FINCHforum

My Societies, the odd couple (3) still do not know male(s) or female(s), have had babies and are taking what appears to be great care for them. I do not know how many as I can't see in. All i seeis pink heads with black closed eyes and feathers trying to stick out. I have been feeding them seed, plus adding in crushed hard boiled eggs w/shells and broccolli, and they love it and finish that every day.

The Zebras (2) now in a separate cage have just recently, finally, had eggs in their nest, same thing with the food and I don't know how many eggs.

Questions:

1. When do I remove the nest from the cages to keep them from breeding more?

2. At what stage of the babies growth do I do this?

3. When I remove the nest, should I
a. remove all nesting material so they can rebuild it?
b. leave the nesting material in there so they know it is theirs?
c. throw the nests away and just buy new ones (only a few dollars)
d. other options?

4. Is there anything else I should be doing, or what I am doing that should be stopped or changed?

Thanks in advance, an I do have family looking for birds when they get old enough.

Rob

It sounds like you're doing everything right. Privacy is one of the most important things yet one of the hardest things! I've had several clutches, and I still have a hard time giving my pairs privacy... I like to know what's going on in there.

I would remove the nest when all the babies have fledged and can perch by themselves. Once they can do this, they really don't need the nest b/c you usually don't want the parents to start another clutch right away. I usually just throw away the entire nest and buy a new one each time. That's just me though, everyone has there own way of doing it.

I'd toss the nesting material - it's usually pretty poopy by the time they fledge. I actually reuse my nests unless they are beyond disgusting.

1. When do I remove the nest from the cages to keep them from breeding more?

After the Chicks fledge, 19-25 days after hatching usually.

2. At what stage of the babies growth do I do this?

See above

3. When I remove the nest, should I
a. remove all nesting material so they can rebuild it?
b. leave the nesting material in there so they know it is theirs?
c. throw the nests away and just buy new ones (only a few dollars)
d. other options?

My personal preferance is like Hilary, toss it if in doubt. You also don't *have* to buy them "commercial" nests, there are tons of plans on the internet on how to cut milk/juice cartons, cardboard boxes, etc. Emily has a picture on another thread of some Society's nesting inside the box that one of those commercial bamboo nests came in ;) .

4. Is there anything else I should be doing, or what I am doing that should be stopped or changed?

Nothing I can think off off the top of my head.