FINCHforum

I played rescuer with a pair of breeding finch. Their feather condition is horrible, the cage small, and the feed substandard to what I use. I want to improve their condition before I allow breeding. What is the safest method or the one the more successful breeders use? I'm working with a local group and their suggestions were good, but my area is not exactly bird friendly.

Offer them good food, a properly sized clean cage, the normal vitamin and mineral supplements, and give them time. Pretty much all the normal things you do for your birds.

If they have specific health issues those would of course need to be addressed.

Don't let them breed, or at least don't let them lay and sit, for at least 6 months.

I'm assuming you have them quarantined for the next 90 days. Watch for signs of any kind of mites or other infections/infestations. I don't think prophylactic treatment ("just in case" without KNOWING they have something in particular) is appropriate for already stressed birds. Medication DOES have side effects and whenever you use it there is always the chance of user error.

No nests. That sort of goes along with not breeding them, but also - if they DO have any kind of mites - it is a source of re-infestation.

There are "stress" formulas that might be useful as well on a temporary basis. if you check the GlamGouldians website she lists some feather/condition specific supplements as well, but you're pretty much stuck with whatever their feather condition is right now until they go through a full molt.

I was cleaning the old cage and found a nest with eggs in it.

On the off hand the eggs were good, but also because i know birds stop laying once they have a certain number of eggs, I returned the nest.

I'm hoping i didn't make a mistake.

I am concerned with adding stress by separating them....

The male seems to be in good health. The female is showing signs of recent feather loss. I switched them to a mix of their old feed and what I give my birds. Tomorrow, I'll do a slow mix of egg shells, greens, and other assorted feeds that work with my birds.

I'm terrified of causing more harm. But I was told my instincts were spot on by a local breeder.... (they do parrots, not finch) sooo.....

Moon wrote: I was cleaning the old cage and found a nest with eggs in it.

On the off hand the eggs were good, but also because i know birds stop laying once they have a certain number of eggs, I returned the nest.

I'm hoping i didn't make a mistake.

Moon wrote: I am concerned with adding stress by separating them....

The male seems to be in good health. The female is showing signs of recent feather loss. I switched them to a mix of their old feed and what I give my birds. Tomorrow, I'll do a slow mix of egg shells, greens, and other assorted feeds that work with my birds.

I'm terrified of causing more harm. But I was told my instincts were spot on by a local breeder.... (they do parrots, not finch) sooo.....

I understand about putting the nest back, and I wouldn't say that's a mistake. Its a done deal. Sometimes you just have to go with it. Removing the eggs at this point very well could greatly increase their stress.

You might consider replacing them with duds though. Or - find a pair of societies to foster the chicks should the eggs be hatchable.

I didn't mean to make it sound like you should separate them from each other - just from any other birds you already have in the house. So - in quarantine - together, the pair of them.

I STRONGLY doubt you will cause them more harm. You RESCUED them from more harm, after all. Now only time will tell if you were lucky enough to have rescued them soon enough.

I am NOT a breeder, so hopefully an actual breeder will chime in.

Hang in there. Sounds like they've found a good home.

Moon

Hi,

You don't mention what species of Finch these two are.

As mentioned above, I would keep these two away from your present flock, even in another room at this point.
I would use SCATT, to get rid of any mites that they might be harbouring. Deworming probably wouldn't hurt either.

I would offer the best finch seed mix, and spray millet, along with hard boiled eggs, a variety of greens, crushed egg shells and cuttle bone for calcium every day, and some good quality bird vitamins in their drinking water. Good avian lighting, or natural sunlight would be beneficial as well.

I would remove the nest, toss the eggs, and offer them a swing and some artificial plants to keep them busy, and keep their minds off nesting. Also offer daily baths of lukewarm water.

If they are in such poor shape, raising a clutch at this stage, might do a lot more harm, than tossing the eggs. Feeding a clutch, takes enormous amounts of energy and strength from the parents. That's why it's always recommended, to only breed birds when they are in the best condition.

Good luck, and feel free to ask any questions.

The nest could be a source of bugs sneaking in.
So dump the nest in the garbage.

I would also dump the eggs, as keeping them will be a hassle.
If you want to save the eggs, put it in a new CLEAN nest.
But given the situation, I would NOT put the eggs+nest in with the birds. If you have to treat the birds during quarantine, that may cause them to abandon the chicks. Also I don't know how different medications would affect the chicks. Quarantine is not a place and time to raise chicks. I would give the eggs to a pair of societies.

I would keep the pair together, but NO nest or anything that looks like a nest. You want them to rest and recover, not breed and stress. I have put M and F in separate cages, right next to each other, so they have some familiar company while in quarantine, yet are separated so they can't breed.

These are mixed pied zebra finch. Bought from a different owner who got hers from the same breeder I got mine from. I'm not sure how to handle them just yet, but I am market researching viable alternative housing for all my birds. I'm tempted to part my pairs and order separate genders for them all from an out of state breeder or two.

ac12 wrote: The nest could be a source of bugs sneaking in.
So dump the nest in the garbage.

I would also dump the eggs, as keeping them will be a hassle.
If you want to save the eggs, put it in a new CLEAN nest.
But given the situation, I would NOT put the eggs+nest in with the birds. If you have to treat the birds during quarantine, that may cause them to abandon the chicks. Also I don't know how different medications would affect the chicks. Quarantine is not a place and time to raise chicks. I would give the eggs to a pair of societies.

I would keep the pair together, but NO nest or anything that looks like a nest. You want them to rest and recover, not breed and stress. I have put M and F in separate cages, right next to each other, so they have some familiar company while in quarantine, yet are separated so they can't breed.

I've had success with a nest exchange from my domesticated pigeons, but I also have another nest my other (non breeding) pair have built. Should I use that?