Hi,

 

I have read advice gven to others on the forum about hens attacking chicks, but thought Id ask some specifics to my situation. Ive just started with budgies again after close to a 15 year break.

 

I've paired a grey opaline hen to a grey spangle cock bird. This is her second nest with me (she had one last year), and of the two average sized nests they have just the one chick survive now (ino). Its approx 2 weeks old, with pins on the head and wings. I noticed recently that the down had been plucked, and put in more material and millet to distract the hen. I have now found blood all over the hens face and the chick has had its wings and tail attacked.

 

I'm quite sure she wants to go for another round and has turned on her chick, as just before attacking, the cock was trying to mate with her. Since that attack she no longer sleeps in the nest box.

 

From reading other posts, it sounds like the general advice is to remove the hen if I cannot foster. I do have another clutch of four but the youngest chick is a week older; is it too old to foster out?

 

If so, and I remove the attacking hen, is it best to leave the chick with the cock bird in its nest o do I remove the nest and place it in a container on the floor of the cage?

 

(I have decided i will be getting rid of this hen).

 

Cheers and sorry for the long post, just a bit nervous with the situation.

Edited November 25, 201212 yr by D0NKEY

Hi,

 

I have read advice gven to others on the forum about hens attacking chicks, but thought Id ask some specifics to my situation. Ive just started with budgies again after close to a 15 year break.

 

I've paired a grey opaline hen to a grey spangle cock bird. This is her second nest with me (she had one last year), and of the two average sized nests they have just the one chick survive now (ino). Its approx 2 weeks old, with pins on the head and wings. I noticed recently that the down had been plucked, and put in more material and millet to distract the hen. I have now found blood all over the hens face and the chick has had its wings and tail attacked.

 

I'm quite sure she wants to go for another round and has turned on her chick, as just before attacking, the cock was trying to mate with her. Since that attack she no longer sleeps in the nest box.

 

From reading other posts, it sounds like the general advice is to remove the hen if I cannot foster. I do have another clutch of four but the youngest chick is a week older; is it too old to foster out?

 

If so, and I remove the attacking hen, is it best to leave the chick with the cock bird in its nest o do I remove the nest and place it in a container on the floor of the cage?

 

(I have decided i will be getting rid of this hen).

 

Cheers and sorry for the long post, just a bit nervous with the situation.

 

 

Hi. Leave the box where it is too much interference isn't good. Remove hen, & if cock feeds chick it should be okay,

Or you could foster it out with no trouble......B.J.

Thanks Bird Junky, much appreciated. In ters of fostering does the age gap matter? I'll try to post some pictures of the two nests.....

 

Hope this works .....

 

This is the attacked chick

 

This is the other nest

 

 

Is the gap between the chicks age an issue with fostering into the second nest (there is a young green chick under the other two with mainly down and longer quills)?

Edited November 26, 201212 yr by D0NKEY

It should be alright just keep an eye on them to make sure she is getting fed.

Cheers Jenny

Thanks to you both for your help.

Hi I would remove seed from box. Unhygienic to mix food & excrement....B.J..