Hi All

 

I have four chicks that are now five weeks old. Two have left the nestbox and the two youngest have remained in nestbox. The hen has layed an egg in the original nestbox and is investigating and showing interest in another two boxes in the aviary. The aviary only has this breeding pair and their four chicks. The hen is showing aggression towards all the chicks, and the cock is only showing interest in mating.

 

I am concerned about the safety of all chicks. I am hesitant in removing the chicks from the aviary and placing them in nursery. The reasons for hesitating is i am afraid they will not be able to feed themselves, in particular the two youngest.

 

What should i do?? Please help.

 

This is my first attempt in breeding in over 20 years.

 

Thanks

Nick123

If the hen is showing aggression you may have to take them out or other wise there may be injuries or death. At 5 weeks they should be able to feed them selves especially the older 2 and if you put them into a cage together the older ones will help feed the younger ones. I also put the seed and water in shallow dishes for the babies, I find it easier for them to get to.

Thanks for the advice Nadine, I will move them first thing in the morning.

 

The chicks are beautiful. Three opaline light blue/dilute greywing hens and my favourite, normal cobalt cock with a white spot on his head. The hens are identical, same as father. The mother is a recessive pied, light blue. All chicks are split to recessive pied and greywing. I think this is right??

Hi. I would also put a spray of millet seed in the cage with the chicks, as this treat can really encourage them to start eatly independently.

Hi, can you tell if Dad is still feeding chicks? If you only have this pair in aviary, if you put food dish on floor and put chicks on floor with seed and some form of shelter they can hide under, Dad will maybe keep feeding them on the floor. Mum would only be attacking chicks if they are in the nest box and she wants to lay.

 

If on the other hand Dad has left the chicks to fend for themselves I would remove them to cage as Nadene advised. That way you can keep an eye on them to tell if they are all eating. As Nadene said at five weeks they should be able to feed themselves, it's like they won't bother until they have nobody giving them food when they call, they usually start then.

All chicks have left the nest and mum seems happy with this. She has started to sit on two new eggs and is not as aggressive as before. The dad occasionally feeds the chicks, he seems more interested in the nest box and mating. I decided not to remove chicks as yet.

 

When is it the right time to remove the chicks from the parents? How do i know they are feeding themselves? At what age can they fend for themselves?

 

The oldest chicked hatched on the 19th March. There are four chicks in total.

 

Thanks

Mine generally seem to leave nest box nearly 4 weeks to the day. So your 19th 3. would leave about 19th 4. so by 25th if yours hatched 2 days apart they should be all nearly ready to fledge. If Dad is feeding them, even out of box that's good sometimes they will keep feeding a bit if chicks pester them for food.The older ones will sometimes even feed the younger ones if they call for food.

 

Once you can see they are all cracking seed they should be okay. they could lose a bit of weight until they eat enough by themselves, it's easier to pester Dad than do it themselves, which they will do if he lets them. If he is in cage with them he will teach them the ropes as they grow, if he eats veges etc they will copy USUALLY don't quote me. l.o.l I'd leave them with Dad as long as you can before next round is due, then remove them to kindy cage on their own.(or are they free in aviary with Dad already)

Thanks for advice Robyn. I will leave them in there for another week at least. If it gets dangerous for them i will remove sooner to kindy cage.

 

They are free with dad and mum in aviary. This part of aviary consists of mum & dad (started new clutch) and 4 babies from first clutch. No other birds in this aviary. Size of this avairy is 1.2m x 1.2m. Height is 1.8m. "Luxury" status. l.o.l.

Robyn has given you some excellent advice