General questions about eggs (Zebra Finch)

[Zebrafinch000]

Hello!

I have two female zebra finches (7-8 months old); a month ago the younger one laid one egg. And this week, there were three eggs within one week (every other day) and I'm not sure which of the two laid the egg. One month ago the younger one looked quite sick (or tired) before she laid her first egg. But she became a lot better afterwards. I asked a question here last month and I was suggested to add calcium to their diet. And they became healthier and more active, especially these two weeks. And even before I started seeing the eggs this week they looked very healthy. Since a lot of topics on this forum are about mating and breeding, however, my birds are all female, so I have several questions:

1. Is it normal for hens to lay eggs every other day even if there is no male around?

2. Usually how often do they lay eggs? Is it normal to stop them from doing so? As I heard it usually deprives them of a lot of energy each time they lay an egg and it would be a health problem for them.

3. Do I just take away their eggs? They don't seem to be too interested in them.

4. I do have a plan to have male finches later on (at least after the hens become 9 months old), will they mate all the time? If so, how often? Is it normal for people to keep raising baby finches? My purpose is to give them a partner so that they can be happier. But I am not too sure about having too many finches at home, yet I'd feel horrible to take away their eggs.

5. How much calcium should I give to my hens? And how much calcium do they need when they start mating?

Thanks a lot!!

[Sally]

1. It is perfectly normal for hens to lay eggs even without a male present. Since you say they have improved in health lately, they may also have entered breeding mode.

2. Finches lay one egg per day, sometimes skipping a day, but not more often than that. Egg laying takes calcium out of their system, so you want to make sure they have a source of calcium. Oyster shell is a good source, cuttlebone another, or egg shells, or you can supplement with a commercial supplement.

3. You can toss the eggs. Sometimes people leave the eggs, as the hens may start sitting on them, and that will stop the egg production.

4. If you get mates for Zebra hens, you will have babies, lots of them! Zebra finches are the rabbits of the finch world. Be sure that you know what you will do with all those babies before you get males. The hens will be perfectly happy without males present.

5. If you do decide to let them have mates, then you will want to make sure they have plenty of calcium. As noted before, a good varied diet with a supply of minerals will usually suffice. Hardboiled egg with the shell is a great source of both protein and calcium, but it also stimulates breeding behavior. I recommend keeping a small bottle of liquid calcium on hand, just in case of egg binding.

[Stuart whiting]

1. It is perfectly normal for hens to lay eggs even without a male present. Since you say they have improved in health lately, they may also have entered breeding mode.

2. Finches lay one egg per day, sometimes skipping a day, but not more often than that. Egg laying takes calcium out of their system, so you want to make sure they have a source of calcium. Oyster shell is a good source, cuttlebone another, or egg shells, or you can supplement with a commercial supplement.

3. You can toss the eggs. Sometimes people leave the eggs, as the hens may start sitting on them, and that will stop the egg production.

4. If you get mates for Zebra hens, you will have babies, lots of them! Zebra finches are the rabbits of the finch world. Be sure that you know what you will do with all those babies before you get males. The hens will be perfectly happy without males present.

5. If you do decide to let them have mates, then you will want to make sure they have plenty of calcium. As noted before, a good varied diet with a supply of minerals will usually suffice. Hardboiled egg with the shell is a great source of both protein and calcium, but it also stimulates breeding behavior. I recommend keeping a small bottle of liquid calcium on hand, just in case of egg binding.

Well said Sally

[Zebrafinch000]

Thank you very much Sally! ) just one more question - I usually just put the eggs in their nest. But one time it broke so I had to remove it. Just wondering if it's easy for them to break the eggs? I'm worried about hygiene problems if they break them so easily.

Thanks in advance

[Sally]

It is possible for the birds to break an egg, but it happens very infrequently, so I wouldn't worry about it. We are much more likely to break an egg, because they are so fragile, and it is difficult for us to handle them without breaking them. It always amazes me that birds are able to fly in the nest, seemingly land on the eggs, move around, move the eggs around, finally settle down, and they don't break those eggs, yet I try to pick one up and it breaks to pieces. I find the safest way for me to pick up eggs is to scoop them up with a plastic spoon.