Heron
Meeting neighbors
First question—this is my first experience with budgie chicks and a pair. I have a pair of budgies who have 4 chicks in the nest box. This is their first clutch. The female will not let the male near the nest box. She chases him away to the point where I leave the cage door open whenever I’m home so he can get out and not be constantly harassed. when I do have to be out of the house I now put him in an adjacent cage. he is very curious about the chicks in the box and trys to sit on top of the box or nearby. But the hen can be relentless about chasing him away Even though the box mounts on the outside of the cage and he’s just sitting on the top. He will also try and look in the box from the hole and she won’t allow that. He’s never seen the chicks but obviously can hear them. Is this in the realm of normal hen behavior? The chicks are a 2 1/2 weeks old now. doesn’t the male help feed chicks when they are around 3-4 weeks old? What to do if the hen won’t allow the male to participate?
Second question—- the hen laid 9 eggs total—7 fertilized eggs, there was a big gap between the first 3 hatching and the next 4. I took the first 3 to a woman who hand feeds babies when they were 3 weeks old. seven was too much for my hen, this is her first clutch. She is taking very good care of the remaining 4. originally I was going to have all the chicks go to the woman who will hand feed and she wants them. But I am considering keeping 2 of the 4 and co-parenting. As the hen is doing fine with these 4, if I take 2 out am I taking a risk that the hen will abandon the remaining 2. I’ve been told that it is risky removing 2. Actually I was told removing the first 3 posed a risk of abandonment but Jade, the hen was fine ( actually seemed relieved). She’s been a superb mom.
if I keep two to co-parent I have no idea how the male will be.
this is all new to me ( and the budgies) it was surprising that they mated as for a long while the hen barely tolerated the male and they had separate cages but spent out of cage time together. It’s only since they had eggs in a box that they’ve slept in the same cage. sometimes they choose to sleep in separate cages now too. well the hen chases the male out so he sleeps in a separate cage.
that’s a lot I know. I’m hoping for some advice from folks who have pairs and experience with babies etc... ohh both of these birds came to me as hand fed babies. the hen is about 2 yrs old and the male is about 3 months younger.
Second question—- the hen laid 9 eggs total—7 fertilized eggs, there was a big gap between the first 3 hatching and the next 4. I took the first 3 to a woman who hand feeds babies when they were 3 weeks old. seven was too much for my hen, this is her first clutch. She is taking very good care of the remaining 4. originally I was going to have all the chicks go to the woman who will hand feed and she wants them. But I am considering keeping 2 of the 4 and co-parenting. As the hen is doing fine with these 4, if I take 2 out am I taking a risk that the hen will abandon the remaining 2. I’ve been told that it is risky removing 2. Actually I was told removing the first 3 posed a risk of abandonment but Jade, the hen was fine ( actually seemed relieved). She’s been a superb mom.
if I keep two to co-parent I have no idea how the male will be.
this is all new to me ( and the budgies) it was surprising that they mated as for a long while the hen barely tolerated the male and they had separate cages but spent out of cage time together. It’s only since they had eggs in a box that they’ve slept in the same cage. sometimes they choose to sleep in separate cages now too. well the hen chases the male out so he sleeps in a separate cage.
that’s a lot I know. I’m hoping for some advice from folks who have pairs and experience with babies etc... ohh both of these birds came to me as hand fed babies. the hen is about 2 yrs old and the male is about 3 months younger.
Is it possible he’s not the dad? Do you have other budgies or did you recently get the hen?
