FINCHforum

I had two male CWFs in a breeding cage. I got a female and she picked one. The following morning the other male died. Now she isn't looking so good but the male looks fine. Do females puff or have behaviors before laying eggs. Could I just not know what's happening. I have societies on the other side of the breeding cage sitting on eggs and are just fine. What would you do?

Did you figure out why the other male died?

No. But there was discord between the two. In the morning the one that died did have blood as if it lost the fight.

The males probably had a dispute over the new female, and the surviving zebra won Sometimes females puff before they lay an egg, but if they are puffed for an extended period of time, and are sluggish and sit on one perch or on the bottom of the cage then they are probably sick. If your female is showing these symptoms you should move her to a hospital cage with a heat lamp. If she appears to be trying to lay an egg, then she could be egg bound.

Thank you for the information. I will keep an eye on her. She's eatting and drinking just fine and sitting next to the male and acting fine now. It comes and goes. I'm wondering if she is cold. We usually have the windows open and when it gets warm, dad puts on the air conditioning and I'm under an electric blanket.

Try to move the cage away from areas where it's drafty and see if you can find a spot in your house where it constantly stays room temperature. Then see if she stops puffing/acting sick. I hope she feels better

Ok. Done. Will keep you informed. Thanks for your help. Lyn

If she is laying or going to lay eggs.
Give her egg food and crush egg shells. The egg shell is for calcium for both the egg and to help her lay the egg. Not enough calcium and she may get eggbound.

Your welcome, hope she is better soon

Thank you, too, Gary. Lyn