My finch males need help doing their job!

[Mike418]

I am a newbie finch owner. I built a 4 ft, by 8 ft, by 2 ft cage and supplied it with about 12 various nest boxes. Inside this cage I have 4 zebra finches, 4 society finches, 4 shaft tail finches, and 4 owl finches. Everyone seems happy. I feed them a top notch seed mix, fresh sprouted seeds each day, freeze dried meal worms, and a mix of commercial dried egg food and bird salad. The birds eat everything with gusto, except maybe the egg food. They hit the sprouted seed every morning like they haven't eaten in days. I supply about the maximum they will finish each day. The birds are very active and loud all day long. At night every bird pairs up and nights over in one of the next boxes, but often not the same box two nights in a row. I have had two live finch births, one each from my two pairs of finches, and a large number of infertile eggs. It seems most of my males are not performing their husbandly duties. I have had the birds for almost 6 months now, and I do not think they were juveniles when they arrived. Whenever I put fresh nesting material in the cage it gets used, but most of the nest boxes are pretty full now, so I do not currently offer much fresh material.

At this point I would love some suggestions about what I can do to convince the birds to engage in full mating behavior and generate some additional offspring. I have a few breeding cages I can set up if that would be helpful. If I go this route should I separate the birds one pair to a cage, or can I put two pair in cage (these cages are 18"x18"x30" so they are pretty large).

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Sally]

If you decide to separate the birds, a 30x18x18 cage is most suited for just one breeding pair, as then it leaves room for any babies as they fledge. Anything smaller will get very crowded.

I'm not sure of the measurements of your cage, which is height, width, depth? When you are trying to breed, overcrowding is one of the most common reasons for infertile/no eggs, as each pair isn't able to establish their own territory. In cages, it is recommended to have 3 to 4 sq. ft. of space per breeding pair. In aviaries, one cubic meter per pair of breeding finches.

Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on finch care, especially breeding. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier to answer locale-specific questions later on.

[cindy]

Some of the species you have housed together can be be pushy and invasive... owls like privacy as so shaft tails.

Zebras and societies can be nosey and invasive, this may interrupt breeding and sitting.

It is not so much the males' fault, it is to many different species trying to breed at the same time, some best not suited to be breeding together in the same cage.

I would pull the pairs you want to breed, giving them (1 pair) their own cage/space each.

[lovezebs]

Mike418

That is odd.

If I were to take my Zebras and Societies, and put them into an aviary with nests and nesting materials, I'd be up to my ears in no time.

Not sure how it works with Shaft Tails (have only males), and new to Owls (who are at present building a nest).

You could try placing couples in breeding cages and see how it works for you.

I know that my Gouldians, breed and raise their kids in a seperate breeding cage, and it works better for me than having them in community.

Same goes for my Strawberries.

Good luck and welcome to the Forum

[Derk]

Mike418
Welcome to the forum!

[erine]

Mike418
Since you already have the breeding cages it wouldn't take much to pull a pair or two and see what happens, right? Sounds like you give your birds a wonderful space and diet. Maybe it's just time for some alone time. If they continue not.to produce then at least you've tried.

[debbie276]

Welcome to the forum.
I too was wondering about the dimensions of your cage, which is width, depth and height? Sounds like there are too many disruptions for successful breeding.