Phew! That's a relief!

I find that generally cocks going into nests is nothing more than a nuisance. Mostly they have no idea and often cause a bit of issue kicking the eggs around unless they are securely tucked under the hen. If you have a very dominant cock like this lacewing, he can force an inexperienced hen off the nest to mate with him.

 

Mostly though they are just a bit of a pain. My preference is that they stay OUT.

I find that generally cocks going into nests is nothing more than a nuisance. Mostly they have no idea and often cause a bit of issue kicking the eggs around unless they are securely tucked under the hen. If you have a very dominant cock like this lacewing, he can force an inexperienced hen off the nest to mate with him.

 

Mostly though they are just a bit of a pain. My preference is that they stay OUT.

is their a way to keep em out nub ,bar get a huge cock bird and a small hen with a little nestbox hole she only can fit :rofl:

Not that I know of.

Can you have him in an adjoining cage and only put him in under supervision ....like when you are working in the birdroom ?

Im with you on cock birds Nubbly. Stay out of the nest box and let the women do her thing until its time for you to feed the chicks. And even then get in, get out and dont touch anything while you're in there

Hah, it's like pregnant women. Poor blokes, copping all the bad stuff. I agree with the cocks being annoying though.

If mum is only on a couple chicks (3 or less) I normally let her do the feeding and cock bird goes back into the aviary.

Hah, it's like pregnant women. Poor blokes, copping all the bad stuff. I agree with the cocks being annoying though.

If mum is only on a couple chicks (3 or less) I normally let her do the feeding and cock bird goes back into the aviary.

 

Hard and fast rules get people into trouble. I think the one above is a great example of a rule that could lead to trouble.

 

Last breeding season I had one pair that had 4 good chicks and both parents did a great job. In the 2nd round they had only 2 chicks, one which I had to euthanase, so only 1 chick remained. Since both parents were there feeding her, she got the best and most nutrition she could handle, and thus she is the best bird I have bred, and the parents were both in good condition once she fledged. They were ready for round 3 when i stopped them.

 

The point of my meandering story is that to ensure the hen does not overdo it, causing herself strain, it is best to leave the cock there if you can, in my humble opinion.

Hah, it's like pregnant women. Poor blokes, copping all the bad stuff. I agree with the cocks being annoying though.

If mum is only on a couple chicks (3 or less) I normally let her do the feeding and cock bird goes back into the aviary.

 

It is? Last time I checked with my husband he said I'm the one who has to deal with the bad stuff... What you're saying is something that is a stereotype. Out of me,my family and my friends that I know of, there has only been one person who's partner "copped it" and that was because she had Prenatal depression . If someone came on here and saw that you had written that, they'd be devastated - being depressed would be bad enough, but to think that you're causing someone grief would make it so much worse. it's not something that you can always control

If a bloke was to cop it - there is usually a reason behind it - depression, Hormones, emotions, etc.

No offence, but until you have actually experienced pregnancy (assuming you haven't because of your age, though I know it can happen), its probably not something you should say - even if it is meant as a joke because alot of people including myself take that seriously. Majority of us are nothing like that at all.

 

Sorry if my post offends anyone at all.

 

Hah, it's like pregnant women. Poor blokes, copping all the bad stuff. I agree with the cocks being annoying though.

If mum is only on a couple chicks (3 or less) I normally let her do the feeding and cock bird goes back into the aviary.

 

Hard and fast rules get people into trouble. I think the one above is a great example of a rule that could lead to trouble.

 

Last breeding season I had one pair that had 4 good chicks and both parents did a great job. In the 2nd round they had only 2 chicks, one which I had to euthanase, so only 1 chick remained. Since both parents were there feeding her, she got the best and most nutrition she could handle, and thus she is the best bird I have bred, and the parents were both in good condition once she fledged. They were ready for round 3 when i stopped them.

 

The point of my meandering story is that to ensure the hen does not overdo it, causing herself strain, it is best to leave the cock there if you can, in my humble opinion.

 

Anyway back on topic:

I agree with this. My violet cock has been a fantastic dad and partner - if he wasn't in there, then I think the hen may possibly do more than just pluck the chicks, no matter how gentle she actually is. With him there, she is relaxed and very easy going - and is not looking worse for wear with feeding and warming the chicks

 

BUT if any of my cocks were to be a nuisance, I think if the hen was coping, I'd remove him to make sure the eggs get the best chance of hatching and hope she does well without him. I'd hate having a nuisance cock - I'm yet to experience it and I'm sure it will happen one day

Hah, it's like pregnant women. Poor blokes, copping all the bad stuff. I agree with the cocks being annoying though.

If mum is only on a couple chicks (3 or less) I normally let her do the feeding and cock bird goes back into the aviary.

 

It is? Last time I checked with my husband he said I'm the one who has to deal with the bad stuff... What you're saying is something that is a stereotype. Out of me,my family and my friends that I know of, there has only been one person who's partner "copped it" and that was because she had Prenatal depression . If someone came on here and saw that you had written that, they'd be devastated - being depressed would be bad enough, but to think that you're causing someone grief would make it so much worse. it's not something that you can always control

If a bloke was to cop it - there is usually a reason behind it - depression, Hormones, emotions, etc.

No offence, but until you have actually experienced pregnancy (assuming you haven't because of your age, though I know it can happen), its probably not something you should say - even if it is meant as a joke because alot of people including myself take that seriously. Majority of us are nothing like that at all.

 

Sorry if my post offends anyone at all.

 

 

Sorry Amy. I didn't mean about the blokes copping it as part of women being pregnant, I meant it as the poor budgies copping it. We are all badmouthing them on her If budgies could read, they must be offended

I leave them when I can and very very rarely do I leave a hen to raise a nest on her own. It's not normally a problem but some cocks are horrible and some are just plain idiots but then I've had hens kill every chick they have ever fledged too so it's horses for courses. I do prefer the boys that know what their job is and do it without issue. Nature intended the hen to be aided by the cock in feeding the chicks and the majority do it just fine, just the annoying buggers that keep getting into the nest.

 

You might think it's cute that the cock is sitting in the nest with the hen and "helping" her brood! Look carefully at how they exit the nest though and unless the cock sits closer to the exit, you'll generally see the hen get off the eggs/babies and go out without disturbing them too much, with the idiot cock, stomping over the top of them. It's NOT cute! It's a pain in the ****! And that's just the annoying ones, not the destructive ones!

Sorry Amy. I didn't mean about the blokes copping it as part of women being pregnant, I meant it as the poor budgies copping it. We are all badmouthing them on her If budgies could read, they must be offended

Ahh okay, no worries

 

I leave them when I can and very very rarely do I leave a hen to raise a nest on her own. It's not normally a problem but some cocks are horrible and some are just plain idiots but then I've had hens kill every chick they have ever fledged too so it's horses for courses. I do prefer the boys that know what their job is and do it without issue. Nature intended the hen to be aided by the cock in feeding the chicks and the majority do it just fine, just the annoying buggers that keep getting into the nest.

 

You might think it's cute that the cock is sitting in the nest with the hen and "helping" her brood! Look carefully at how they exit the nest though and unless the cock sits closer to the exit, you'll generally see the hen get off the eggs/babies and go out without disturbing them too much, with the idiot cock, stomping over the top of them. It's NOT cute! It's a pain in the ****! And that's just the annoying ones, not the destructive ones!

 

This makes heaps of sense and its good to know in case it happens with my birds

So a short update.

 

Some varied results so far. 3 complete clear nests so far. All from inexperienced cocks which is a bit disappointing. An absolute disaster from the #1 lacewing pair with only one chick in the end making it out okay. The attacked chick dies along with the other hatchee that came after it and the other eggs bar one addled so it seems stupid cock bird was spending a bit of time tromping around the nest. This time around I will remove the cock just as the first baby hatches and let the hen raise on her own.

 

Other results have been pleasing. Pair #7 Light Green Cock 10th at Nats x Opaline Cobalt Spangle Hen from Jean Horrobin half sister to Opaline Nats Winner have 4 of their own chicks and 1 foster from elsewhere.

 

 

 

This pair had a nest full of fertile eggs but didn't hatch all of them they have 2 (others farmed around other nests) plus they have 2 fosters from the dark green opaline spangle and the dark green hen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lacewing splits are going well with this gorgeous pair having 3 chicks so far.

 

 

And this pair (brother of 10th place green) having 4 babies and 2 fosters.

 

And this pair - hen is a DF M1 YF to this wonderful and very young light green have 3 of their own babies, the single remaining lw baby from pair #1 plus one other foster. They just hatched out one last baby - the 3rd one - and have fostered that one out. I'm sharing this nest with the old owner of the hen who gifted her to me. Sorry no pics.

Finally some fallow babies........ 2 hatchees when I checked today! Fingers crossed that all the other fertile eggs hatch.

Chicks looking good Nubbly, hope your fellows are all fertile and all hatch too.

Some baby photos from tonight.

 

This little cinnamon opaline is looking to have wonderful directional feather - has that eagle look. It's parents are the normal grey cock bird paired with my best opaline lacewing hen. Bummer of it is that this chick looks like being a hen so no split lacewing. There are also 2 cinnamon grey greens in the nest again both looking like hens so might have lucked out on the plit breeding for this round!

 

 

 

This is one of the sisters of the above chick. Don't let ANYONE tell you that to get that beautiful golden yellow ground colour you need dark factor normals. This chick shows exactly how golden yellow you can get even a cinnamon's ground colour. These are the birds I use back into my lacewings to achieve that beautiful buttercup yellow.

 

 

Four chick from my 10th place green boy to a Horrobin opaline spangle cobalt hen that Darryl chose for me from the Brasea auction in Brisbane.

A sky opaline.

 

Two dark green opaline spangles just like this.

 

And the youngest, a cutie little normal cobalt.

 

 

Also snapped in pics tonight. A light green opaline spangle with great feather. From the dark green opaline spangle cock and a dark green hen. No double or even single dark factor chicks - typical!!!!!! But still nice feathered useful babies.

 

 

The unhappy normal sky sister of the chick above.

 

Seems like lots of hens coming through - not a bad thing but I really need some cocks from lacewings and split lacewing pairings.

 

37 rings put on and quite a few more little babies to come - still only puts me at about 2 chicks per pair for this round. A bit of a slow start.

 

Oh and the really good news is that my 6th place Fallow boy and the Pizano opaline fallow hen have so far hatched 5 babies with 2 more fertile eggs to go.

Edited October 23, 201014 yr by nubbly5

It sounds pretty good, Nubbly! Slow and steady isn't so bad. Your chicks look really nice. I love all the pin feather pics. Chicks this age are so cute!

Feather to die for

 

what a spiky gorgeous bunch of babies !!!!

 

LOVE LOVE LOVE them all

Your chicks are looking fabulous

Congrats on your fallows, I look forward to more pics further down the track.

The feather quality on these babies looks awesome to me

You know what they say, "Slow and Steady wins the race." Those chocks are adorable.

 

Reason for Edit: I didn't know I was a Kiwi... I meant those 'Chicks' are adorable not 'Chocks'.

Edited October 23, 201014 yr by JimmyBanks

You know what they say, "Slow and Steady wins the race." Those chocks are adorable.

 

Reason for Edit: I didn't know I was a Kiwi... I meant those 'Chicks' are adorable not 'Chocks'.

you maniac jimmy

their beautiful mate i love love love the opaline green chick stumpy feed full and fat and great feather

Just a quick non pictorial update.

 

After a bit of a disasterous start with my fallows the Pisano hen and my big fallow boy have hatched 7 out of eight eggs (I've been carefully farming the bigger ones off in an effort not to lose any of the fertile later hatching eggs and it's payed off with only one egg addling early on - YYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!

 

Also a point of interest is that after laying 6 eggs I took the renegade but very beautiful 3rd place nats lacewing boy away from his hen. She layed one more egg and has sat faithfully on the eggs and has hatched her first healthy pinkie, well fed and looking great. Before the eggs if they didn't addle had difficulty hatching and if they did the chicks didn't survive. After watching this, I'm noticing that in nests where cocks seem to spend lots of time in the nest itself have more addling eggs. This could well be my imagination but then again maybe not. I need to keep some records and then compare hatchability with the cocks removed so that they don't disturb the eggs and hens as much.

 

Will take some pics when the opportunity presents itself as there are some very nice babies coming through.

Looking forward to the pics

Just a quick non pictorial update.

 

Non Pictorial?? Have you read the Terms and Conditions? It virtually says you can be hung drawn and quartered for non pictorial updates!!! Well, maybe not exactly those words, but I'm sure they meant to put it in...

 

Interesting observation about the cocks, I believe Dean_NZ said he thinks the cocks tend to do more harm than good when they are in the nestbox... would be interesting to find out if anyont has kept records for that sort of thing. I'm pretty sure it was Dean but it might've been someone else...

Edited October 29, 201014 yr by JimmyBanks

okay Jimmy, just for you - this time a pictorial update.

 

This pair have 4 chicks. I'm pretty happy with the quality that the cock has put into the pairing. He is from my top family which has produced quality budgies over a long period of time and the line breeds pretty true. Any cocks from this pairing will be split lacewing.

 

 

Cinnamon Opaline Grey

 

 

Cinnamon Grey Green - not the width of head that is not obvious from the frontal photo.

 

 

A very pretty little grey.

 

And another handy Cinnamon Grey Green.

 

This is what Daddy looked like just out of the nest last year - good similarities even using a lesser hen and these babies are a bit younger than he was in this picture.

 

 

This pair also has 4 chicks. I'm not as happy with the results of this pairing although the chicks will likely grow on.

 

Note the shorter masks and less width across the cere in all of these babies. Any cocks will be split lacewing and all these chicks will be retained to see how they grow on.

 

 

 

 

This pair has 4 chicks (cock is normal green (10th place at Nats) hen is horrobin (1/2 sister to opaline nats winner)).

 

These chicks have been eagerly watched by me and are turning out very nicely.

 

 

 

 

 

And 2 very cute but pet shop sized violets bred from a beautiful violet clearwing (hence the small size) and a skyblue hen. I half expected skys but 2 violets from the 2 hatchees was nice.

Edited October 31, 201014 yr by KAZ