It will be helpful if you make her leave the nest when she's just spending time in there and not feeding the babies. If she feels too safe and relaxed inside the nest she will be more likely to lay eggs. You don't want her to think that it's a place where she's free to spend as much time as she likes.

She won't realize the breeding box is going away because she's a bird, not a person. That's what I was referring to. As for shutting down the baby making factory, well Diane's poor Emma does keep laying eggs but there aren't any babies. Constant eggs is one issue, constant eggs resulting in babies is another, much larger issue. Even if your situation changed to just having clutch after clutch of infertile eggs, I would think that would be an improvement to your current situation of clutch after clutch of fertile eggs, you know?

I so did not want this to come out argumentative or rude or anything and I'm sorry if it has. I am sincerely trying to be helpful because to my perspective, based purely on your posts, is that your situation is not under control and with each clutch, the chaos and complexity of the situation grows exponentially.

I'm hoping that things work out this time and you're able to find nice homes for the ones you want to give away, etc. I think starting with the DNA test kits (here's a link to a site I just googled right this very second: http://www.healthgene.com/avian-dna-testing/1306/) would be a step in the right direction of you taking control of this situation that's a little bonkers right now with dad doing his thing and mom doing her thing and older babies doing their silly things and younger babies doing their growing thing and you doing your school stuff and your kiddo wanting clean clothes in the morning and so on and so forth.

she attacks and bites but I forced her out. She comes back though as soon as I am not watching her. I even had to lock her in the large cage but the cock then freezes in suspicion and not feeding anybody.
I was shocked to see today that the youngest baby is missing patch of feathers on the back of his head! Head is BOLD in that place!!! I am assuming that the mom is plucking him? (he was the one staying inside the box when she was sitting there) I wouldn't think it was the dad. I didn't find a bunch of feathers in the box, as I expected. Will feathers grow back??? probably the last night for the nestbox. Its taken down for the whole day

thanks you! this helps!

box that is not there permanently doesn't give the bird confidence in safe breeding place. I think this is the reason we still don't have any new eggs.
Suppose you are a bird in the forest who just made a very cool nest on a cool tree. Then something happened and the tree was cut down and even removed from the site. Are you going to have your babies right now? MAybe later, when you find another cool tree and make a good nest.

Its amazing how different our parents are! I remember hard times when the babies were born when the hen was with them all night, them she would go eat and feed them again basically the whole day when the father was not doing his job right. I thought, Poor Cuddles... But always when the chicks are about 3-4 weeks old, she reduces her feeding to the minimum leaving all the responsibilities to the cock... They both are being good parents, but at different times, looks like they taking turns

I thought I have mentioned that appearance of the babies from (even fertile) eggs is entirely up to the breeder, and I explained how came the last time that I allowed it.

Sorry, this is has become too angsty which was not my intent. I with you the best of luck.

I am apologizing if I hurt your feelings, Cloudy skies.

I think I know what happening. Hen kept getting into the box, the younger baby was still there. Then, at some point, I saw that somebody else is in the box. Mom was there with her tail up, with the youngest naive baby, and the father was doing something to him that could be preening but I think he is the plucker, and it happens just because the youngest stay there. I kicked all of them out and took the box away. NOw I am concerned about his feathers.