Breeding Java Finches

[Icearstorm]

A log for Java finch breeding.

My pair and nest box:

[lovezebs]

Icearstorm

Good luck with your pretty Javas.

[Icearstorm]

lovezebs
Thank you.

[Icearstorm]

I figured I'd ought to trim their nails before Birb starts laying, so I went to get her this morning, and she laid a partially-formed shell-less egg. She has been acting fine since, but obviously needs more calcium. The cage currently has cuttlebone, ground oyster shell, and broccoli dusted with calcium powder; I would mix calcium into dry eggfood, but that might be overdoing it.

[Babs _Owner]

Icearstorm

Give her some boiled egg with eggs shells mixed in. The meat in the egg is loaded with vitamin d she needs to absorb the calcium in the egg shells.

And if she's laying eggs she will crave it, most likely.

[lem2bert]

Icearstorm

What a nice idea to keep a forum log ! I cannot wait to see the outcome from that gorgeous pair !! Keeping my fingers cross that everything goes well.

[Fraza]

Hi very nice Java’s look well healthy your nest box looks pretty neat aswell, can I ask what those slices are tho on the last ohtoto ?

[Icearstorm]

Babs

Would the dry eggfood work? It says it has a minimum of 4400 IU D3 per kilogram. I also meant to add that the calcium supplement I use contains 400000 IU D3 per kilogram, as well. I have been sprinkling it on part of the broccoli 1-2 times a week, and using the general multivitamin once a week.

[Icearstorm]

lem2bert
Thank you!

[Icearstorm]

Fraza

The grooves are supposed to help them climb out. It's unlikely the birds would get stuck without them, but I didn't want to risk it.

[Babs _Owner]

Icearstorm

If she positively eats it, sure it will help.

My hens gorge on boiled egg and shells when they are laying.

[Icearstorm]

Babs

All of my birds, minus the male Java and male gouldian, go crazy over the eggfood. They usually eat all of the broccoli tops so long as I give them a reasonable portion.

[Icearstorm]

I had to twisty-tie the cage doors closed after witnessing the male Java lift one open... I'm not sure if he was trying to escape, or just entertaining himself. Either way, he seemed bored today, so I'll have to make something. I'm thinking something along the lines of large beads, soft paper, and spray millet attached to a thick wire.

[Babs _Owner]

Icearstorm

Javas like toys ;) Once they get over the initial fear of it, they are quite ruthless with their curiosity.

Sooo intelligent!

[Icearstorm]

Babs

I tried giving him a smallish pine cone to destroy, but he ignored it after getting over the initial fear. I think I'll have to use something more interesting.

He never seemed particularly curious, but that was probably because he was preoccupied with his mate. Now that she spends half the day in the box, he doesn't have much of anything to do.