My first zebra finch pair layed an egg yesterday. Im new to finches... so I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens. I read that the hen is suppose to lay a few( one a day?) more before she starts to incubate them. I guess the male takes a few turns sitting also. I think I will try that calci dusted meal worm that was mention by someone here? The other pair has not started laying. They might be too young?
They will lay one a day. The clutch sizes of the one laying pair that I have range from 5 to 6 eggs. Both times only 3 eggs have hatched. The hen seems to start sitting on them around the time the 4th egg has been layed. Both parents will take turns sitting. I also have more pairs set up that have not started laying.
Why would a "troll" write a post in detail about her Finches? You obviously dont understand the word troll. My login name is rottenburg.... I have just as much right to have that name as you have to have yours. you poor little girl....
Oh yes, that's exactly it, I'm down on my knees begging some imaginary being that you're rose. Sorry, but you don't occupy that much of my time, although, just by looking at your post history, we can all see that your time was investing solely in following me around.
So far my finch hen still only has one egg? its been 3 days. Do you think I freaked her out by taking the nest out to look inside? She is not sitting on it all the time only for sleep and naps. Should I leave it in there for the 2 weeks just to see? I have a finch breeder in my neighborhood I can ask... I just dont have the time for a long drawn out convo. right now.
Posts: 165 | Location (City, State): Al | Registered: Fri January 30 2004
I would just leave it. She may go back to laying more eggs. And try not to disturb her. Try placing the nest in the cage is such a way as you can see in it without moving the nest.
The only dumb question is the one that goes UNASKED!!!!
Posts: 2432 | Location (City, State): Pennsylvania | Registered: Sat March 27 2004
quote:Originally posted by RottenBurg: So far my finch hen still only has one egg? its been 3 days. Do you think I freaked her out by taking the nest out to look inside? She is not sitting on it all the time only for sleep and naps. Should I leave it in there for the 2 weeks just to see? I have a finch breeder in my neighborhood I can ask... I just dont have the time for a long drawn out convo. right now.
Finches usually will not touch the eggs once the nest has been removed, most birds are very fussy about that. Or the eggs might have been infertile.
Official "Timette"™ Luv ya TIMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!
Posts: 5676 | Location (City, State): Physically here, but left my heart in LA | Registered: Sun February 15 2004
From what I've learned, unless your finches are VERY used to you putting your hands into or entering their cage(if you're lucky enough to have a flight cage) they will definitely be freaked out by your removing their nest. This may cause her to stop laying-hopefully it will be temporary. They can "store" sperm for up to 16 days in their tract, so if your positive she's mated (they will lay infertile eggs for no apparent reason)there's a good chance that she will begin laying again once she relaxes. Try to disturb the nest as little as possible-and definitely try not to handle the eggs-if you must be sure your hands are clean-they are easily contaminated. Mine are very accepting of personal intrusions-and ahev accepted an egg previously abandoned by another pair which I carefully transplanted to their nest. They actually flock to the front of the cage when I approach-I converse with them multiple times a day, even when I'm not changing food or water, just to be sure that they're used to human attention.Of course, my children talk to them often too, along with my husband, so they're quite used to human attention-and if we've gone too long without approaching them they now come to the from of the cage and "call" until someone responds! Then they "speak" whatever is on their minds and return to nest, eating, swinging, whatever.Good luck!