FINCHforum

I'm not sure but with the experience I have had is it possible that birds bought in the "name brand" pet stores like petco or petsmart are neutered or possibly unable to breed because of something the store did to them so they wouldn't be able to breed? I have had parakeets and a pair of Zebras that I have bought in the Petsmart by my house. They never seem to breed or even be interested in mating. I have offered everything neccesery for this to occur but surprisingly nothing has happened. They have a big breeders cage and I have offered different types of nests to both the parakeets and the finches. I don't know?

how long have you had these birds!

ken

its been a long time now about 1 year and a half

Are you certain you have birds of the opposite sex? Pet shop employees are notorious for selling birds without being able to distinquish the different sexes. Zebras should be easily sexed, but parakeets are a bit more difficult.

hi pushtoowala
is there any way you could get a picture up of the zebra finches and maybe we could help with the sex of those at least and also what type of para keets are they as some are able to be sexed visually

ken

It is incredibly unlikely that the pet store would have had the animals neutered.

Hi Pushtoowala

I agree it is not logical to have birds neutered and with anything but the maost expensivewould probably cost more than the bird.
Some shops will buy in birdsfrom breeders that are in fact to old to breed from less honest breeders who will tell the shop they are young. (Most pet shops assistants cant tell.Unless it hasgrey hair.) or more probable ones that they have tried to breed with found to be infertile,so they sell them on as pet birds.

My advice is try to find loccal breeders and buy birds from them most are honest,and will change any bird that you find to be infertile especially if you tell them up front you want them to breed from also they are cheaper on the whole and most will help with info.

I know that they are certainly sexed correctly. I know that Zebra males have orange patches under their eyes and I knoe that a parakeet male's cere is blue while the females is tan.

I know that they are certainly sexed correctly. I know that Zebra males have orange patches under their eyes and I knoe that a parakeet male's cere is blue while the females is tan.

Well it sounds like you are set up with pairs then.


As was mentioned, perhaps your birds are no longer of breeding age?? Zebras are normally very eager and easy breeders so your situation is most unusual. Sorry that I can't come up with a better idea what the problem may be.

i know this will not help but i have never had a pair of zebras that have not made an attempt to breed

ken

Thanks Anyways