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Post by Jane on Sept 19, 2006 9:08:14 GMT 10
My red rump hen sat on her eggs for three days but then last night stayed out.
Am I right in thinking the eggs will be dead now?
This is the confused pair, would it help if I took the box away for say 2 weeks then let them start again?
Thanks.
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Post by AussieBirds on Sept 19, 2006 12:51:25 GMT 10
No the eggs are not dead at all, depending on the number of eggs she has will determine when she starts to incubate full time. If she has laid three eggs then she should start sitting full time very shortly, just be patient at the moment if it their first time breeding they will a little nervous.
John
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Post by Jane on Sept 19, 2006 13:08:27 GMT 10
Thanks John, This is my first year with red rumps so I'm learning as I go. I have a silver opaline hen sitting so tight I haven't seen her out of the box in about 10 days now. I just worried about this pair mucking around but I'll give them time to settle into their routine.
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Post by silvercloud on Sept 19, 2006 19:58:38 GMT 10
Most hens don't sit til they've layed the whole clutch, she may have more eggs to lay. Good luck with them.  |
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Post by Jane on Sept 21, 2006 16:01:06 GMT 10
Thanks, She has now sat the last 2 days. The cock spend more time inside with her than any of my other birds but maybe they are now settling in. I'll report progress...
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Post by vankarhi on Oct 3, 2006 21:16:47 GMT 10
sounds promicing  |
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Post by Jane on Oct 3, 2006 21:32:57 GMT 10
No they were still mucking around on Sunday she hadn't stayed in for 10 days and he has nearly plucked all the feathers off her head so I gave up and put them back out to the big aviary to give the hen a break. I might try them with different partners next time. I was told that a more experienced hen would not put up with the cock kicking her out of the nest. (Good excuse to buy more birds)
On a more postive note my blue opaline cock and silver opaline hen have a chick hatched!!!!!
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Post by silvercloud on Oct 4, 2006 11:18:58 GMT 10
Thats a shame. I hope things work out better next time.
Thats wonderful about the new chick.
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Post by vankarhi on Oct 4, 2006 15:13:44 GMT 10
That is not good.............but a positive with the baby chick from another pair.
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Post by AussieBirds on Oct 4, 2006 19:10:39 GMT 10
Actually what you describe is very unusual for red rumps they are usually the most loving partners you can find and if there is any plucking done it is usually the other way around, the hen does the plucking, it sounds to me like the cock is feeling his oats a bit and wanted to mate with the hen again. Is this the first time you have had this pair together and is it the first time mating for them?
John
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Post by Jane on Oct 4, 2006 19:34:26 GMT 10
Well this is their first season together, the cock is 3 years and I was told he had fathered chicks before. The hen laid 6 eggs last year and sat very tight until I took the box away at 40 days (no chicks) with another cock. The hen was just over 12 months at the time so I thought the eggs might not have hatched because she was too young.
Interesting to learn that about the plucking Thanks John, maybe this cock is just too fiery which is why he won't let her settle.
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Post by AussieBirds on Oct 4, 2006 19:44:53 GMT 10
I had a hen that did the very same thing this year and it was her first season, I would suggest putting her with a different mate next season, what you do with the cock is a worry but maybe he will settle down with a different partner.
John
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Post by Jane on Oct 4, 2006 20:12:20 GMT 10
Thanks, I will look for another partner for the hen. she is a lovely opaline hen who is very tolerant of my inspections,
The cock might need to be added to the 'birds not allowed to breed' avairy with no boxes. The no breeding aviary sounds good in theory but mother nature is a powerful force, two of my handreared 'tiels set up nest with eggs under a log I had for quails this week. They are brother and sister however so I turfed the eggs and took the hen out.
Thanks for the help.
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