It's about time!!

FinchMommy · Post by **FinchMommy** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:35 pm

I was beginning to think I was doing something wrong. Zebras are supposed to breed readily, but despite my best intentions, they just didn't seem interested. Until now. We have eggs! I know there were none this morning, but now there's 2! It's so exciting! I was getting a little discouraged, so I was feeding egg a little less frequently, but it'll get bumped back up now. I'm so proud of my little buddies!

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:17 pm

Looks like they are starting the new year of right for you - congratulations!

FinchMommy · Post by **FinchMommy** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:09 am

Thanks! I'm so excited it's ridiculous! I've never had a passion for anything like I have for my birds. I wish I had discovered it sooner. Whee!

One question though. I think I've got it fairly covered nutrition-wise, they'll get plenty of egg food, cuttle bone, oystershell, greens, carrot, broccoli, and soaked seed. All my birds except the budgies have switched to a pelleted diet, is this o.k.?? I wanted the balance that pellets would bring, but is it enough?

Post by **Hilary** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:44 am

Personally I wouldn't change anything now that they're breeding. They obviously think the food is quite adequate, thank you very much!

Congrats!

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:32 am

Congrats! I am sure that now they have the hang of it, there will be lots more to come.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:07 am

That is great to hear....it will be fun to see them grow! Photos to share are mandatory here.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:29 am

when I had zebras they would breed all year round or try to if I didnt remove the eggs. even had them on an austerity diet (seed only) and they still nested and raied the young successfully. only thing that ever stopped them was to have the males & females in different cages

FinchMommy · Post by **FinchMommy** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:32 am

Good to know. I wasn't planning on changing anything really, just wanted to know if the pellets were ok.

I think part of the problem was that I expected them to get right at it, as soon as I added the nest.

Now that I think about it, I don't know how old my male is. My female is about a year.

And of course, pictures will come.

franny · Post by **franny** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:23 pm

Personally, I think that the pellets are not natural food. If you weren't also feeding them all those other things (the greens, veggies and soaked seed) they would be bored to tears with just pellets!

IMO a good finch seed mix is better. And just as healthy as pellets, especially since you are giving them a good variety of other foods, and sources of calcum. But it's natural for them to have to use their beaks to de-husk seeds. I think I'd worry about them getting overgrown beaks with just a pellet and soaked seed diet. Besides, it gives them something to do, keeps them busy, working for their food to some degree. Let's face it - their world is pretty small compared to wild birds. Must getting boring, and I don't think a pelleted diet stimulates them much. Better to have a variety of seeds for them to pick through.

FinchMommy · Post by **FinchMommy** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:53 pm

I should add they do get a finch seed mix as well, but maybe only 2 times a week, and in a smaller quantity. Pellets are their staple though. They LOVE them! Hehehe, they like seed too. One of our other cages has birds that are allowed flight time, and they've been known to sneak into the budgie cage and eat their seed.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:31 pm

Cograts, hope everything goes well.

franny · Post by **franny** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:56 pm

FinchMommy wrote:I should add they do get a finch seed mix as well, but maybe only 2 times a week, and in a smaller quantity. Pellets are their staple though. They LOVE them! Hehehe, they like seed too. One of our other cages has birds that are allowed flight time, and they've been known to sneak into the budgie cage and eat their seed.

Sounds like they are easy to please.

Glad they get some seed, too. Sounds like you are giving them a good varied diet. Wish I could get my GBs to be less picky. They love their finch mix, the charcoal & oystershell, herb salad, kelp flakes... and of course the various canned/dried insects. But they still avoid anything green, unless it's chopped in tiny little bits and mixed well with the eggfood. I find that so odd, because when I had societies, they would just go NUTS when I gave them chickweed, or anything green for that matter. Well, anything at all, for that matter!

FinchMommy · Post by **FinchMommy** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:35 pm

My zebs love food. All food. They really like butter lettuce, and broccoli is a sure hit too. The only thing I've ever had trouble getting them to eat is mealworm.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:25 pm

I don't think you need to feed zebs mealworms as long as they get a variety of other foods ,when I first started feeding mealworms to my birds none of them acted like they wanted them I was getting them from pet stores they were just to big,when I started getting the small worms thats when all of mine eat all they can get some the whole worm some just suck the inside or heads. When they have baby's they can't get enough

Post by **Sally** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:05 pm

If they love their pellets, and they are getting plenty of eggfood and veggies for variety, they should be fine. I would never make a major change in food when they are raising babies, might cause them to abandon. Zebras don't need mealworms, even when breeding, so you can save yourself the mess and expense of them!