Zebra finch is bonding with me

[anma]

So a little thing I'd like to share with you:)
I have a zebra finch called Finchy. I couldn't get a mate for her because there's only one breeder in town, and I didn't want to get inbred offsprings obviously.
I didn't hand feed her, and she had some eye infection in the first few weeks, so I had to catch her twice a day and use antibiotic finch eyedrops , so she was a bit scared of my hand at first...
But she's pretty tame now. The funny thing is, she's kind of accepted me as her mate. I keep her free in my room, I can get really close to her, like poke her with my nose:)
She was "courting" to me, tail vibrating etc, and I noticed that she was trying to get nesting material from all around the room, so I got a nest for her, and some coconut fibre and cotton wool. She went crazy with those:) She laid 5 eggs, incubated them for 2-2 and a half weeks, but she's really active again. Often she greets me in the morning by hopping on me, kind of picking my face etc. Didn't think a zebra finch can be this tame, but she's an amazing little bird.

[lovezebs]

anma

Zebras, are extremely social little birds.
Lacking a companion of her own kind, she's obviously decided to bond with you, which is very sweet.

[Sojourner]

Zebras are easily sexed. Just get her a female friend. It seems cute when a bird bonds with a person, but it makes for happier birds if they can bond with each other and not so much with us.

[anma]

Zebras are easily sexed. Just get her a female friend. It seems cute when a bird bonds with a person, but it makes for happier birds if they can bond with each other and not so much with us.

I did get a friend for her-I have two finches now. Two hens, it's fun to watch them preening each other etc.

[lovezebs]

anma

Well congratulations

Do you happen to have some pictures of the two??

[Sojourner]

Thanks for letting us know! I love watching my guys, and even just listening to them.

Even my squabbling parakeets.

Is your original hen still friendly with you?

[anma]

Oh I have more pictures of them than I dare to admit
Here's a link to a few photos.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/byoitkaahx6l ... JFlia?dl=0

Also that time when she laid an egg last week on my desk right in front of me while I was working...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mikxmgib3ns3q ... n.jpg?dl=0

[lovezebs]

anma

They are lovely!

Which is the original, and which is the new girl on the block?

I love it that they have free run of the place, and they seem to have really bonded nicely.

You see, they are saying thank you, by giving you their first born egg, lol. Now how sweet is that

[anma]

Thanks for letting us know! I love watching my guys, and even just listening to them.

Even my squabbling parakeets.

Is your original hen still friendly with you?

Yes! I won't say she's hand tame- but she's pretty friendly. I actually have a problem with her when I eat breakfast at my desk. They have all kinds of seeds, cucumbers, eggshells etc, but she always more interested in MY food, like a dog haha. I have to keep hushing poor thing away when she lands on the rim of my plate. Stew, soup, doesn't matter, when she notices me eating she comes right away:)
She laid an egg right in front of me on the desk last week.The white one- the new finch is currently in love with my wooden elephant incense holder, as it's colours are similar to a male zebra finch haha! she keeps dancing around it.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q6dqe686hpzyq ... 0.mp4?dl=0

So they are both friendly, got used to me and each other. It's fun to watch them adventuring around the room, preening, beeping.
Sometimes my original finch still lands on my shoulder, or leg, and falls asleep.

Getting them was a really good idea. They have more character than I expected! Aslo they are surprisingly smart. I was listening to their vocalisations, and they have different beeps for everything. My original finch thought the new one where she can go etc. She lands on the bed, desk, monitor and calls for her. so the new one got friendly pretty fast as well!

The white is the new one, called Swan:)

[lem2bert]

anma

Such adorable birds I enjoyed all the pictures and videos so much They are very lucky to have such a loving owner !!

[anma]

AAnd they are copulating. Silly finches. They've managed to reaallly bond with each other haha

[Denise]

Interesting! I have a female green singer who is tame. She had a bad eye infection that caused the loss of one eye. Not sure how much vision she has left in the other eye. She can't fly well and can't navigate in a cage of any size. Also, she is defensive around other birds. Because of this, she lives alone in a small cage. I'm not crazy about that, but she does best this way. She is finger tame and likes to come out and sit with me. She eats out of my hand, does "step up". It's pretty crazy. She will do this with visitors too! I just had lots of down time and started working with her during an ice storm. I don't think I could tame a fully functioning finch. She is a special girl.