frustrated

[Sue55]

I'm not sure if I'm posting correctly on here. I am grateful for the opinions and answers that I have received from the questions I have asked. But I'm really just getting confused.
I need to know if the female can raise the babies on her own if the male is removed from the cage. Is it okay to remove the male from the cage and leave mom to raise the babies on her own?
In one post it was said that because the male is plucking all the feathers off the female that it's okay to remove him and the mom will take over all care of the babies.
another post said that both parents need to care for the babies so don't remove him yet.

The female is soooo bald, I think the male is a bully. Ive witnessed chasing in the cage although I don't know who is starting it. As soon I go hear it I look but they stop when I get there. The eggs have hatched and the babies are very new. I have removed the male to a separate cage, but put it beside the mom and babies cage.

My birds seem to talk to me, crazy as it sounds. Mom asks me for more boiled egg mix and meeps at me, she likes when I answer. The male sits on the perch and looks at me too, he sings to me. I'm not a crazy bird lady, I swear!. they do this.
Now, since removing the male, I'm not sure if the female is relieved or stressed. She seems relieved to me, she ate and drank as soon as he was removed. She is sitting in the nest still and I do hear the babies noises. (so cute)

The male is pissed at me and he lets me know it. He was a good dad to the babies but poor mom, I felt bad for her.

Did I do the right thing? I think the male has been picking on her since they met. He's a good looking guy too, can't tell about mom, she looks like a plucked chicken. picture one of those toy rubber chickens that beep but with feathers on the wings and head, and tail.


Sue55

[lovezebs]

Sue55

Hi Sue...

I sure got a chuckle out of your post, lol.

I think you did right to remove this particular bully plucker he bird.

With an average sized clutch 5 or 6 eggs or less, Mom should be fine feeding the kids on her own (as long as there is enough food available).

Heaven knows why this guy is plucking the Mrs bald. Maybe he likes the rubber chicken look. If he is an habitual plucker, then he might start plucking the kids too once they would feather up. He might be wanting to mate again, and he sees the as a method of persuasion, so he's better off out of the picture for a while ( in my opinion).

Good luck, and keep the eggfood and spray millet coming.

[Sue55]

Thank you. I sure hope it's the right thing to do. It's been a couple days, the babies are still kicking cause I hear them, so I guess she's feeding them on her own okay. I see she's eating, that's a good thing.
If I could figure out how to post a pic, I would send one of Mrs. Plucked Chicken.
I've seen the male breed with her even when they had eggs. I think he just like to have sex.

Now, how long will it take for her feathers to grow back.

I'm also wondering if he will always have to be on his own. I got him from my son, and he was alone for awhile, he seemed to be fine with it. He does seem to love his babies though. When they are making noises, I can see he wants to be in there.

Sue55

[lovezebs]

Sue55

Her feathers should start growing back in a few weeks. At first you will see tiny pin feathers poking through,, then she will start getting fuzzy, then she will get her feathers back.

Regarding Mr., I would leave him where he is for now. He will be fine seeing and hearing his family.

[ac12]

I had a situation like that with a pair of zebras.
The M had plucked the F, BADLY. Because the F was in the nest most of the time, I had not seen how badly she was plucked.
I removed the F, so she could grow back her feathers in peace, without the stress of feeding chicks.

But then the M started plucking the fledglings.
So OUT he came, and I put the F back in with the chicks.
The F took care of the chicks just fine.

I mated them again, and as soon as I saw him plucking, OUT he came, and I stopped breeding him.

[ac12]

Sue

Feed the hen LOTS of chopped hard boiled egg.
It will help her grow back her feathers, and it is good for the chicks also.