Update Zebra's and Societies

robbocop · Post by **robbocop** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:33 pm

Just passing along progress, my cage has 5 birds 3 societies and 2 Zebras, all get a long well with the exception of a little nest turf issue that happened a few weeks ago. (Noting serious, I have 2 nests) , zebras made a nice nest, societies took it over, I removed the nest that the zebras had made up and left the empty one in the cage, societies moved to the empty one, placed the "furbished" nest back after a few days and zebras took that back. So now everyone has a home. 2 zebras in one and 3 societies in the other. I stil have no cluse as the the sex of the societies, no singing, nothing. They all groom each other and hang around together. Well 4 days ago I noticed that at least one society of the 3 is always in the nest, I peeked in, and there are several eggs (4-7) cannot see and don't want to upset anyone. The three societies still take turns on the nest swapping off for food, water, baths, or just out.

I am wondering if I have 2 females and one male and they are sharing the nest, or if they are a happy threesome a "manage a trois" (funny - LOL) Anyway that's where we are and if all goes well I will fill you in as time goes by, I am guessing according to my readings that the total incubation may be about 12-14 days?

Also as a side note, when I went to peek in the nest, all 3 soicieties flew out immediately, and the male zebra tried to take it over, as he was keeping everone else away. I waited a few minutes and all was back to normal, 2 of the 3 societies back in the nest.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:04 pm

You could also have 3 females... you never know with societies. But if there are 7 or more eggs, my guess is you have at least two females. Maybe you'll get lucky and they'll be fertile...

I have only one society pair and I was lucky b/c I got my female from an experienced breeder who isn't high volume and he watched my female for a long time before determine that she was in fact female, and then sold her to me. So I knew I had a female. Then, I went to another place to get my male, and I just watched all the societies for about 10 min. til I saw one sing. Then, I bought him. So I have a really great pair, that are great parents. Their most recent clutch all fledged and are weaning. All 6 hatched and are doing great.

I bet you'll have more luck with babies if you have each set in their own cage. If you really want babies that is.

Anyway, societies are definitely one of my favorite finches!

mango8271 · Post by **mango8271** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:20 am

Hi

The trio of bengalese i had 2 females and a male both females laid but only half the eggs where fertile so i think the male had paird and only mated with one but the spare hen helped feeding and gave the chicks 3 parents to feed one clutch so they did very well and since that was my first clutch of bengalese i was very happy

i hope all goes well fo you but beware that the bengalese and zebras may hae some trouble with each other depending on cage size and would agree with emily that maybe best to place in them in ther own cages next time but time will tell:)

Ash

robbocop · Post by **robbocop** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:36 am

Ash, mine are Societies and Zebra's not Bangalese, unless that is another name for the societies.

Rob

Post by **Sally** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:48 am

Bengalese is another name for Societies.

robbocop · Post by **robbocop** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:02 pm

Thanks, learn somethng new every day.

Rob

mango8271 · Post by **mango8271** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:54 pm

yes sorry bengalese is the name for them in this country its easy to think that they are a different species

FLAMEonfire · Post by **FLAMEonfire** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:00 pm

Nest wars seem to be a part of life with birds in the same cage. The way I handle it is by putting more nests then I have pairs in the cages. They'll nest hop until they find one they want to have a clutch in but I've never had bad wars. Just skirmishes.

robbocop · Post by **robbocop** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 5:56 pm

Well it is 15 days since I saw the eggs, (Last post on this was Sunday 8/26), still there are 2 of the 3 societies incubating 24/7 with the pairs alternating. I still don't know who the male(s) or female9s) are. So here are my latest questions. First of allI don't know if the eggs hatched as I can't see in under them.

Would I hear the babies if only days old?

If they have not hatched, is 15 days a concern?

Do I need to do anything food-wise, or do Mom and Dan do with what they have?

Thanks in advance

Rob

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 5:59 pm

I can't normally hear the babies within the first 3 days of hatching... I would provide eggfood everyday and as much fresh food as possible.

robbocop · Post by **robbocop** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 6:36 pm

Fresh food would be fruit and mealworms? Any other recipes?

Post by **Sally** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:37 pm

Societies don't need mealworms at all. Unless they are used to eating a lot of fruit already, I would stick to veggies, especially dark green ones like kale, spinach, romaine, broccoli tops. You can chop the veggies fine and then mix with the eggfood, if you want. As Emily said, you usually can't hear the babies right at first, then they will start getting louder each day. If the eggs haven't hatched, the parents will eventually abandon them. At fifteen days, you could still have eggs yet to hatch.

FLAMEonfire · Post by **FLAMEonfire** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:53 pm

Emily is right, you need to give them egg food everyday

What I use in my eggs is: hard boiled eggs combined with dried egg shells and zupreem fruit flavored diet. I take the egg shell and the zupreem and I crush them into a power. This can be accomplished with a piston and mortar, or a small hammer or even a rolling pin. Along with this mixture you can add crushed sun flower seeds and/or wheat germ. I use both. You can give this to them a couple of times a day once the babies are born. Just don't leave it in the cage more then 3 to 4 hours at a time.

Then during the day you can treat them with broccoli heads, cooked sweet potatoes, or some kind of green leafy veg {kale, carrot heads, Romaine Lettuce, spinach, etc.

On other days you can use fruits instead,. My societies like oranges and bananas.

All in all, just don't worry too much, they pretty well take care of themselves even without all the extra help in food products.

Give them clean water, a good nest, some birdie food, and once in awhile a treat or two. {Plus the eggs} and as time goes by you'll be surprised how many babies you're going to have...

Keep in touch and let us know how it goes!

Sorry Sally you posted while I was giving water to my babies, and I didn't see your post LOL

Post by **Sally** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:33 am

The same thing happened to me yesterday--while I was thinking about what I wanted to say, someone else was already posting--it's so funny when that happens!

robbocop · Post by **robbocop** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 3:25 pm

Well the eggs (or some of them hatched in the Societies nest). As I said earlier, I didn't know how many eggs I had. With the three birds staying in the nest 24/7 in shifts of two birds in and one rotating out, I have heeded everyone's comments in this and other posts and not bothered them. When I had the opportunity to look in (2 birds out and still one in the nest) I saw at least 2 heads and a still unhatched egg. So I still have no count. I have been giving them the crushed hard boiled egg, which they seem to love along with thier regular seed. I will keep you posted as time goes by.

The Zebras are still just hanging in there, no sign of eggs yet. Any advice is always welcome from the group, and I am of course open to comments and suggestions.

Thanks all, cigars are in the mail

Rob

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Update Zebra's and Societies

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