population explosion?

[mohum]

Hi. I acquired an outdoor aviary and introduced some roosting baskets and a new male zebra finch. I was hoping the baskets would be used for shelter and maybe some limited breeding in the spring.
However, they started nest building and there are now some eggs. There is room for a few more birds but I need to know how to prevent over population in the future. Is it ok to just remove all the nesting sites and any stray eggs or do I need to separate the sexes? Also is any extra feeding necessary if the eggs hatch?

[Sally]

If all your birds are Zebras, you can expect a population explosion, they are the rabbits of the bird world. Nest/nesting material encourage breeding, so you will need to remove all nests/nesting material once the babies have left the nest. They may still continue to lay eggs in odd places, even dropping eggs while sitting on a perch. The only way to completely stop it is to separate the sexes.

Once you have babies, be sure to give the parents lots of egg food. Egg is full of protein, which the babies need for growth, plus lots of other good things for their bodies. Most finches will also relish some veggies, as well as spray millet.

Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on breeding, nutrition, and especially the Zebra finch.

[amandap]

To echo what Sally said, remove the nests!! The birds will be perfectly happy to sleep on perches, especially if there is enough plant material (fake plants are fine) for them to hide in for a sense of privacy.

I learned this the hard way when my population when from 6 to 11 almost overnight. AND they started laying again in new nests before their nestlings even fledged. I just took those eggs away and cleared out the nests. They dropped a few more eggs, but that has significantly slowed down now.

[Zebrafincher]

Unless you keep single sex cages you will have eggs n babies. If you have females you will just have eggs ( and they can still become eggbound). Tbough ive lived ny little female canaries n finches i have only males now due to this. Good luck. Zebrafincher

[Stinch]

Rabbits of the bird world, that's a good one I normally think of them as the lab rats of the bird world actually... Since they are tested on, more than any other bird (They also have had their genome sequenced). I wouldn't count on just taking the nests out (Be careful, they'll nest in anything. They would even nest inside a boot or hat, heck even your pockets if stay still for enough time ), but it will work. I guess, if they were society finches (which they aren't),I would take out the nests and have enough of them to inhibit breeding successs. I know societies prefer socializing over breeding, most of the time (I haven't tried that with zebras, I might get a 3 pairs sooner or later).

[Jason in TX]

You are clearly well meaning in wanting to give your birds a secure spot. IMO they don't need it unless they are breeding. Over the years I gave my Zebras and now my Goulds all kinds of nests, boxes, hiding places, but ALL prefer sleeping on swings in the top middle of their cages. It may be a learned behavior, but it is unanimous. At 5 til 7 they start jockeying for a prime swing for the night (except mothers prior to hatch). My point is, don't feel bad not having nests!

[Spreckles]

Rabbits that is a good one. It's TRUE! My friend had zebras and they literally crowded themselves to death..sad story. Also how I got started with birds. She gave me some. We made jokes about making deviled eggs.....