One problem, Two problem...oh boy.

[Susan27]

Well, Del (Delilah) is spending lots of time on the bottom of her's and Sammy's cage (probably for the last week or so). I put my hand in to see if she would move, but instead she charged me. She is VERY hand shy, so I was surprised. Out of all my birds she seems to be the most timid and rarely comes out of her cage. She seems happy to be with Sammy and talk to the others without physical interaction.

When I got them, they were a breeding pair that never produced. I am not sure if their eggs were unfertile, or if they never laid any.

She isn't puffed up, and she does sleep at the top of the cage, and eats and what not. Could she be planning a nesting time, or is it another trip to the vets I must go?:x

[bellarains]

Susan,

It very well could be nestiness. Give her a piece of paper, and see if she starts to strip it with a vengance. Lacey will always strip paper, but when going into nesty mode, it takes on a whole new meaning:lol

Oh, and you may not be able to see it yet, but is the vent enlarged?

I hope this is all it is.

[kimsbirds]

My first instinct says EGG MODE, but you'll have to watch her behaviour in general over the next few days.
My girls pick a corner of their cage bottom, line it with anything they can get their beaks on, sit fluffed up and CHARGE anything that comes remotely close to "their" spot!!!
I let them be, watching their food and water intake, sleep habits, and most of all "POOPINS"!!!
When females are eggy, yes, they are more fiesty, but you should still see them perched occasionally, all peppy and bright, with a fair amount of grooming still going on. What we need to watch for is a definite change in habits as listed above. Constant fluffiness or sleepiness with little or no reaction to you or their mate is a red flag !
UPdate us daily and we can sorta guide you through....but if you see ANYTHING troublesome, don't wait for us, get to the vet !!! Birdie's health is first and foremost, we can wait while you get it taken care of !
Be a good girl, Del !!!

K

[Susan27]

The first thing I did when she charged me, was go and get some paper to see if it is nestiness. LOL I think I will put some newpaper in there, since it was a paper towel I put in.

Oh goodness.....I hope if it is egg time, they won't be fertile. If they are they are, I don't plan on boiling, just let nature run it's course.

I haven't seen her vent up close. I have been looking for any sign of torpedo bottom.

Once again I will keep you guys updated on my lovie events! (well this is two, just waiting to see what the third will be):omg: .

[Kathryn]

Newspaper may or may not have bad inks. And the inks turn the eggs a dull gray.
Might stick with plain white paper to see what Del does with paper.

Sounds nesty to me.

We already have three...three hens on eggs. It was five days before Mollie became torpedo butt and then two more days before she laid her 1st egg...now there are three.

[linda040899]

I haven't seen her vent up close. I have been looking for any sign of torpedo bottom.
You can actually feel if a hen is in laying condition before you see the outline of the first egg. If you gently pick her up (or should I say if you dare to pick her up) and feel between her pelvic bones, a hen in laying condition will have her pelvic bones spread to approximately the distance of your middle finger. The area near her vent will feel soft and swollen. The egg will not be dropping for a couple of days but you will know that there's one on the way! ;)

[DebSpace]

My goodness, gurl, what else you servin at them popcorn partays? I'm a thinkin you might need to start buying your popcorn in 5-gallon containers!:whistle:

[Susan27]

I may DARE to pick her up later today...eek. They actually had a popcorn party last night, well a variation. I put an extra dish with popcorn in everyone's cage...they had their own little private popcorn party. Hope that doesn't put Sam and Del in a romantical mood:omg: !

This morning Sam and Del are both on the bottom of the cage. This just CAN'T be a good sign:x .

[mangotiki]

I am wondering...if you determine that your hen is going to lay should you put in a box right away? (I had one like this...I always new when she was going to lay and there would be an egg within two days of putting the box in).

I just didn't want her laying on the floor, but I don't want to encourage it either. I just thought that if you were sure the egg was coming...

Traci

[Susan27]

I am actually thinking of going out tonight and purchasing an box. I have a small one that I gave to Kiko and Touki when they laid. I want to be able to mount the box on the outside, so I can check easlier. I definitly think she is in laying mode, she is a shredaholic right now.

[Susan27]

Before Chubby's injury I had been playing close attention to Chubby and Checker's behaviour.

A while back I thought I had seen Chubby gacking for Checkers...well it seems that Checkers is the gacker. Checkers also rips paper, but not in strips like Chubby, just rips like beak size pieces. Also Checkers has been chasing Chubby around the bottom of the cage trying to mount her. I don't know if it is because Checkers knows Chubby is hurt, but she(or he) has been constently bringing food up to their cozy for her. She almost tells Checkers to go get it for her.

I am hoping that Checkers has just developed the male-like female actions....I HOPE.

I also felt Chubby's pelvic area (as suggested by Linda to try with Del...yeah right she is achargin' freak). Chubby has a very wide, my middle finger width, pelvic area. I felt Checkers for comparison, and hers seem much much smaller.

Chubby and Checkers are 8month old clutch mates. How bad is it if they do end up producing off spring?

[Kathryn]

I had a similiar question awhile back only it was mom and son. Mom and son only share 1/2 the genetic material and can have problems show up.

Since Chubby and Checkers are siblings, they share the same genetic information...so this isn't good. recessive problems have a greater chance of showing up.

It's much better to breed unrelated birds. If you were breeding for a specific mutation and had experience with breeding, then you can control for what you are seeking....but it's always a risk.

Some with lots more experience will offer input here too.

[Susan27]

Got a nest box for Del and Sam. I just have to figure out how I am going to mount it (project for Dad).

I was (am) hoping that Chubby and Checkers are the same sex (the breeder thought, more like guessed, they were both hens).

It's now a wait and see game. You know, I love surprises, but we will see it that holds after all the laying is finished!

[Susan27]

Ok, as of today the lovies are in their new area in my basement, right beside me while I am on the computer.

Still no eggies for Del and Sam....oh please oh please...no eggs please.

So, why can't I see problems before hand?:roll: They cannot get into the laundry area, nor vents, good good. How did I miss the wires (cables, cords...ick) and that nice exposed fiberglass insulation (not too much, but enough). My roomie says it's like cotton candy for birds (obviously not loving my lovies). SOOO...Dad gets to come over and install some drywall on the ceiling to A)cover that fiberglass and B)cover them cords. He also gets to install a nice big laundry tub in the back room for easier lovie cage cleaning!!

Had to call the 1-800-GotJunk guys to take TONS of stuff away. How do we collect so much useless stuff?...oh well off to charity it goes!

[Buy A Paper Doll]

I am wondering...if you determine that your hen is going to lay should you put in a box right away? (I had one like this...I always new when she was going to lay and there would be an egg within two days of putting the box in).

I just didn't want her laying on the floor, but I don't want to encourage it either. I just thought that if you were sure the egg was coming...

Traci

Traci, I do the same thing you do. When it gets to the point where an egg is going to come with or without the box, all you can do is give her a box and nesting material.