Checking Eggs,,,?

Can I ask you all is it the hens that hit you with their wings when checking on the nest/eggs I have noticed this in a few of my birds and the other birds dont seem to mind you looking in and checking them.
Also how often do you check the nest/eggs once they have laid the 2 eggs?
Thanks for your help  
Tony

hi tony, as you say sometimes the parents let you check the eggs, but I would say if they attack you defending the nest/eggs, then it could be either a cock or a hen......also personally once the eggs are laid I never touch eggs or check them, I just leave the parents/eggs alone until the ybs hatch and are approx. 7 days old to ring them.

I know some people do check the eggs after approx. a week by holding them up to the light to see if they are fertile, but I don't bother, I don't see the point in disturbing them......JMO

Again David thanks for the info mate, I think now I will stop checking them and just let them get on with it but I always want to have a look to see how their doing, do you write any info down to keep a check on the dates laid or hatching should I be doing this ?  
Tony

David wrote:

hi tony, as you say sometimes the parents let you check the eggs, but I would say if they attack you defending the nest/eggs, then it could be either a cock or a hen......also personally once the eggs are laid I never touch eggs or check them, I just leave the parents/eggs alone until the ybs hatch and are approx. 7 days old to ring them.

I know some people do check the eggs after approx. a week by holding them up to the light to see if they are fertile, but I don't bother, I don't see the point in disturbing them......JMO

good practice David but I do check old stock birds at 8 dys old in case they aint filled other wise just left as David says

sean

we check all eggs at 12 days after being layed if not full we take the eggs out

Thanks for all your help and tips with checking the eggs even people who have been involved in pigeons for a number of years do thing their own way which works for them so I will use some of your tips to help me along,
Thanks again  
Tony

morning tony, as you can see opinions do differ from person to person, but I think most will agree that the least amount of disturbance the better...........  

David wrote:

morning tony, as you can see opinions do differ from person to person, but I think most will agree that the least amount of disturbance the better...........  

Good morning David, Yes I think your right there mate am nowwoundring if me looking in to many time is the course of the problem with the young birds not surviving early on. But from now on I will keep my checking to a minimum if I can stop myself from looking  
Tony

in answer to your question re notes tony......yes I think it is a good idea to make notes as to when the eggs are laid and when they hatch....this will maybe help you to keep your checking to a minimum.

the second egg is laid a day apart from the first egg, for example if the 1st egg is laid on the 10th feb, then the second will be laid on the 12th feb.......an I always count 19 days from when the 1st egg is laid to them both hatching, I know some do work on 18 days etc but I stick to 19 because they don't actually incubate until the 2nd egg is laid, they just cover it.

ive usually found that when the ybs are ready to ring the parents seem to a bit more relaxed about coming off the nest, so this means you can see them without actually pushing the parent off the nest to look.

as a rough guide to ringing do it around 6, 7, or maybe 8 days at the most depending on the size of the ybs as some grow quicker then others....  

Again David thanks for the info you have given me so far every little helps I have noticed when I 1st put the ring on th chick the next day it was off then the same the next day but finaly got it to stay on  
They are very good tips and I will now start using them I'll be getting myself a knote book and start putting dates of laying and due date of hatching (19 days on) then the ring date 6/7 days from there.
I'll also put the breeding pair ring numbers down too so I know where each chich has come from to help me out.
  David,
Tony

(good practice David but I do check old stock birds at 8 dys old in case they aint filled other wise just left as David says) SEANL

Hi Sean, how can you tell if the egg if filled, is it just by holding it up to the light???
If its not filled after 8 days how will I know this??
Cheers,
Tony

Hi All, just a update, 4 week old chick is coming on realy well made up with it and its progress so far, the Hen (mother) has laid 2 eggs in the same nest but all fine upto now.
The other eggs are now starting to hatch out I stoped checking on them but had a little look at all 5 nest pans today, 1 chick has hatched out looks like either yesterday or today others with fingers crossed should start hatching out all this week. I AM A VERY HAPPY MAN      
Tony

excellent news tony, you can usually take a quick look if/when the parents are fed......sometimes they will leave them just for a minute which is enough time just to glance at them to check if they are all ok... other than that, usually when they are around 7 days old and ready to ring, the parents tend to leave them a little longer to feed etc...so as you can see there are plenty of oppertunities to take a look without actually disturbing them    

Spot on David things are starting to look up mate but I think I have to THANK ALL on this site for the help and tips over the last few weeks helping me with the breeding of my birds I had to sit on my hand for a bit of late after what you all said but it has worked well for me so again a VERY BIG THANK YOU TO ALL ON THE SITE    
Tony

Moring all, just another up date, I now have 2 chicks in 1 nest pan, 1 chick in another, 1 chick from the nest on the floor, 2 eggs but should hatch out tomorrow in another and the eggs with the 4 week old chick in are all fine.
Looking good so far,
Tony

coming on nicely now tony, just make sure the parents have plenty of food and water .........I feed 3 times a day when I have ybs in the nest but some hopper feed (which is food always available) but this is down to what suits you.

apart from you ringing them approx. 7 days old, the parents will do the rest......  

Thanks David I will have plenty of food and water mate thanks again for all your help,
Tony