Cordon Bleus layed eggs...but

[missmadison]

My relatively new pair of BCCBs, who are housed with 4 societies, one spice and 2 Green Singers have claimed a covered bamboo nest and each day or so a new egg would appear. (I can luckily peer in very easily without getting too close!) One evening I saw 3 eggs, and then in the morning I noticed 4 eggs. Later that day there were 5. The next day there were 4 (one thrown out and eaten?) then 5, and so on. It all stopped at 8. It seems that the societies may be responsible for a couple of the eggs...since two appeared within hours and I do not think that 8 is usual for CBs...!

Another odd thing is that they did not put ANY nesting material into the nest. I hadn't offered much as I wasn't expecting these two to start nesting so soon after moving into the flight cage. I added some material and they have since worked it around the eggs.

They are incubating, but I'm not sure they are sitting at night. Does anyone who has experience with BCCBs have any insight into the strange goings-on?

Thanks!

PS I've since bought a large meal worm colony and some various soft insect food in preparation for hatching (if they hatch, not sitting at night worries me.) I also picked up a pair of supposedly reliable societies to be possible foster parents. They are in their own cage and I've given them a nest and an old egg to get them incubating.

[solo_birdlover]

First, are you sure you have a male and a female ? I once had two Strawberry finches thinking they were a pair until the eggs started piling up in the nest (13 eggs). Of course it turned out they were both females. If you're sure they're a pair then definitely some other bird is laying eggs in the same nest, which is a problem that you need to fix too. I don't know how the CBs would even allow another bird in their nest because from what I know they defend their nest against invaders.

As for the incubation, I know that most of the times birds don't start sitting until all eggs have been laid. Before that they don't sit on them at night. I'm not sure however if sitting only during the day is enough for the embryos to develop.

You probably have a young unexperienced pair and that's why they didn't put nesting material in the nest. My Strawberries did the same until I got a male and he was the one collecting the nesting stuff and putting it in the nest. It was the female's first time laying.

Having foster parents is a good plan with the CBs. As you already know these guys are notorious for tossing. I have a new pair but they don't seem interested in nesting at all. I hope one day.
Good luck.

[missmadison]

I'm sure its a pair since the males have blue on their cap and the female has a brown cap. I didn't think there could be any question with BCCBs. (?) I'm not sure how to go about stopping anyone laying in their nest though (which is certainly what has happened at least twice I expect)- unless I take them out of the flight. There have been 8 eggs for a few days now so I am sure they are done laying...but I'm wondering if anyone knows about the not incubating through the night situation? I have read that they should have 14 hour days at this point. I am planning on watching carefully for tossed society chicks at least (if the eggs hatch) and have both the new society pair AND my brooder/ hand feeding formula waiting for any tossed babies!

[Domenic]

I've read about this but I've yet to experience it. CB's like to roost on the perch so they tend to abandon the nest at night. I've read that if you leave the light on nonstop they will sit on the eggs relentlessly. You could try this though it may disturb your other finches. But I think if the light was left on all the time they would continue to sit. If not they just need more experience, as does any finch new to parenting.