New parents

[Okies]

Hi all

We bought a male and female Zebra Finch around November and love them to bits despite the males constant chirping. Anyway, I have just received a txt message from the wife saying that there is an egg in the bird seed with the female sat on it. We are now running around like headless chickens wondering what to do next.

We did buy a nesting box before Christmas with some kindly donated alpaca fleece from a friend but they just seemed to stare at it and we didn't hear a chirp all night so we took it out assuming they were terrified of it.

What do we need to do and what do we need to buy to make sure she has everything she needs?

Thanks for any help and forgive the ramblings. It's quite exciting.

Andy

[Rob]

You can get one of those wicker nests from a local pet store. Provide some nesting material as well. Raffia/burlap strands work well and are pretty cheap from a craft store. The nest box should work as well though, it may just take some time to get used to.

[Okies]

The egg currently sits in the seed tray. Could we just empty the tray of seed and fill it with fibre then replace the egg?

[Paul's Amazing Birds]

If you would like them to raise some babies, I would just toss the 1st egg and provide a nest box and some nice soft nesting material. Egg food makes eggs so give them a high protein diet with plenty of calcium (IE: crushed egg shells)... don't get stressed and just watch what happens.

[Fraza]

It depends how big the seed tray is you don’t want it too small cos it could cause problems as the chicks develops as they grow I suggest getting a nest and leaving it in there that way if the female is ready to lay she wil

Also leave bits of tissue, hay etc at the bottom of the cage as the males like to build there own nest ( I just start it off )

[Okies]

Mixed emotions tonight.
On 31st Jan egg one was laid. We thought that would be it, but egg two came on 2nd Feb. Then on the 3rd Feb, one of the eggs went missing and tonight egg two has gone. We assume she has eaten them. Why has she done this and how can it be prevented next time?

[Icearstorm]

Okies

Since she didn't lay every day, I would assume the cause was some sort of nutrient deficiency. What's her diet?

[Okies]

Okies

Since she didn't lay every day, I would assume the cause was some sort of nutrient deficiency. What's her diet?

She was just on Finch seed food, but we have now got some egg food and cuttle fish. Before we got that they had the occasional fruit.

[Icearstorm]

Okies

It would be good to add some veggies to that as well. Mine like broccoli, cauliflower, chopped carrot, kale, etc. Birds can be a bit picky at first, but most will eventually eat some vegetables. Just don't feed spinach or similar greens every day, since the oxalic acid interferes with calcium absorption.

[Fraza]

Also add some grit in a tub it makes the eggs stronger

[Okies]

ok, a bit of an update.

so we had two eggs that were eaten. A week later we find the female on the bottom of the cage just sat there. Turns out that egg three was egg bound. After a touch of olive oil, she got it out and in the nest. Then over two days we have 3 eggs plus the egg bound egg in the nest.

They now seem to be having a go at each other. Is this normal? Should anything be done? Also we are looking to get a bigger cage. Any suggestions?