Eggs

Egg · Post by **Egg** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 10:21 pm

Original nickname, huh? lol...well, hello all! I guess this is pretty straight to the point, but let me say I really do adore finches and canaries too. They are sweet little birds who have won a place in my heart. I was wondering if anyone here has eggs that are infertile...because I love eggs and would like to collect some finch eggs for my little egg collection. So far I have two cockatiel eggs and a cockatoo egg too!

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 2:23 am

Where do you live? I'm constantly tossing out eggs that I don't want....

Egg · Post by **Egg** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 4:06 am

Sweet! I am located in Missouri. Could you post them?

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:12 am

Missouri? What do you mean post them? Like a picture?

Why are you collecting them?

Post by **Sally** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:06 am

Do you mean mail them, Egg? Finch eggs are so fragile, it would be pretty hard to ship them, I would think. They could go in a priority box, with lots of soft padding all around, with none of the eggs touching any other, and it still would be iffy.

Egg · Post by **Egg** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:27 am

Sorry! By post I meant mail.

I understand some might break, and it's alright! I bet if you wrapped each one in a ball of tissue, that would do a great job projecting them sense they would never hit each other. And a sturdy box of course marked "delicate"

I have just loved eggs sense I was a child, Easter is my favorite holiday because you can buy so many neat egg things and decorate them! Though I do this anytime of year.

I decided it would be fun to collect different eggs, and as a lover of miniatures as well, finch eggs caught my attention quickly because they are SOOO tiny! I have this cute idea of making a jar-nest, by taking a tiny candle jar, making a faux nest on the bottom and setting the finch eggs on that to display. If I could get lots of finch eggs I would look into craft projects, but I am not counting my chickens before they hatch...haha!

Anyway, if anyone wants to post some to me, I would be thrilled. If you are uncomfortable, I understand and woulden't want you to do that if you don't feel right about it. I know I can't legaly collect wild bird eggs, so ive turned to pet bird eggs!

rottielover · Post by **rottielover** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 2:58 pm

I'm in St. Louis, but I'm curious as to why you would want "real" eggs for your craft projects when you can go to any craft/hobby store and get plastic eggs the same size cheap?

Real eggs could break and you'd get this terrible smelling fluid all over the place. Of course the old term "rotten egg" didn't come about for no reason...

I'm not trying to quash your idea, I just think you'd be much better served making crafts out of plastic or wooden eggs since those will last much longer.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:56 am

I agree with Rottie... if you are wanting to make some sort of nest/egg project, you could just use plastic eggs:

http://www.justbirdstuff.com/product.ph ... t=0&page=2

You can buy them there

If you are trying to see how many "real" eggs you can collect, I suppose you could do that too. However, they do tend to turn gross colors and smell.

I remember I once wanted to do a craft type project where I took rose leaf petals and filled a vase with them, and they just got all moldly! I was upset and it was gross.

Egg · Post by **Egg** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:34 pm

Plastic eggs are not as special as real eggs. It's like buying glass instead of gemstones, or plastic plants instead of real ones. Sure the glass "gems" are less expensive, and the plastic plants won't die, but there would just be something missing. I find if I do it just right, the yolk inside simply dries up and I am left with a clean, non-smelly egg. I have done this with my two cockatiel eggs, and the people who gave me my cockatoo egg did the same with theirs, it even has a wee crack and it's fine. I supose if the egg got wet it might stink, but I am careful with them and keep them in glass containers, such as the jar-nest I mentioned to protect them. They have a metal clasp and rubber seal at the top, it's really an interesting object to look at with the "nest" inside! And it's so neat to look at it and know those are real eggs, an art of nature and a beautiful thing at that.

But hey...it's alright you guys. You don't have to give me finch eggs if you feel I am better off with plastic ones. I heard whispers that finch keepers find themselves with extra eggs, and thought perhaps I could put those eggs to a good use sense they just get thrown away.

It's up to you, no pressure and I won't get upset! Promise!

kittani79 · Post by **kittani79** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:24 pm

It would probably be possible, with some really steady hands and very delicate touch, to drain/blow finch eggs. My aunt used to make christmas ornaments out of chicken eggs this way, but it is tough. She made a couple of tiny holes in the egg, and somehow blew out all the contents, dried it, and used bits of felt and glitter to decorate.

I could ask her for specifics if you like.

As for collecting, why collect anything? Why collect butterflies when there are photos of them everywhere? Why collect coins when the chocolate ones are so much more useful? Why collect stamps? It's just human nature.

rottielover · Post by **rottielover** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:02 pm

No secret to blowing eggs, you make a pin hole in each "end" where the shell is the thickest, then you place your lips on one hole and blow hard. After many attempts and a lot of work you'll have drained the egg, which can then be "washed" in a soapy water solution.

Illusionists have been using "blown" eggs for hundreds of years in magic acts...

I'm sorry Eggs, but I just don't follow your logic here... We can agree to disagree on this one. I happen to belive that any egg from healthy parents should be given every chance to hatch, there's no excuse for "wasting" perfectly good eggs (that have a chance to hatch and grow)... So I'm not sure how breeders have "extra" eggs... Usually the only eggs that are "extra" would be eggs that were infertile, dead-in-shell, etc... In each of those cases there would be a really evil smell from those eggs after a while...

Egg · Post by **Egg** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:11 am

But EmilyHurd just told me:

"Where do you live? I'm constantly tossing out eggs that I don't want...."

Now I am confused.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:48 am

It's true... my zebras and societies lay eggs all the time, and they've already had three clutches this year, so I do toss eggs

In fact, one lady came to buy some of my zebra babies, and she wanted to take home some eggs. It was funny and cute, just b/c I'm so used to throwing them out.

If I let my zebras and societies raise every egg they laid, I'd be overpopulating the earth with finches

Plus there are so many finches that don't have homes.

I heard this horrific story, of a lady that brought fifty zebras (all related BTW) into a pet store and said, I can't handle them anymore! Some had no eyes, others were plucked to the point of no hope. Sooooo... I don't let my zebras and societies go out of control with breeding, as they will if I didn't stop them

I'd be happy to send you eggs that I'd otherwise throw out... as far as shipping though... I would want reimbursment just b/c I'm not rich (I'm a single mother college student) and can't afford to just ship eggs all the time

blakbyrd · Post by **blakbyrd** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:49 am

During a bit of my researh on finches and some other birds, I have run across places (or people) that also collect the eggs from all sorts of birds, including finches (not just the larger eggs). I don;t know why either, but it is a hobby for some.

As for using real ones in crafts, that seems to be somewhat uncommon for such delicate eggs like finch eggs, but is done on occasion with other real eggs that are larger and sturdier. It's not too uncommon to find such crafts with eggs (real or not), but its also quite common (at least from my limited expercience) to find such craft displays where the eggs in them come loose and fall off fairly frequently or are laid loose in the craft itself. As such I would think this would make finch eggs almost too delicate for craft work, but I could be wrong. I guess it depends on how you do it.

I have no eggs to offer though, but maybe in the future I will. If so I will keep you in mind and check back about it if/when that time comes.

rottielover · Post by **rottielover** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:42 am

I've been removing the nest box when I don't want them laying eggs.

Occasionally I might get one or two eggs on the floor of the cage after I remove the box, but the hen usually get's the idea and stops laying.

The way I personally operate is that I'd rather remove the nest box, then to have to toss "good" eggs. But that's my personal feelings I guess.