.

 

One solution is to get a small ice cream container, make a little door on one side, put it on the cage floor and treat it just like the nestbox, with flooring and the like.

 

If Dad is still in the cage, he will go down and feed the little ones.

 

Parents usually attack the young in the nestbox as they want them out of there so they can lay another round of eggs, thus why it is usually the mothers.

if the father attacked, remove him. In my experience, the problem has been the mother more often than not.

 

One solution is to get a small ice cream container, make a little door on one side, put it on the cage floor and treat it just like the nestbox, with flooring and the like.

 

If Dad is still in the cage, he will go down and feed the little ones.

 

Parents usually attack the young in the nestbox as they want them out of there so they can lay another round of eggs, thus why it is usually the mothers.

 

 

Thanks Dave,

 

The one reason I think it's the dad is because the mom has gone out of breeding condition, while the father is still flirting and trying to mount her. Two days ago I noticed he was a little firm with one of the chicks and kind of lunged at it - didn't make contact, but looked like he really wanted to. Will the mother still want to attack the chicks if she is out of breeding condition?

She may not see them as her chicks any more. It is usually the hen. The cock lunging was probably him trying to feed the chick.

Okay, that's 2 that say it's probably mama... she is in there with the chicks now and seems completely uninterested in them, where as the father is calling out, and the chick with the bloody eye even came out from beneath it's shelter and called the father. shall i put the father in with the babies alone and keep mama bird away from them?

Again I too would say its the mother who did this. Common for some mothers to attack the chicks at the age yours are now to get them out of the nestbox and start a possible next round.

Three is the magic number - you folks are right it seems - Dad is in the cage alone with them and their little hutch - not an ice cream box but a similar cardboard apparatus that I've had ready. He is feeding them and not seeming aggressive. The chick with the bloody eye is definitely a needy chick, very eager to be fed. Right up to dad, following close, and not getting aggression at all.

 

On another note, the (oldest) chick that dad lunged at two days ago seems to be trying to fend dad away, lunging and biting at him. he avoids he, feeds everyone else, then tries to go back to her, but again, she fends him away. She seems pretty protective of the other chicks. Is this typical behavior for older chicks?

 

Thank you, experts. Very, very much!

Thats great news that Dad is feeding them

I woudl not worry about her "lunging" at dad/ Put plenty of seed in there for the birds to peck at, as well as some millet. Replace whatever lining you are using in the carboard container in the cage with seed. It will do the same job, but it will provide food for the young as well.

 

Little Miss Independent will be fine on her own if she $ feeding herself. dad may still offer, and if she gets hungry, she might back down, but if she is feeding, all is good.

I woudl not worry about her "lunging" at dad/ Put plenty of seed in there for the birds to peck at, as well as some millet. Replace whatever lining you are using in the carboard container in the cage with seed. It will do the same job, but it will provide food for the young as well.

 

Little Miss Independent will be fine on her own if she $ feeding herself. dad may still offer, and if she gets hungry, she might back down, but if she is feeding, all is good.

 

 

Thank you so much, Dave, you folks and the generous knowledge you share have made this experience a success for us all -

Pleased we can all help