One thing I have found to be helpful, in keeping chicks from being abused by the hen, is to remove the hen from the breeding cage. Sometimes a hen is more interested in returning to the nest to start a new clutch than finishing the clutch she already has.

I have come home, checked a nest box, and found that the hen has destroyed all the chicks. This can be very disheartening, especially when the pair was supposedly going to be the parents of the next "Best in Division".

To save myself from the disgust of removing these injured and dead chicks, I have modified my procedures with breeding pairs. When the chicks are about three weeks old, almost fully feathered and ready to consider getting out of the nest box, I remove the hen. The hen is moved to a non-breeding cage while the cock is left with the chicks to continue feeding them. My experience with this technique has been successful.

Once the chicks are weaned and old enough to be placed in a utility cage, I have the choice of returning the hen to the same cage with the same cock or to a completely different breeding cage with a new partner. As with every experiment, sometimes the hen goes back to nest and raises another round, or she decides she is not interested until another season.

In either case, I am almost guaranteed that the chicks will reach fledgling age.

I avoid moving the cock and the chick to another cage while leaving the hen to start again. Not because of the hen and possible problems, but because of the fact that in a new environment, sometimes the cock will decide not to feed the chicks. This defeats the original purpose of removing a parent.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to send a note to Greg as he is always happy to help.