Zebs and breeding

[StevePax]

OK, I haven't posted about this, but I think my zebs are about to hatch eggs. I saw them mate on April 1st, and the female has been sitting in that nest nonstop since a couple of days after that. The male goes in for a few minutes now and then while she comes out to eat and drink (they make the switch super fast), but then she goes right back in. I can't see into the nest very well, but this seems like a sure sign that they are on eggs - who knows how many.

Here's my observation - Wouldn't sitting in a little nest for weeks at a time be kind of boring? I mean, once the babies hatch, they will all be very busy with feeding, but the poor hen is just sitting there, occasionally poking her head up so she can see out the tiny opening in the nest. And the male, outside, seems bored without her, as well. I know I'd get bored just sitting there for 14 days! Anyway, the wait must be almost over - there may have been a hatching yesterday, because I saw them looking kind of confused into the nest, like there was some alien in there. Any day I'll start hearing the tiny beeps, and then the raucous calls of the babies.

[bluefinch]

Wouldn't sitting in a little nest for weeks at a time be kind of boring?

Makes you have respect for the little bird being that dedicated.

[readingfc]

they do work so hard - so worth the wait though - sounds like they did a good job at the nest building

[StevePax]

I think I might have heard little tiny noises coming from the cage yesterday. I'll listen again tonight when I get home from work, but there may be a baby or two in there. That would be about right - they are due to hatch if there are any in there. Exciting times! I seriously can't see in that nest - my birds like to build up and around themselves for some reason, and have made a lovely hollow area in there while leaving only a tiny opening for getting in and out.

[Thalia]

lol you can try what I did and use your camera to sneak a peek, I put the camera to the access hole and took a quick picture to confirm my babies, I had to wait until both mom and dad were out of the nest though. If you're hearing peeping noises then they've probably hatched though.

[StevePax]

OK, I tried Thalia's suggestion and shot off a few pictures. There's definitely something going on in that nest. Take a look at these pictures:






(Just click on one to go to the full size image. You can zoom right in there, and you can see an egg in there in some of them, and some pink fuzzy stuff that might be an actual hatchling or two? Am I seeing this right?

Momma bird sure didn't like me taking pictures. As soon as I left, she jumped right back in the nest to make sure I didn't mess anything up.

[Thalia]

I do believe I see some yellow fuzzy down and what looks like an unhatched egg so you might have a baby in there! Don't worry in a few weeks you'll KNOW if you've got a baby, they get pretty noisy!