Dummy egg options

[Holly]

A few questions that I hope aren't too, terribly redundant:

Is there anywhere that I might purchase "dummy eggs" locally? I am in the Seattle area and have 3 societies that I need to fool... and, fast!

Alternatively, where is the best place to purchase dummy eggs online? They seem to be awfully expensive for what they are.

Also, are plastic dummy eggs a necessity? I assume painted wood or polymer clay would have an odor that would be a dead giveaway, but I don't know how clever these little birds are about these things.

I am planning to remove all nesting areas and materials. Should I forgo the egg-swap and just pull it all out from under the poor little nesters?

I am not sure what kind of stimulation to provide them with if they are unable to nest. Does anybody have any great ideas for me?


Thank you so much!
~Holly

[Fraza]

I would think that wood painted would work to be honest I'd leave them to make a new nest then stick them in there also if you go to an arts and crafts shop like a kids one sometimes you can see little toy eggs there

[lovezebs]

Holly

I would pull the nest out. Birds don't need nests to sleep in, they can sleep on a perch or a sleeping platform just fine.

You might still find the odd egg here and there around the cage, which you can just discard.

Usually once the nest is gone, the egg laying slows down or stops all together.

What's their diet like?
Make sure that they have a source of Calcium available, as egg forming depletes most of the Calcium out of Mom's body.

Let us know how things work out.

[lovezebs]

P.S.
By the way, I wouldn't place any painted objects in the nest, paint fumes and paint flakes can be deadly.

[Babs _Owner]

Holly

Gawd they look so darned cute on that nest. You know you want some cute babies. *giggle

Seriously, if you don't want babies, pull the nest. But for societies PLEASE give them a flat platform to sleep and snuggle as Elana mentioned.

My societies are absolutely miserable and exhausted trying to perch sleep. Their feet just don't seem made for it like other species.

[Fraza]

If you don't mind me asking how come you don't want to breed them

[cindy]

Finches do not need nests to sleep in... nests can stimulate egg laying and hate to say this those little eggs do not always work... Birds can tell the difference.

You can provide roosting areas/stress perches.... glamgouldians.com

[cindy]

glamgouldians sells plastic weighted fake eggs if you decide to go that route...

I would make sure the diet if not using pellets includes a powdered supplement that also carries a good complete vitamin, mineral, amino acid supplement like AviVita Gold. Contains D3 and calcium...any bird housed indoors without direct unfiltered sun exposure should have either pellets(most contain calcium and D3 or a supplement added to soft foods....

[Babs _Owner]

cindy I have no society that will sleep in those. They need the comfort of their own kind in groups in a "pile'

Terri is awesome - she really is (I buy from her yearly). But these perches are more suited for birds that dont nest sleep in the comfort of the group.

Societies need to snuggle . Those perches dont' allow the snuggling. But they are great for gouldians, canaries an other species.

Glad to see you back~!