Babies constantly jumping out of the nestbox

[Rachael Kellett]

I have 6 babies in a nestbox. They are 29, 27,25,23,21, and 18 days old. The problem I am having is that the oldest three, mainly the oldest two, keep jumping out of the nestbox. I know that it is okay for them to come out at 28 days old but they've been doing this for over a week and its got to the point where I put them in, they jump out again two minutes later. I gave up yesterday and left the oldest two out of the nestbox and just put them back in at bedtime. The oldest was pecking at some seed on the floor so hoping that is a good sign. Anyway my main problem is that even though they have a chick hide/ gazunder they simply won't use it! Its an ice cream tub, similar to the carte dor kind, and is see through so I'm wondering if thats the problem? They just shove it out of the way and wedge themselves in the corner Any advice on what to do?

[BudgiesBuddy]

As you said that the ones 29 or so are OK to be outside. As for as chick hide/ gazunder is considered, some like to use it and some don't. It is more necessary in the event when the hen is not letting them in the nest box and they are still not old enough to be outside. Do they sleep on perches or cage floor?

[Rachael Kellett]

Aug 17, 2012 12:56:13 GMT BudgiesBuddy said:

As you said that the ones 29 or so are OK to be outside. As for as chick hide/ gazunder is considered, some like to use it and some don't. It is more necessary in the event when the hen is not letting them in the nest box and they are still not old enough to be outside. Do they sleep on perches or cage floor?

Neither yet because I pop them back in the nestbox before lights out. Otherwise they just run around the floor of the cage or shove themselves into a corner.

[Bird Junky]

Hi It's OK to leave them out. Your plastic jobbie doesn't
seem to impress the chicks. They don't really need a shelter
only if they are being attacked by parents. A 6"x8" piece
of board raised up on bits of wood about 3" high would
make a better hidey hole...B.J.

[barrieshutt]

I AM HAPPY FOR THEM TO SPEND TIME IN THE BOX UNTIL MUM STARTS LAYING , AT THIS TIME SHE MAY ATTACK THEM

[Rachael Kellett]

Aug 17, 2012 18:38:05 GMT barrieshutt said:

I AM HAPPY FOR THEM TO SPEND TIME IN THE BOX UNTIL MUM STARTS LAYING , AT THIS TIME SHE MAY ATTACK THEM

I am lucky in this aspect that mum is no longer in breeding condition so she won't be laying any more eggs. Babies one, two, and three are currently running around the cage floor. I have a dish of eggfood and a dish of seed on the cage floor but need to sort something out for water, the last one I tried they ended up kicking seed and eggfood into it.

[barrieshutt]

water is important or they will drop feathers , try a coffee jar lid.