FINCHforum

Well, I told Crystal she would be the first person to know if the firefinches started laying eggs in a previous thread, soooo..

They're laying eggs! At least I think it's the firefinches becuase they spend the most time in that nest, but the egg was laid while I was away at work, so it could have been one of the indigos laying an egg in the firefinches nest since they are parasitic brooders.

Guess we'll have to wait until it hatches. *fingers crossed*

Jeannette

Congratulations! I'd be thrilled with chicks from either pair!!!

Hilary

Same here! Good luck, Jeannette!

A word of advice:

When these guys hatch out (yes i do know i'm jumping the gun a little) they are going to want plenty of small items of live food to start with. Mealworms might do, but if you can get some maggots or better still - termites I highly reccomend it. Failing this you might also try whiteworms. If you dont have anything but mealies, now would be a good time to look into sourcing some maggots, etc.

P.S: magots are often referred to by the name "gentles"

Good luck! and thanks for the update!

I've got my fingers crossed for ya Jeannette!

Thanks Everyone but they burst my bubble today! We went out for a car ride to the boonies and I remembered what MadHatter said so I thought ..'HEY! We're in the middle of BF nowhere! Someone here MUST sell live bait! look at all the fishing holes!' So we went from gas station to gas station looking for live bait and nope. Nothing. No one sells live bait anymore.

So I'm stuck with only mealies unless I can order some stuff off the internet and my credit card is WAY too high as it is. Sigh.. bird purchasing frenzy last weekend. 'nough said.

Anywho.. So while we were out, something happened, because now the male firefinch is in a totally different nest sittin in there! I peeked into the nest that they had their egg in and it's gone. So unless they picked it up and moved it into the other nest, I'd say someone got to their egg and ate it or destroyed it.

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

So now we're back to square one waiting for them to lay another egg. Sigh...

I'd like to know which of the indigos did it, or maybe it was one of the firefinches.. hmmm.... Where's Columbo when you need him?

Jeannette

Ahh, I hate to hear that!

None of the birds looked guilty and perhaps had egg on its face?

is it possible the egg just got buried under a fresh layer of nesting material?

I thought that too, so I'm waiting a day or so just to make sure they really have abandonned that nest, and then I'll check in the stuffings.. But I'm pretty sure it's gone, as there wasn't much nesting material left in the cage to cover it. I remove all nesting material once I see them laying eggs, just so they don't bury the eggs and lay more on top of them.

I'll check later today...

Here's hoping you're right..

Jeannette

What is Murphy's Law, again? Isn't that the situation that arises when you FINALLY find maggots after searching for MONTHS for a live bait store, only to find your firefinches nest is barren of eggs now??

Yeah, that's it.. yup.

Anywho. At least now I know where to get maggots at.

They also sold green worms, leaches and dew worms. Are any of those good for finches too??

Jeannette

Okay.. we have another egg. *crossing all appendages*

Jeannette

Good luck, J!

When you say the indigo finches are parasitic brooders, that doesn't include killing the other finches eggs does it? Hopefully just sneak an egg into another nest type thing. I saw this nature show once where the CHICK murdered the other nestlings when it hatched by shoving them out of the nest. Was brutal and sad but still amazing.

Well, that's a good question. Unfortunately, we can't find alot of information on the indigo. From what I have read though, there is no mention of destroying the eggs of other species, just sneaking in, laying an egg, and leaving.

Definitely something to keep my eye open on...

Jeannette

JeannetteD wrote:
They also sold green worms, leaches and dew worms. Are any of those good for finches too??
Jeannette

I would give the leeches a miss - too risky.
I have no idea what the others are either...