Incubators for zebra finch eggs

[Theresa.mc]

Sorry for posting on here so much for the past few days but I am very intrestded in trying to hatch and raise a baby zebra finch. I understand the responsibility, time and effort this will cost, still trying to do reaserch befor I actualy try. Anyways, are there any recommended incubators in particular that would work best for sebra finch eggs? I'm looking for somthing small, under 100$ and able to be shipped to Canada.

[MisterGribs]

Hmmm, well, I have hatched zebra finch egg using a home made incubator, but the temperature was extremely unstable and I had to keep a constant eye on it. I basically didn't sleep, it was a disaster.

Secondly, I have had success hatching a zebra finch egg in one of those small, yellow, brandless incubators (with ajustable temperature) you can buy on ebay. You will have to turn the eggs yourself every 3 to 5 hours. They are built for chicken eggs, so you will also have to put some mesh fabric over the egg holder so that the babies and eggs won't fall through. Their feet are like hairs, you really need to have mesh. I've hatched some quail from refrigerated eggs in this too, and the quail are scratching around on the floor behind me right now.

Third of all, I really recommend a brinsea incubator. I haven't used one myself, unfortunately, but from what I've read online about hatching smaller and more delicate eggs, these are the go-to. They might be a little more costy, but are definitely worth it as they are more sensitive to temp and humidity, made to hold small or large eggs, and some come with an automatic turner so you won't have to worry about forgetting to turn the eggs.

[Sally]

I second the recommendation for the Brinsea incubator.

[Babs _Owner]

Theresa.mc

I have an Rcom mini. I have hatched and raised finches out of the incubator when my breeding pairs were abandoning clutches. Its very stable with temperature and humidity and automatically turns the eggs.

However, hatch rate is very low as most of these incubators with auto-turn, even the Rcom mini are rather rough on tiny finch eggs.

The chicks born in the incubator were often weak and it was a delicate and exhausting process to get them strong enough to beg.

It was a facinating time to learn about egg development, but not an experience I am willing to repeat, if I can help it.

[Ricardo Ronsini]

Yep, extreeeeeeeeeeeemely hard and time consuming job.

[the_gouldian_guy]

I would not recommend trying to raise the babies all on your own if you haven't before. It takes a lot of practice and can be heartbreaking to lose babies until you get the hang of it. If you are set on having handfed or tame zebs would it be possible to let the parents rear the young for the first week or so? Doing this would greatly increase your chances of success and still afford you birds that would be just as tame.

[ac12]

Unfortunately, the GOOD incubators will all the features are up around $320 to 420+
I just did a search for my own information.

The Brinsea ranges from a bit over $120 to over $400, depending on features; auto turning, humidity control is only in the $$$ models.
https://www.amazon.com/Brinsea-Products ... +incubator

Lyon Model TX-7 Turn-X Incubator is the one that Roy @ efinch recommends. That is a $400+ incubator.

The Rcom mini is about $140 on Amazon.

BTW, the incubator just gets the eggs to hatching.
Then you have to feed the hatchling/chick. Can you say LACK OF SLEEP. The first few days are the worse. I did it several times, and I really do NOT want to do it again. And to make it worse, none survived past day 4
So I had a 100% failure rate.

I admire those that have pulled it off, cuz I know how much work it is, and I only did it for 4 days, not 6 weeks.
If they do get past 5 days, you are a mommy for 6 weeks, from hatching until they wean.

[MisterGribs]

The good thing about incubators though, if you DO buy a good one, you'll only have to buy it once!

Raising baby finches is extremely difficult. Maybe you could locate someone who owns society finches?? They are famous for being good adoptive parents

[ac12]

The good thing about incubators though, if you DO buy a good one, you'll only have to buy it once!

That is what I keep telling myself, then I look at the prices and back down.

The problem is, when it is just a small hobby, it is hard to justify the $$$. Were I commercial, then it would not be a decision, I would just get one.

And for me it isn't to hand raise, but more to juggle when the societies are not quite ready to foster. The incubator would give me a few days of buffer time.

I had that happen a couple times, where the societies were not yet SITTING on the fake eggs. It took a few more days before they were SITTING. They were just extra S-L-O-W to get into the fostering mood.

[MisterGribs]

ac12 I hope you find a good solution soon. Have the societies yet seen any of their own babies?

[ac12]

MG

Nope, no society chicks, and not for trying. I had the society M+F together for months, and nothing

They are now on gouldian eggs. Maybe after fostering the gouldian chicks they will get down to business and mate.

[MisterGribs]

ac12 Maybe so. I have noticed with birds that having their own eggs actually hatch will usually make them more interested in raising babies in the future.

As for your society pair- How long have you had them?? When my wife and I bought our first zebras, the seller neglected to tell us that they were 9 AND 7 YEARS OLD. We were wondering why they weren't interested in breeding, and the older one, the cock, has had constant health problems. He's basically 80 years old... lol. But, he's still produced some extra marital chicks with my younger hen, amazingly enough.