Raging hen
Posted: 09 Mar 2023, 18:53
Situation: large cage with single pair with two nests of which to choose (one black plastic Hagen and one wooden) same height. Cage in spare room undisturbed, enclosed except for front. Yellow back red head male and yellow back orange head female both 9 months old, first clutch of 4 eggs laid in Hagen nest.
Both parents incubated faithfully (first egg observed Feb 18), serious incubating started Feb 23) and hatch predicted March 12-15. Our family is practicing NO-STICKY-BEAK behavior with only mom allowed to quickly peek one time when incubating starts (no touching or disturbing nests). Nest last checked Feb 24.
Couple got along nicely both eating well with good parental behaviors. Until two days ago ...
We record our finches and group-discuss after watching clips of them so we all know how they are doing and the hen (Buttercup) attacked the male (Wesley) - SERIOUSLY chased him and bit him and feathers flew. This happened repeatedly throughout the day and she will not let him even near the nest!
So today my mom peaked in - we thought maybe eggs hatched early and she was being overly-protective but no, still eggs only but ... only two eggs - two eggs are gone. The cage has plexiglass across the base in front (16" high) so the eggs couldn't have fallen out. We think he ate them! She attacks him then goes back into the nest. She finally came out today to eat and he was freaking out at her and went into the nest and she attacked him immediately again and feathers flew.
We don't know if we should split the cage in half and keep him away from her. Later today, she let him eat next to her but after they ate, she attacked him again and then fanatically went back into the nest while he freaks out - paces outside the nest and keeps trying to get in.
WHEW! It exhausts us just watching them and it can't be good for either of them. But they are due to hatch and won't the babies need both parents to feed them? We've read that sometimes the single parent handles it but does this kind of squabble sound common? No blood on either one of them and no bald patches but feathers do come out. Ideas please!
Both parents incubated faithfully (first egg observed Feb 18), serious incubating started Feb 23) and hatch predicted March 12-15. Our family is practicing NO-STICKY-BEAK behavior with only mom allowed to quickly peek one time when incubating starts (no touching or disturbing nests). Nest last checked Feb 24.
Couple got along nicely both eating well with good parental behaviors. Until two days ago ...
We record our finches and group-discuss after watching clips of them so we all know how they are doing and the hen (Buttercup) attacked the male (Wesley) - SERIOUSLY chased him and bit him and feathers flew. This happened repeatedly throughout the day and she will not let him even near the nest!
So today my mom peaked in - we thought maybe eggs hatched early and she was being overly-protective but no, still eggs only but ... only two eggs - two eggs are gone. The cage has plexiglass across the base in front (16" high) so the eggs couldn't have fallen out. We think he ate them! She attacks him then goes back into the nest. She finally came out today to eat and he was freaking out at her and went into the nest and she attacked him immediately again and feathers flew.
We don't know if we should split the cage in half and keep him away from her. Later today, she let him eat next to her but after they ate, she attacked him again and then fanatically went back into the nest while he freaks out - paces outside the nest and keeps trying to get in.
WHEW! It exhausts us just watching them and it can't be good for either of them. But they are due to hatch and won't the babies need both parents to feed them? We've read that sometimes the single parent handles it but does this kind of squabble sound common? No blood on either one of them and no bald patches but feathers do come out. Ideas please!