Oct 9, 2011 20:22:16 GMT
serz
Cruising Cobalt
Posts: 513
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Post by serz on Oct 21, 2011 11:44:52 GMT
Well ive just had the shock of my life. I went out to check on the birds and noticed that all 4 of my 5 babies had left the nest. I Just thought that they had left nautrally as they are over 28 days old. I then noticed the mother out of the nest with a bit of blood on her face and her feet and on the perch.I thought she had nicked a nail or something so i went in to see if she was ok and she flew in the nest box. I heard cheeping so i thought she was feeding the baby. I took the nest box down to see if they were ok and had the worst shock ever. The mother has the baby on its back and was eating it. It had eaten its legs and half of its face had been eaten. She was still eating it when i was trying to get her off the baby. The baby was screaming in pain. I didnt no what to do so i phoned my friend who is a big bird breeder and he had to come and put the little one out of his misery. The mother has blood all over her mouth. It has made me sick to my stomach. Has anyone else exprienced this and why would she have done this to her own baby?
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Post by Gaile on Oct 21, 2011 12:54:19 GMT
It is horrible that the hens do this...I think that they do it because they want to breed again and so the hen wants the babies out to start again!!
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Oct 9, 2011 20:22:16 GMT
serz
Cruising Cobalt
Posts: 513
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Post by serz on Oct 21, 2011 13:03:04 GMT
thanks gaile it is horrible i just really didnt expect it at all. I dont think i will be letting her have any more to be honest as that was horrid
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Post by Rachael Kellett on Oct 21, 2011 14:24:04 GMT
That is awful! i would personally never let that hen breed again. I know a breeder that had a hen who murdered all five of her day old chicks, ripped them apart. He told me that he "disposed of her" I am not saying to kill the hen, I would never say or do that to a budgie but if i were you I would never breed with her again.
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Oct 7, 2011 11:42:06 GMT
theswann
Normal Violet
Posts: 107
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Post by theswann on Oct 21, 2011 14:33:41 GMT
oh dear, I am so sorry, poor little baby And that must have been horrendous to see, I am so sorry
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Post by brian1 on Oct 21, 2011 15:22:08 GMT
Sorry to hear this Serz,I have thankfully never had it, you must take her out and let dad feed the others,i see they are old enough
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Oct 7, 2011 6:05:27 GMT
gerwynmr2
Normal Green
WALES BS NO WP37
Posts: 458
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Post by gerwynmr2 on Oct 21, 2011 15:26:22 GMT
hi serz,sorry to hear this,but it does happen if the chicks are late leavers,if the youngest chick was 28 days old that would mean the oldest chick over the 5 week old mark and all the hen is doing as far as she is concerned clearing the nest for next round ,make sure you have taken the hen out of the breeding cage or she will attack the chicks on the floor of the cage and just leave dad to sort them out for a couple of days regards gerwynmr2
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Oct 7, 2011 19:59:02 GMT
ianb
Normal Green
Posts: 410
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Post by ianb on Oct 21, 2011 18:41:19 GMT
Hi Serz sorry to hear of your problem,if you want more youngsters off the hen ,pair her up but DON'T let her rear,foster the eggs out once she has finished laying.
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Oct 21, 2011 18:53:10 GMT
It is so shocking and sad. Did you breed this hen for the first time?
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Oct 8, 2011 14:18:45 GMT
ruthpaton
Normal Green
Posts: 364
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Post by ruthpaton on Oct 21, 2011 19:09:34 GMT
That is just horrible, you must have had such a shock. That poor baby, it's a good thing you went out when you did as it could have suffered a whole lot more. I'm so sorry...
Ruth
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Post by stace on Oct 21, 2011 23:37:50 GMT
How awful for you. I've heard of this happening. From what I've read on this before, Brian, Ian and Gerwyn have given good advice though.
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Post by Hezz on Oct 22, 2011 1:31:23 GMT
Oh, how horrible! Yes I too have heard of hens doing this, but for you to have to witness it, I imagine would be quite traumatic. Poor you - you have had a rough couple of weeks!
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Oct 9, 2011 20:22:16 GMT
serz
Cruising Cobalt
Posts: 513
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Post by serz on Oct 22, 2011 14:44:06 GMT
thanks guys yeah it was horrible and is not something that i would like to see again that for sure. The oldest chick is 34 days old and the youngest one that got killed was 30 days old so by rights really they should have left the nest box by then. I have brought the 4 remaining babies into the house away from her as they cant fly all that well yet and kept landing on the floor so i didnt want them to get eaten so they are now in a cage in the house. The yougest keeps crying for its mumk tho and i keep having to show it were the food is to eat. They all feel slightly skinny.? Will upload pics this evening of them. There poo keeps getting stuck to there feathers around there bums too.I dont no if its a little loose due to the change in there housing ect? Just hope im due a bit of luck with them soon.
thanks for all your kind words
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Oct 9, 2011 20:22:16 GMT
serz
Cruising Cobalt
Posts: 513
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Post by serz on Oct 22, 2011 15:00:49 GMT
I dont no if i done the right thing bringing them in should i have brought the female in instead do you think?
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