TheGame
744 posts
May 15, 2010
2:45 PM
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I have a cock bird that took over a nest box with squabs in it from another pair. Any ideas or suggestions what do to? I dont think the cock bird is hurting the babies but he already has 1 of his own that he should be taking care of... The main pair is trying to fight back but seems to not be a match for this cock bird.
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1774 posts
May 15, 2010
3:37 PM
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Game, I have not seen your setup but it sounds as if the nest box door is to big for the nesting cock to defend. This is going to be a can of worms but I have grabbed an aggressive cock and tossed it into the corner. NOT hard enough to hurt it, but VERY fast and it thinks it got his a.. kicked by the defending cock. He does not blame you and sometimes decides it is best to leave the other bird alone.
Thom
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fresnobirdman
667 posts
May 15, 2010
4:52 PM
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i liike you thinking oldfart.
-fou
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rookie from ct
GOLD MEMBER
278 posts
May 15, 2010
6:43 PM
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oldfart is right give that cock a taste of his own medicine and if it don't work take him right out of the loft for the day Dennis
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TheGame
745 posts
May 15, 2010
6:49 PM
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If I remove the cock will the hen he was originally paired up with continue to feed their young? I might just take him and put him in another section of the loft.
Also what do you do to prevent your birds from nesting and laying eggs on the ground?
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kham89
315 posts
May 15, 2010
8:35 PM
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shiv you need to make them enough nest box lol...jus like humans if you cant have the bed the floor is the best options lol
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Kham Thao
N C R C
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fhtfire
2533 posts
May 15, 2010
9:47 PM
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If your cock has two bands on his legs...make a set of shackles....Take a piece of string (strong) and tie them to each band..just long enough for the bird barely walk.....just long enough to where the bastard cant post a leg for leverage.....then throw him in with that cock and let him get his tail whooped...then remove the shackles...it wont take long.
iF your bird does not have two bands...make a set out of clip on or spiral bands. I have a set pre-made just in case.
I also do what Thom does...I let them fight a little and then when the bad cock lets his wing poke out..I yank him out of the box with force...but not enough to hurt the bird but enough to think that he just got a fore arm shiver....a couple times being tossed to the floor and he will give up.
Have had an open loft for about 5 years now and would never go back.
One thing I do to keep cocks from fighting.....I always leave them in there boxes during the winter and only pull the hens......cuts down on fighting.
rock and ROLL
Paul
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Scott
3035 posts
May 16, 2010
9:31 AM
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He will just make more strong and aggressive cocks .. of which I certainly dont want in the kit boxes either.
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Scott Campbell
" God Bless "
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fhtfire
2534 posts
May 16, 2010
12:47 PM
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Scott Excellent point...I myself do not like aggressive cocks...I have culled aggressive cocks that rolled like gang busters...but they were to cocky...
rock and ROLL
Paul
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gentle johnnie
163 posts
May 16, 2010
6:52 PM
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Shackles work great unless he has squabs in his nest box if he goes back to his box may strangle babies had that happen twice just be carefull with them. I also don't like aggressive cocks culled mine after first year as feeder.
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Gentle Johnnie "Angels of the Sky Loft"
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katyroller
730 posts
May 16, 2010
8:45 PM
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I agree that trouble birds don't belong in the breeding loft. I want my breeders thinking about raising young not fighting. I like to put my squeeks on the loft floor at an early age and don't need an aggressive cock scalping them. I also hate weak cocks that won't fight for their nest box. Make sure your pairs have nest boxes large enough to have two nest bowls or an extra nest box. Hens that nest on the floor,lock them in the nest box until they lay the second egg. Make sure the door for the nest boxes, is only wide enough for one bird to get through and small enough for only one bird to perch on when the door is opened. I don't have perches in my breeder because I want the hen in the box and the cock perched on the door guarding the box.
Good Luck
Last Edited by on May 16, 2010 9:05 PM
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polarbear
100 posts
May 16, 2010
9:00 PM
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If you have the option, try using individual breeding cages. I have had the same problem at times in a open loft.
Having some extra space i went to individuals and love them, no fighting and the offspring are guarenteed as to who the parents are.
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TheGame
746 posts
May 17, 2010
1:58 PM
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I isolated the aggressive cock...hopefully after a few days everything will be fine.
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pigeon pete
539 posts
May 19, 2010
1:49 PM
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This year I had a squeek that adopted the pair in the next box.
They didn't scalp him and would feed him, although they also had 10 day old youngsters of their own.
Every time I looked in he was sitting the younger birds.
after 2 days of putting him back in his own box I decided to wean him a bit early and took him away so the other young didn't go short.
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TheGame
747 posts
May 19, 2010
4:37 PM
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After isolating for a few days and then continously throwing him out of the wrong box he started going back to his own. Hopefully it will stay this way.
Thanks for the help all!
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