star finches

franny · Post by **franny** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:30 am

Christine,

I found a link to the Vancouver Island Cage Bird Society in case you might be interested: http://www.vicbs.ca/news.htm

williep · Post by **williep** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:33 pm

The only reason I would remove the nest and try them to stop breeding would be if you are really concerned about the health of the hen. How many eggs has she laid in this season? I mention this because the only way a young bird or pair will get better at raising young or their first young is by trail and error. My star finches took 15months since I got them to produce their 1st chick. Their second chicks were produced the very next clutch (3). I've heard and read on this forum about many people struggling with stars (including myself) so I think patience is just as important here.

christine · Post by **christine** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:44 pm

thank you so much for the advice about stars, i think i may have put the nest in to early for them maybe they are still to young. i took the nest out there were 14 eggs in there, im just worried about the hen so i will wait awhile before i put the nest back.

williep · Post by **williep** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:48 pm

14 eggs is quite a lot. There’s always next season, good luck with them and keep us posted.

franny · Post by **franny** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:52 pm

Just curious, it's been about 5 days since the nest came out. Did she lay any more eggs since you removed it?

christine · Post by **christine** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:03 pm

no more eggs, the male is still trying to make a nest. by the way i just read that stars are prone to egg binding and that oil should be added to their diet have you heard of this and does anyone know what kind of oil?

williep · Post by **williep** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:07 pm

I don't add any oils to my birds diets but do feed sunflower seed (rich in oils) with their wet foods. Didn't know this helps with egg binding but the seeds are a good source of protein in any event.

franny · Post by **franny** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:14 pm

Glad she's stopped laying and is getting a much needed break. Now if only the boyfriend would stop with the nest building, eh?

What's he using? Maybe a good idea to also remove anything he might think is useful for nest building, like the picked clean millet...