FINCHforum

I was given a pair of owl finches, male and female. They had previously raised one clutch of three babies successfully, with no human intervention.

I ended up putting them in a cage with several other owl finches that I had, three young males. The female started taking up with one of the young males. She would even chase her original male away in order to sit with the new guy.

So, I put her and the new guy in a single cage and gave them a nest. They've had it a while, but no eggs yet. They sleep in it, but no eggs yet. I was told that with her previous male, they went right to nest when given one.

I've read that they pick a mate for life, but she clearly rejected the one she came with when she had a choice, it wasn't the new male chasing the old one away, it was the female. Was I wrong to assume she had chosen a new mate for herself?

Also, this new male is absolutely clueless about building a nest. I give them grapevine balls, and an assortment of fibers to fill. He just could not figure out how to put anything in there! I started it with a little bit, he ended up knocking it all out while trying to rearrange and bring more in. So then I stuffed the nest for him, and he finally managed to shove things around and make it into a nice nest.

So, if a male owl finch is too clueless to build a nest, should he be allowed to breed, or will his offspring also likely be deficient in this necessary skill?
Since the female sleeps in the nest with him, could she still be rejecting mating with him because she knows he's instinctually deficient?

Since these two paired up, I acquired another young female and have her in with one of the sons of the older female. Gave them a nest yesterday, gave them orchardgrass 20 minutes ago, and he is filling that nest as fast as he can. Really shows how clueless the other male has been.

Gracie85

Hello from Canada, and welcome to the Forum.

Regarding your Owls.

Personally I would have left the original couple together in a seperate flight. They probably would have nested and laid a clutch for you (but that's water under the bridge now).

Regarding your young male.
I don't think you have to worry about him being deficient, lol.
He's probably just young and inexperienced about building and breeding. It just might take him some time to figure out what he's supposed to do.
By the way, are you sure he's a male?

At this point, you have your experienced male with a younger chickie, and already building a nest. They may breed and lay for you before the other pair.

Are your flights close together?
Maybe if the younger male watches the older male in the other flight, he'll figure things out quicker

Good luck, and let us know how things are coming along.

Yes, he sings up a storm, and hated his brothers, chasing and attacking.
She appeared to be rejecting the old male, she chased him away, viciously, and snuggled with her new beau.

Old male is in with other young males (Nothing but males showing up! So frustrating!)

New young female is in with old male's son. Both totally unrelated.

Old female in with younger male, totally unrelated.

These cages not next to each other.

Old male, another son, 2 unrelated male brothers in another flight in another room.

Two more males, brother to Clueless one, are separately in with zebra females, because the little monsters wouldn't live peacefully with each other, as in deathly attacks. No nests, don't want crossbreeds, just peace in the house.

What does it take to get a female once in a while????? Yeesh.

Gracie85

Luck

I have a true pair, their adult daughter, and an unknown.

The parents had bred, laid, but abandoned.

My Stars stepped in, sat tight, hatched two little ones and raised them to weaning. They were 2 little girls, but sadly I lost one a while ago to drowning. Little Sister was lonely, so I found another Owl at my Pet Shop a few months ago and brought it home. They get along all right, but I am not seeing any romance

Clueless, will figure it out eventually (unless he was drpped on his head as a chicky). They might have a practice run at first, but eventually the little monster will get his act together...... maybe some romantic music, wine, and a candle light fresh mealworm dinner....