Peckedhen

Thanks Tammy 1. I'll go right now and give it a try.

I have a hen who laid on the loft floor two days ago. I decided to let her stay there and popped the egg into a nest bowl. Today she has laid her second egg in her nestbox but just on the floor, even though there was an empty nest bowl there. I've put the floor egg with it and placed both into a bowl exactly where it was laid but, neither the hen nor the cock are sitting on it. Might they sit on them later? I do have some fantails which laid about four/five days ago, they're on plastic eggs now - should I put the eggs under them or wait and see if the hen goes on the eggs? :-/

Getting bearings. Westy, your young bird is the one perching at the top of the sputnik. It must have scrambled up there because it's the only one that can't fly yet! Guess it's a slow learner! ;D

Perk, I am very sorry about your wife. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Sue

Coming on well Westy. Still not weaned but going in sputnik for a look around and onto landing board to trap back in. I'll post another photo of 'your' baby soon.

Well, fed them last night in the basket, threw in a few grains this morning and in they went!! I've had them eating bits of peanuts from my hands this afternoon but they are very wary of me! I think that I may have missed it with the next round too. :B I've handled them gently from 10 days onwards, I offer them food from my hand and, although they see their parents taking it, they are still scared of me and try to get away. I don't know about a woman's touch.......when my fancier friend comes in the loft it is totally different, he can put his hand into the nest and the birds just accept it - I get pecked and wing slapped! He catches the birds straight off the perches - I think it's a knack (or his 60 years experience). I have a long, long way to go but, with all you guy's help I'll get there!!

Thanks Joe90. Windows sorted now have put ventilation thingies in.

Another amazing thing - young birds out on the ground for the first time see a Kestrel and 'know' it's no threat. A Sparrowhawk flies over - same size, same profile, and they scatter! What went wrong with the instinct when I moved a nestbowl only six inches across the nestbox with the hen sitting tight on eggs.....only to find the next morning she'd abandoned them? :'(

Thanks everyone for your views. Diamond Dave, I have, today, got an aluminium training basket (thanks to Shadow) which will fit up against the sputnik, as you describe, so I can now basket them without having to catch them, I can even close the flap from in the sputnik!. However, I'm going to take Jimmy's advice too re taming the birds. Thanks again guys. :K)

One of mine had Bumblefoot. Saw avian vet - needed Baytrill for two weeks but not sure of dose. The bumps are still there but, apparently the meds stop the infection getting into tendons and bone.

Thanks Jimmy, that all makes a lot of sense. I don't know if it's too late with my first round but I'll certainly apply all this with the ones I'm about to wean. Linda - I can see where you're coming from but, even if I handle the birds, I don't know what I'm feeling for and, they are getting very stressed with me trying to catch them! I hadn't realised how much so, until a fancier called to stamp them for me and noted all the feathers on the loft floor and asked if it was me catching them that had pulled them out!! :B :B

A homemade sputnik.

Thanks very much Speedbird. :K)

Hi, I wonder if you would kind enough to tell me a bit more about getting the birds to basket themselves? I have real problems catching the birds.....I've only three out at the moment so it's not so bad but, I can see, as I get more, this is going to become very time consuming, not to mention stressful! I've got another six ready for weaning now and I want to get it right this time! Thanks Sue

Okay. Some cheaper dovecotes are just one big hollow inside, I wondered if that was the problem. I can't really think of anything else - maybe some of the more experienced members can help. Oh, one thought - you don't keep cleaning out do you? I know it gets very messy inside but, once mine laid, I left them to it till the squabs were two weeks old. After all, the ferals don't get cleaned out and they seem to manage fine!! ;D

Do you have some nesting material in the dovecote? I have wood shavings with straw on top. I pushed a piece of turf in once the eggs were laid to hold them up in the back of the compartment. They hatched no problem. Do you have separate compartments for each pair of birds?

Is there an advantage in early weaning? I was told to move them when the tails are as long as my thumb! :-/ :-/

I just want to say a big thank you to Shadow who has very generously given me a training crate :K) :K) Some of you speak of fanciers being mean, I have to say that I have found the complete opposite....total strangers, well notr exactly total, but certainly no more than a name on a forum, generously giving their time, knowledge and goods. Several of you answer my questions, Ted phones with support, Westy and Snowy gave me two young Logans. I just want to thank everyone on this forum and Richard for running it. :K). I really appreciate all the help I've been given. Once again Shadow thank you. Sue

I think it's bad luck that comes in threes! I'm sorry about your losses - look on the bright side though....things can only get better now! I think that good luck is on my side so far....seeing as I only have three young birds out, don't know what I'm doing and have managed not to loose any yet!! :

The 'chicks' are just adorable. (Psst, BTW, the guys on here call them 'squabs'! ;D)

Photo please, when it's up!! ;D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNIE. Hope you had a great day sweetheart. Love Auntie Sue :K)

Goes without saying Speckled......Much Ado About Nothing!!

Lovely photos Jason - and your birds look so tame!

Hi Mark, Wishing you soon out of pain and mobile again. Sue