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Post by smilingmatt2002 on May 14, 2014 21:52:52 GMT
Hi All.
I wonder if you can offer some advice?
I have a question about fostering of eggs/chicks, should it get to that stage. Basically I have a fairly young hen sitting on four fertile eggs, but there is potential for fostering to an older hen with eggs of her own.
Basically, I have two hens sitting on eggs that are due to begin hatching at approximately the same time. The first and older of the hens got all confused over Christmas, laid 5 fertile eggs in the roosting enclosure of my aviary, hatched them all but didn't feed any if the chicks and so none survived. Not thinking she would be old enough to even think about breeding, let alone during the appalling weather we had, I think she was too young to have the 'feeding' instinct. Now five months older, she is in a nest box sitting on two fertile eggs. My second and younger hen (again, didn't think she was old enough to lay - should've learnt my lesson) took up residence in the older hen's second-choice nest box and is sitting on four fertile eggs.
The younger hen's clutch is due to hatch a day or so before the older hen on Sunday/Monday ish. What I am concerned about is the second hen doing what the first did at Christmas and not feed the chicks. If it is obvious that she is not feeding, how viable is it to move a newly hatched chick into the older hens nest box if none of hers have hatched at that point? Has that tactic ever been successful for anyone? Obviously it is relying on the older hen having developed the instinct to feed! Let's hope!
Hoping it won't get to that point, but I just wanted a second (or more) opinion!
Thank you very much everyone.
Matt
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Post by Hezz on May 16, 2014 0:43:03 GMT
Sorry Matt, I can't help with your questions, but I am sure that BudgiesBuddy will be able to answer your questions later on. Just how old are these two hens, and are you colony breeding? |
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on May 16, 2014 7:56:17 GMT
Hi Matt, and welcome to forum  You can always try fostering chicks, if the situation leads to that. Of course the chicks have to be roughly the same age as the other hen and so on, but there is no guarantee that the hen would accept the new chicks. Most do so, but some won't feed the new ones. And if they don't, we can't do anything about it, other than trying another hen or hand-feeding, as these newborn chick have very little time before they will die. On the positive side, I never had a hen not feeding her own chicks in normal circumstances. And I am sure that yours will do so too, if everything is OK, like both hen and cock are in good health as well as in breeding condition, they have proper nest box and breeding setup, plentiful and varied food especially soft-food, cock is helping one and so on. But as Hezz pointed out, if you are colony breeding than there are chances that you may face what you are fearing. Hope everything goes well, but in the worst case scenario, be prepared for hand feeding. That's your final lifeline |
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on May 16, 2014 7:57:51 GMT
@corie has some issues recently with fostering chicks. I am sure he will have an advice or two for you.
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on May 16, 2014 7:58:24 GMT
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on May 16, 2014 7:59:11 GMT
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Nov 16, 2024 8:31:53 GMT
Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2014 23:00:29 GMT
Make sure the hen is out of the box when placing chick to new hen and rub some of the new nest material on the chick, the rest is up to luck.
Once the chick is around 5 to 6 days you can place it back with the original hen the same way, as the chick is older now it should be loud enough for the maiden hen to feed, keep a eye on it if not feed put it back but once the maiden hen starts feeding you should be right with the remaining chicks she will hatch.
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Post by smilingmatt2002 on May 19, 2014 21:36:39 GMT
Hi everyone. Thank you all for your kind welcomes and replies. I am very sorry for the time taken to reply. Perfect timing for a weekend in France with no internet. My Mum has been keeping an eye on them over the weekend. I couldn't get back before dusk tonight I so haven't been able to check for myself but she isn't sure that the older hen is feeding again. Turned out that she hatched two eggs over the weekend but being quite small, mum couldn't quite see into the nest box well enough to give a definitive answer. I am going to check first thing tomorrow. Sorry Matt, I can't help with your questions, but I am sure that BudgiesBuddy will be able to answer your questions later on. Just how old are these two hens, and are you colony breeding? Hi Hezz. Yes, I am attempting colony breeding. I've got a small flock of five birds, all hand tame and unrelated! I am aware of the risks of colony breeding but they are all so placid that I thought I would see how they got on. Currently all the males are sharing responsibilities no trouble at all. The hens are about 18 months and 1 year old....I know, potentially too young. Any thoughts? Hi Matt, and welcome to forum You can always try fostering chicks, if the situation leads to that. Of course the chicks have to be roughly the same age as the other hen and so on, but there is no guarantee that the hen would accept the new chicks. Most do so, but some won't feed the new ones. And if they don't, we can't do anything about it, other than trying another hen or hand-feeding, as these newborn chick have very little time before they will die. On the positive side, I never had a hen not feeding her own chicks in normal circumstances. And I am sure that yours will do so too, if everything is OK, like both hen and cock are in good health as well as in breeding condition, they have proper nest box and breeding setup, plentiful and varied food especially soft-food, cock is helping one and so on. But as Hezz pointed out, if you are colony breeding than there are chances that you may face what you are fearing. Hope everything goes well, but in the worst case scenario, be prepared for hand feeding. That's your final lifeline Thank you BudgieBuddy for the welcome and advice. Fortunately the hens started laying at almost exactly the same time so fostering could well be viable. But if what mum thinks is going on at the moment, the older hen might not be doing her job again so here's to hoping the younger one pulls it out the bag. Unfortunately I work full time so hand rearing a newborn chick isn't really an option  Make sure the hen is out of the box when placing chick to new hen and rub some of the new nest material on the chick, the rest is up to luck. Once the chick is around 5 to 6 days you can place it back with the original hen the same way, as the chick is older now it should be loud enough for the maiden hen to feed, keep a eye on it if not feed put it back but once the maiden hen starts feeding you should be right with the remaining chicks she will hatch. Thank you Corie. Sound advice there. I will keep you posted. |
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Post by Hezz on May 20, 2014 0:19:16 GMT
All I can add to that is that at 1 year and 18 months old, the hens should be old enough for their maternal hormones to have kicked in, although from others' reports maiden hens are often a lottery.
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Post by smilingmatt2002 on May 20, 2014 7:58:16 GMT
All I can add to that is that at 1 year and 18 months old, the hens should be old enough for their maternal hormones to have kicked in, although from others' reports maiden hens are often a lottery. I think you're right on the lottery Hezz. On inspection this morning the younger hen was feeding with great care a chick that hatched overnight. I toiled for ages over fostering the one remaining chick in the older hen's box to the younger's but decided that she must've been feeding it for it to have survived overnight and still be quite lively this morning. If it is in a bad way when I get back from work I'll transfer it over. But things are looking promising for the younger hen, her chick and remaining three fertile eggs in her box. |
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Post by smilingmatt2002 on May 20, 2014 7:59:39 GMT
Once again, I extend my thanks to you all for your help and advice |
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Post by smilingmatt2002 on May 20, 2014 16:29:41 GMT
Just got back from work and both chicks are being fed. Excellent news! Going to keep a close eye on them both however and perhaps start a new photo-diary thread for those of you who are interested |
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Post by smilingmatt2002 on May 20, 2014 20:14:39 GMT
For those of you who are interested, here are my two pairs and their respective chicks. Older pair Yellow face type 2 (I think) dominant pied sky blue male Blue opaline female  Younger pair Recessive pied blue male Light green opaline female  Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
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Oct 5, 2013 20:28:43 GMT
sully
Normal Violet
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Post by sully on May 20, 2014 21:06:53 GMT
Many years ago I bred two pairs of budgies. The first pair were excellent parents, the second pair didn't have a clue. The second pairs first and only clutch of babies they had were dying one by one till the last baby was left, I tried to keep it warm and then i put it in with the first parents who brought it up with their babies, it was a beauty. |
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Post by Hezz on May 21, 2014 2:00:52 GMT
Gorgeous birdies there, Matt. I hope you have success with your remaining eggs. |
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