Society finch breeding attempt

[Fraza]

That pure white is so nice make sure you add a picture of her chicks

[Rob]

That pure white is so nice make sure you add a picture of her chicks

Thanks Fraza, I'm quite excited to see what I get.


Ok, I've added dried egg food, which all of my birds seemed to love. This morning I found a new egg in both nests

[Fraza]

Oh yes looking positive for u

[Rob]

I've noticed that the all white female isn't staying with the eggs, whereas the other nest has a permanent hen. Should I be concerned? My first thought is maybe the male isn't feeding her, or maybe she will once there is a complete clutch. There's currently 3 eggs. It's also getting hard to peak inside, the nest has a ceiling now ha.

[Fraza]

Is this is there firstcutch she may not sit o. Then my zebras first clutch didn't get incubated until the second clutch they also start to incubate when they have a full clutch witch will be 4-6 eggs sometimes 8 but I doubt it as it's her first clitch

[Rob]

It's been 14 days since the first egg, so I'm hoping I'll see hatching soon.

I just saw one of the birds picking at an egg though. I thought at first he was helping it hatch at first, but I think it was being eaten. What does that mean and what should I do?

[Icearstorm]

Rob

Give them more protein and calcium, though it is likely a behavioral problem if they already had adequate nutrients. Was the bird that was picking at the egg one of the parents? If not, it could be seeing the eggs as free lunch. On the other hand, the bird may have developed cannibalistic tendencies that became habit in the past.

Keep a careful eye on this bird and consider removing it if the behavior continues. Hopefully you avoid a Macbeth scenario; one of my females (now named Macbeth the Murderer) once ate most of a clutch before tossing and eating the newly hatched babies, as detailed in this thread: Egg Eater?

[Fraza]

If I was you to be extra positive I would take it out

[Babs _Owner]

Rob

That looks like 1 of two things, parents are trying to help a baby hatch, or they are craving calcium & nutrients. The babies are almost ready to hatch, yes? I've watched my societies actively help their babies hatch.

Offer boiled egg (rich in vitamin D) along with egg shells . They need the vitamin D to absorb the calcium. Also shave some cuttle bone on top of the boiled egg.

If the babies begin to hatch, you definitely want to keep boiled egg and crushed shells available for them to feed the chicks each day until the kids wean.

Have they been without boiled egg and veggies ALL this time? If so, they are probably really craving nutrients. I'd resume their former healthy diet you had given them.

[Rob]

Thanks Babs

Shaving the cuttle bone is a great idea. I stopped with the boiled egg as per Cindy's advice (maybe I misinterpreted what she recommended), but I have continued to offer veggies. I added some egg yesterday though, assuming it was a vitamin deficiency and will continue to do so.

@Icearstorm

That's quite the story. I like the new name though.

[Babs _Owner]

Rob

Shaving cuttle bone on top of the boiled egg is what got my kids to finally eat the egg in my earlier days. Now everyone is raised on it.

I try not to change the diet of my hens once they are in breeding season. With gouldians it can trigger all sorts of issues. I keep it the same with my societies as well. No issues so far.

[Fraza]

Rob I would give them egg all through breeding and hatchlings maybe cindy meant not to give every day however me personally I would take out one if it's done that to the egg because to me I can't see a fetus in there

[Babs _Owner]

Rob

Have you gotten any hatchlings yet?

[Rob]

Babs

No not yet

[Babs _Owner]

Rob

Give them a week longer than the expected date, then let them try again. Dont worry. With societies, there will be babies eventually ;)