FINCHforum

I posted in the breeding forum last night about my female finch who had two eggs on seperate occasions and abandoned them both. It was suggested that she may be egg bound or it could be her motabilism.

Watching her today, she was laying in her food tray and sitting on the bottom of the cage a lot. Fearing that she was egg bound, I grated some cuttlefich bone and put some fish oil in her food and then seperated the male and the female so they can not see, but can hear each other. Almost instantly, the female became quite active, jumping around the cage and chowing into her food. She is still jumping around now, like when I first got her. This is the best I've seen her in days, and she's only been seperated from the male for about 45 minutes.

What could this mean, that she doesn't like the male, or maybe the male was too sexually active for her at the moment? I'm not too sure, as I am only new to birds!

What do you think caused her to be so active after I seperated them? Thanks in advance!
- Fuzed.

Maybe he was picking on her and that's why she was staying so low in the cage. I had a male zebra bully another male to that point once. Someone else should have some insight too.

Thanks for that! I left them seperated over night, and this aftternoon I put them back together, and moved thier cage to a different room so it was facing the window more. So far so good, they seem to be "getting along" better now, and they both seem happier! I will keep an eye on them!
- Fuzed.

Has the male pulled any of her feathers out? That's one sign of aggression but then again maybe it was something else, but you said there doing better now. Maybe the new location will keep them happier.

Thanks, yeah I noticed that he was nibbling at her head the other day, but he didn't seem to be pulling any feathers out so I assume he was grooming her. The good news is both little guys still seem happy in their new location! Thanks for everyones' help!
- Fuzed.

Glad to know I was wrong and the hen is ok.
Paul.

How the pair doing today?

jamezyboo21 wrote:How the pair doing today?

Good Thanks mate! Thanks for asking! A few times when I walked in the room I thought she was nesting in the food tray, but it turns out she was just being fat and eating!!! They both still seem healthy and well! How about your "little ones"!

There good, busy attending to there babies and i have other pairs either building nests, or sitting on new eggs.

Ah sweet! Sounds like they're having a fun 'ol time! This thread has kinda gone a bit off track , but do you have any other birds?
- Fuzed.

All together i have Zebras, pair of orange cheek waxbills,pair of bronze wing mannikins, 5 society finches, pair of gouldians and a pair of peach faced lovebirds. I eventually want to get owl finches, star finches, and possibly of few other finches.

Ah ok sweet! I just went to change the birds food and water... and I caught her nesting the food tray again! Damn, I thought she had gotten better! What should I do to care for her now? The room she is in (laundry) is a lot more private, obviously.
Should I mix some fish oil, cuttlefish bone and crushed egg shells in their food and put another place to nest in? I don't have a nesting box for them though, and so far she just seems she wants to nest in the food tray. Any help again, would be much appreciated!
- Fuzed.

Are you wanting her to have babies? Are these Zebras? If you want babies, you can give her a nest--Zebs do great with those hooded wicker nests. Also some nesting material--coco fiber, sisal, yarn, shredded paper. Without a nest present, they see the feed dish as a good alternative. I have 4 Star hens in a community flight. I recently got a male Star, and I had to do his quarantine in the same room. He has been singing to and flirting with the 4 hens--suddenly, I have eggs on the floor and eggs in the mineral cup. Apparently, just a male presence triggered the hormones!

Sally wrote:Are you wanting her to have babies? Are these Zebras? If you want babies, you can give her a nest--Zebs do great with those hooded wicker nests. Also some nesting material--coco fiber, sisal, yarn, shredded paper. Without a nest present, they see the feed dish as a good alternative. I have 4 Star hens in a community flight. I recently got a male Star, and I had to do his quarantine in the same room. He has been singing to and flirting with the 4 hens--suddenly, I have eggs on the floor and eggs in the mineral cup. Apparently, just a male presence triggered the hormones!

Yeah they are Zebs! I would like them to have babies, but I don't want it to be too much trouble, because if successful, it would be my first time breeding, and I don't know too much about it. I've heard ithe birdies do most of the work though! Thanks for all the help! I have never heard of a hooded wicker nest but I shall look into it and put some nesting material in too. What about diet? Should I add anything to help pass eggs and keep them healthy? Thanks!
- Fuzed.

Yeah if you want them to breed they will need a nest, that will keep her from laying eggs in the dish,. If she continues to lay eggs in the dish, put them in the nest and see if she starts layiong in the nest. i use coconut fiber, jute, and sometimes paper towels for nesting. they sometimes put millet sticks in the nest. You shoulds always provide them with cuttlebone to keep there beaks and nails trimmed and is a good sourcde of calcium. i havent tried fish oil. I buy all there food at the pet store, i get a fruit mix, veggie mix, and regular seed diet in diffrent bowls and they do very well. Once or twice a week i give mine millet. I have use crushed eggshells in the past and they really seemed to like that as well, oh yeah and mealworms. now that i have hatchlings i think i might get a few mealworms and see how the babies like it.