Laying hen in 2 nest boxes!

[jack1]

I have a aviary with 8 budgies in, 3 adult females 3 adult males and 3 babies. There's 4 nest boxes and one of the females has layed 2 eggs but she's layed them in 2 different nest boxes and she shares her time between them, should I wait till she has another one and whatever box she Lays it in il put them all in there and remove the other nest box? I don't want them getting cold and Surely she couldn't keep up with lookin after eggs in separate boxes. She has had eggs about 5 months ago and had 3 chicks and nothing like this happend I don't know what to do?

[skysmum]

Im afraid this is one of the down sides to colony breeding, you were lucky the first time around but situations like this and worse can occur. The other hens could well attack and kill the babies too and the hens can sometimes fight, to the death, for a or someone else's nest box.

Can you not put all the eggs in one box and put the breeding pair in a separate cage with that box, even if it is within the aviary. I would also remove the other nest box's and concentrate on one pair at a time.

[Marianne Marlow]

Agree with Skysmum. One pair, one nest-box, one cage. it's the safest way to breed.

[jack1]

I could put her in a separate cage with a nest box but the male that mated with her is paired up with a different hen do you think she would be OK, she didn't have a male feeding her last time and she was ok?

[skysmum]

I would try putting the pair in the cage first with the box, if the male doesn't settle with her then remove him and see if she will raise the clutch alone, its hard work for her though. If this his her second round you must rest her after this clutch, they can't keep on otherwise it will affect her health.

I would still remove the other box's because if the male is freely mating with the other female you are going to have the same problem.

Single breeding pairs is the only way of controlling things and if you let it go on you could end up with interbreeding with many health issues.

[jack1]

I've just been in the room and she in the box with the other 2 eggs she due to to have the third tonight at some point unless these fireworks spook her, so il just see were she lays the next one

[jack1]

Thanks for the advise il look at getting individual breeding cages

[skysmum]

It's the only way to do it properly and for the safety and well being of your birds, far less stressful for you to

[jack1]

There in a garage at the moment if I put them in a smaller cage would it be better to bring them in the house just so it's a it warmer for them and the chicks? I've checked the first egg and it is fertile, so at least I no there's a chance 😊

[jack1]

Another question sorry! How long can a egg be left before it needs to be sat on by the mum, I've Hurd a few different answers?

[Hezz]

I agree with all the advice you have been given so far. As the hen starts to incubate once the second egg has been laid, generally two days after the first, I would imagine 24-48hr max. The sooner all eggs are together, the better.

[jack1]

Getting excited to see the chicks now should only be about 10 more days for the first one 😄, just a quick one she only has 3 eggs does this happen sometimes? Thanks

[jack1]

By the way I put the mum and dad in a cage and brought them in the house along with the eggs I think it was getting to cold for the eggs, the mum is sitting on them full time now and dad is feeding her and I have removed the other nest boxes from the aviary to avoid fights etc.