NewMemberandShaft tail question

[fadedrose541]

Hi everyone! My name is Debbie and I am new to this forum but I belong to a few other groups! A friend told me this a good forum! I have been doing finches for about 16 months now but have had large parrots almost all my life. I have quite a fun group of birds, large and small.

Today, I am asking about shaft tails, I have one pair of normals that I have had about as long as I have had finches. They laid (3) clutches and sat tight but did not hatch them out and I know that some do and some do not. I feed a very good seed mixture, plenty of greens, brown rice, meal worms, hard boiled eggs with shells, an excellent insect mixture, tropical egg, fruit patee , gold patee, and some other treats. They have excellent nesting as I use a soft orchard grass,as well as coconut fiber, some feathers here and there so that is covered. It has been a while and they have not laid. My second pair are fawn shaft tails and i have only had them since October, 2009. They immediately set up in a boxe where the other pair wouldn't use a box and set up in a nest. I thought it was too soon so they weren't fertile, they just came off their second round and these are from parents that do hatch out their own and feed. What are your suggestions as far as when to pull and let someone foster or should i wait a little more!!! They are not in the same cages and we are putting up (2) outdoor aviaries, may put them in them but I would appreciate any input or helpful hints!!! Thank you!

[lovemyfinch]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I have 2 questions to ask you. Did you check to see if the eggs are fertile.

Second question, are you sure that they are male/female pairs. I am asking this because when I first started with shaftails, I bought a pair....turned out to be a pair of females Does your male sing and dance? ((ok sorry, that's 3 questions)

[fadedrose541]

Hi! I did check the first pairs eggs twice but not the second as they were new and i really didn't expect them to be fertile so soon. They are definately pairs. I have seen the dating and mating courtship. I also check their bibs. I have not checked the new pairs second clutch as we made another oom into a bird room and maybe the move spooked them althought they didn't seem spooked and stayed sitting tight. My only thought on the normals is that I am not a hundred percent sure how old she was exactly when I got her. I was told just a little over a year but she came from a lady who didn't have time. I did get her a proven amle though.

[lovemyfinch]

Well....in this case you have me dumbfounded. I can't get mine to stop....they are worse than my zebras.

[B CAMP]

fadedrose541
Welcome to the forum ,if you fill in your profile with where you live it makes it a lot easier to answer questions sometimes ,have you checked out the finch information center there is a lot of good reading there
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... sfinch.php
Sorry can't give you any help on them myself but there are several members that will chime in soon

[cindy]

I have shaftails. They hatched out and fed out their 4 offspring nicely. They are very good parents. I found that shaftails are like zebra finches and are devoted parents. Before the first four offspring were weaned the mother started laying eggs. The father resumed feeding duties while the mother sat. Once weaned the young were moved to a cage of their own.

I found that with a second batch of eggs so close to the first the female gets worn out some. After these hatch I plan on giving her a 6 month rest. Are you resting the pair inbetween, 3 clutches back to back could tax the pair some. Maybe pull the nest and allow a rest period then let them try again.

As far as pulling eggs I would not unless they are not sitting, if they are sitting faithfully don't disturb them. Be patient, they are very good parents. If it goes past the incubation date (from the time the last egg was laid) give it a few days past that, you can check if they are fertile. The first time mine went to nest they produced and raise 4 on their own.

This is the site for their story.

http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8 ... =shaftails

[fadedrose541]

Hi and thank you! My normals have had a long break and my fawns aren't doing anything right now.I also have many different types of Zebras and these are more tricky in my opinion. My Zebras are doing great and all different ones are breeding like crazy. I am being patient and do not mess with them but just wondering if I am doing something wrong.

[L in Ontario]

Hello and welcome to the forum, Fadedrose!

I also have a pair of Shaftails and have had nothing but problems with them. First she laid eggs everwhere but in the nestbox. Then she laid them in the nestbox but neither would sit on them. Then she laid them in a food dish, I placed a canary nest in there and put the egg in it. She continued to lay eggs in the canary nest but didn't sit. Finally she did lay them and they both sat on them faithfully but when they hatched - they tossed and the hatchlings died.

I'm so totally frustrated with them - I removed the nest and all nesting material to give them (and me) a break.

She is now laying eggs in the food dish again. I am just removing the eggs as she lays them to force her to take a break. Have to be careful she doesn't deplete herself and if she doesn't stop within a couple of days (1 full clutch) I will split her from her mate. They adore each other but enough is enough.

I feed them as you do with an excellent and varied diet - that's about all we can do - the rest is up to mother nature. Do keep us posted on how your pair progresses.