New Zebra Owner with Questions

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:18 pm

I have 2 Zebras that have paired off and bonded quite nicely. They sleep together and are always perched next to eachother all the time.

This past saturday morning they were busy with the whole baby making process, which shocked me as I have only had them for 1 WEEK! I put in a nest with full expectations of breeding them 2... maybe 3 times a year. (I will take the nest out between to let them rest and recharge.) Anyways, from the initial fertilization, how many days does it take for a hen to lay her eggs? I know the time that they are laid to hatching is about 14 days.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:45 pm

Finch Fry wrote: This past saturday morning they were busy with the whole baby making process, which shocked me as I have only had them for 1 WEEK!

Waddya expect?...A long courtship and a chaperone?

franny · Post by **franny** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:57 pm

Hee, hee.

And they even don't mind an audience!

I don't know how long it takes from the "act' to actual egg laying. But patience is something you'll have to learn with finch keeping, so might as well start now.

Someone else on here will probably know and post an answer. But you might have eggs before that! I hear that Zebs are very prolific!

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:00 pm

poohbear wrote:
Finch Fry wrote: This past saturday morning they were busy with the whole baby making process, which shocked me as I have only had them for 1 WEEK!
Waddya expect?...A long courtship and a chaperone?

Maybe the presentation of a seed to her for approval? Perhaps a dance with a top hat and cane to amuse her first. Maybe even asking me if it was ok it he took my female finch to be his mate.

*sigh* They grow up so fast!

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:18 pm

I blame the women.....

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:21 pm

At least no one is trying to say "blame Canada"... yet!

franny · Post by **franny** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:43 pm

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:06 pm

Pack it in Fran!!....We don't want porn on here...

williep · Post by **williep** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:10 pm

Couple of days at the most and you should see the first egg. Good luck, usually the problem with Zebras is not getting them to breed but getting them to stop. Good luck.

BTW - good one Fran!!

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:38 pm

HOLY CRAP

Leela laid her first egg this morning while I was at work!!! (I have a web cam aimed at the nest so i can watch from work... I am not telepathic).

The answer to my question is about 4 days from initial fertilization to egg laying (just like williep said). No clue if they are fertilized or not but I do not plan to candle them. If they havent hatched in 2 weeks, I will go in with some latex gloves and candle them quickly.

1 egg laid... probably more coming. I will start keeping track of the progress and take pictures.

DVBourassa · Post by **DVBourassa** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:43 pm

Within 10 days of purchase, my zebras had built a nest, mated, and had their first egg laid. Now they have four live chicks (4 or less days old) and one unhatched egg in the nest. Everyone's right, zebras don't mess around when it comes to reproducing.

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:46 pm

Exact same timing. Today is my 10th day owning these zebras!!!

Nest, mated and laid 1st egg on 10th day. CRAZY. I am ready though. I got everything at the ready for the babies and parents!!!

williep · Post by **williep** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:37 pm

Gotta give those Zebs credit for consistency.

Good job on the web cam, but I think I will spend all day watching my birds in stead of working so maybe it's a good thing I don't have one in all my cages and nests.

Good luck with your egg(s)!

franny · Post by **franny** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:21 pm

williep wrote:...Good job on the web cam, but I think I will spend all day watching my birds in stead of working so maybe it's a good thing I don't have one in all my cages and nests....

You mean you'd be all day watching the web cam instead of all day checking out the forum???

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:34 pm

And now we have 2 eggs!!!!

Fry, the male, seems to be absolutely insane about his nest building.

He is tearing up news paper from the bottom of the cage for his nest (which i removed so the ink doesnt get on them as well as it being toxic. Should I continue to supply Fry with nesting material even though Leela has laid 2 eggs with who knows how many more on the way?

Thanks!

FINCHforum

New Zebra Owner with Questions

New Zebra Owner with Questions

Re: New Zebra Owner with Questions

Re: New Zebra Owner with Questions