FINCHforum

My 2 Zebras started breeding and the eggs hatched 3 days ago. Both parents were doing a great job on the new hatchlings but when I got to the cage this morning I saw the female sitting outside the nest all puffed up. I was watching them the whole day and she did not once go into the nest to care for her young. I thought that she would be cold so I put a heating lamp in front of the cage. Although the male is doing a great job with the young I am concerned about the female. Will he be able to cope without her, should I remove her out of the cage or keep her there. It seems that she is sleeping most of the time but is still eating and drinking every now and again. Please help!

Providing her with additional heat is good. She may just be a bit run down from the laying and incubating. But with the hard part yet in front of her she is likely to get worse off instead of better. How many chicks are there? The male can care for the chicks on his own, but of course it will be stressful on him. Be sure to provide them with lots of eggfood, a good quality seed, veggies and minerals.

Let us know how they get along.

When I got to the cage this morning she was just sitting at the bottom of the cage. I took her out and she did not even open her eyes. I hold her in my hand in front of the heating lamp keeping her warm for about 30 min...but then she died in my hand. Im really sad. I hope the male will manage with the chicks.

oh, that is so sad I hope your male copes on his own. Please let us know what happens

Luhan,

I know exactly how you feel! That just happened to me yesterday. I picked up one of my finches that was on the ground and she was breathing and then she died in my hand. She also had her eyes closed when I picked her up

So sorry for your loss, Luhan, and you too, Emily. It just seems like finches are so delicate sometimes, and you don't even know what happened.

Your male should be able to handle the babies--how many are there? He will have his hands full, though, so as Tammieb said, make sure he has lots of eggfood, seed, veggies, etc. Fortunately, Zebras mature fairly quickly and then will be able to eat on their own. Do keep a close eye on him, so he stays healthy.

Unfortunately the male abandoned the chicks emmidiately after I took out the female. He did not even sleep in the nest last night and when I got there they were all dead. Must have been the lost of his mate that got to him. There were 4 chicks. I will get him another mate for company but will keep the breeding for some other time.