A pleasant suprise...

rowaradragon · Post by **rowaradragon** » Sun May 27, 2007 7:13 pm

Well, I found out yesterday that i have two eggs in my finch's nest. I got told that they will not hatch but to get rid of them after the hen no longer sits on them. Now when will I know when to get rid of them? Should i just toss them when the time comes or is there a better suggestion? What if it hatches? *doubts it* then what? do finches lay eggs that are infertile? Cause the people I got the birds said that the hen was like a chicken and laid a lot of eggs. So.. yea. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Sun May 27, 2007 7:20 pm

do you have a male and female finch in together? If you do then yes the egg could be fertile. Hatch time varies a bit but I think it's 14 days generally, after the parents start sitting regularly. If it's been a few weeks and they are not sitting vigilantly or they have been and no hatching, you can candle the egg to see if it's fertile.
If it hatches make sure to provide mom and dad with lots of egg food and other nutritious foods and they should care for the chick until it's old enough to fledge.
Yes finches will lay infertile eggs, this is one reason why it's important to provide a calcium source to your birds at all times. All birds need a calcium/mineral supply, however hens that are laying especially need it to replenish lost calcium during the egg making process.
Most (if not all) female birds will lay infertile eggs.

rowaradragon · Post by **rowaradragon** » Sun May 27, 2007 9:38 pm

ok, thanks. Yes, they are male and female.

rowaradragon · Post by **rowaradragon** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:29 pm

Umm, the male seem to be a nest hog and is being mean to the female, not like pecking at her but... I dunno. He seems to be taking over the nest and be all puffed up. What's going on? thanks

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:05 am

how is he "being mean" to the female? It's normal for both the male and female to sit on the eggs. If he's incubating maybe this is what you mean by puffed up?

rowaradragon · Post by **rowaradragon** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:53 am

Well, i know that both male and female take care of the nest and the male is almost always puffed up outside the nest too. I guess he's not really being mean. But he does kinda push her away by puffing up and opening and closing his beak a little. and scooting her down and away from the nest.

rowaradragon · Post by **rowaradragon** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:40 pm

Now i tihnk i know why. The lady bird is picking his butt feathers off. i had never seen her do ti till today so I never knew how they went missing. But now I know. But now what should I do.

rowaradragon · Post by **rowaradragon** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:23 am

i just looked at some stuff on breeding and i realized the birds take too long of breaks... over 5 mins at times so I don't think that any chick can survive that. Thus meaning i won't have any chicks no matter what.