Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 7/27/2008

Question
My hen & cock had 3 babies hatch from the clutch, June 23, 26, and 29.
The hen began attacking the cock & we had to remove him.
1st baby fledged yesterday-Mom is still doting on him.
2nd fledged this morning & Mom started attacking 2nd fledgling(I think she is
female)
I removed 2nd fledgling to cocks cage. They seem OK together. I hope he will
feed her.
Hen is OK with 1st fledgeling and seems OK with 3rd baby still in nest box.
Did I do right?
What do you think?
Thanks for any advice.
David  

Answer
Hi, David,

I picked up your question from the question pool this morning.

Since these babies are more than 1 month old, they should do just fine with daddy.  Once baby keets fledge and leave the nesting box, daddy keet takes over (while mom goes to nest again).  Daddy keet teaches the offspring how and what to eat, how to maneuver about the cage, etc., etc.  Daddy should feed her, but he will also be teaching her how to eat on her own.  

Yes, you did right by removing dad and the babies!  However, just be aware that daddy still needs to be feeding mom while she is still in the nest with young ones, but I've seen females do just fine in this kind of situation.

I think you need to watch the situation carefully and be ready to move the 3d hatchling.  Mom must be ready to go to nest again and wants the babies out of the nesting box!  

Some females don't like the males in the nesting box either, but if he isn't going in the box, she must have some other reason for picking on him.  Hopefully, they aren't overbreeding.  Sometimes overbreeding can result in the female becoming very "touchy" and/or aggressive.

Chrys