Opinions Needed

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WrapandSlimYou

WrapandSlimYou

Chirping
7 Years
Mar 19, 2014
16
6
82

Hello,

I am wondering if a hen that pecks and throws her chick across the nest box is likely to do it again with her babies from her next clutch? There was seven eggs and the only fertile one was the last egg laid! We caught Mom and Dad mating the day before the egg hatched. The egg hatched and everything seemed fine. The very next day, in the morning, the hens crop was filled. Later in the day when I went to feed I noticed mom was acting very strange. She started emptying the nest box. I peeked in and baby was on the other side of the nest box bleeding pecked in the belly, face and neck. We took the baby out and tried to save it.

Needless to say I was baffled that night. I look in the box as she was sitting on a NEW egg! She now has 3 fertile eggs!! Should I be concerned that she will do it to the new babies? I have heard so many conflicting things. Some people are telling me she is a bad mom and she will do it again. They are also saying to pull the chicks after they hatch! Some are telling me it's unlikely that she will do it again.

The budgie eggs are due to hatch next week!!
grbud.gif
Please advise. Thank you!
 
Personally, I wouldn't risk lives on a proven killer myself. I wouldn't breed her either. Faults in reproductive behaviors tend to be bred on.

Since you're aware of people's opinions on this, but are still looking for something like a majority vote, I get the impression you really want to try her again but aren't sure whether or not you should.

I would suggest you simply just do what you feel is right, and if it doesn't work out, lesson learned.

Good luck.
 
Thank you for your response. I definitely do not want to breed her again after going through all this.
1f614.png
And I won't. Just looking for some advice to get through next week and save the babies if I can. One of my questions.. If she starts being abusive to the chick and I pull it do you think she will sit on the other eggs still? I just want to save the other babies.
2764.png
 
I think she will sit on the other eggs. I would immediately pull the chicks and hand feed them. Do you know how to handfeed?

In the future I would suggest replacing her real eggs right after they are layed with fake eggs. She will try to brood the fake eggs but will give up once they dont hatch.
 
X2 what GuineaFowling said. You can use her as an incubator but for the sake of the babies' lives you've got to be quick in removing them once they hatch.

Best wishes and good luck.
 
Thank you so much! I appreciate your kindness more than you know! I do have a brooder and I am all set up for handfeeding. :)
 
WrapandSlimYou said:
[COLOR=586CAD][rule][/COLOR]Hello, I am wondering if a hen that pecks and throws her chick across the nest box is likely to do it again with her babies from her next clutch? There was seven eggs and the only fertile one was the last egg laid! We caught Mom and Dad mating the day before the egg hatched. The egg hatched and everything seemed fine. The very next day, in the morning, the hens crop was filled. Later in the day when I went to feed I noticed mom was acting very strange. She started emptying the nest box. I peeked in and baby was on the other side of the nest box bleeding pecked in the belly, face and neck. We took the baby out and tried to save it. Needless to say I was baffled that night. I look in the box as she was sitting on a NEW egg! She now has 3 fertile eggs!! Should I be concerned that she will do it to the new babies? I have heard so many conflicting things. Some people are telling me she is a bad mom and she will do it again. They are also saying to pull the chicks after they hatch! Some are telling me it's unlikely that she will do it again. The budgie eggs are due to hatch next week!!
grbud.gif
Please advise. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Most hens only do that once its rare they do it more than once so give her 3 or 4 chances to prove herself
 
ColesCreek said:
Most hens only do that once its rare they do it more than once so give her 3 or 4 chances to prove herself
Click to expand...

Wrong and incorrect again; you seem to be appearing on every thread I'm on to say the opposite of whatever I say, despite knowing better than some of the claims you make. You're persistently spreading misinformation even when you know without a doubt it's wrong, just like in that other thread where you're trying to convince some person in another country that Australia has no predators. We both know that's not true, they know it's not true, but you keep trying to convince them. To what end?

It's not rare, and most hens that do it once usually repeat it.

Do not take this person's word for it, and waste another three clutches on her, please.
 
ColesCreek please think about what you are typing before you type it. Allowing the bird to attack her first few hatches is by far the most terrible and outrageous thing anyone can do. No, the bird will not stop doing it she will continue until the chicks are dead and then possibly cannibalize them. Any sane and reputable breeder will not breed a bird who attacks her young even if they plan on pulling the chicks. As chooks4life clearly stated, "faults in reproductive behaviors tend to be bred on".
 

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