Birds returning home, should I treat with anything?

[nelloyello11]

As some of you may have read, I had to relocate my zebras for a couple of days while an exterminator came to inspect and possibly treat our apartment for bedbugs. We didn't have any but the lady downstairs thinks she did.
Anyhow, they came home today and are settling back in as I type this.
They are getting vitalize in their water. Is there anything else I should do for them, as far as precautionary treatment? The house they stayed at does not have any birds.

Also, before all of this happened, I was planning on setting my BC pair up for breeding. Should I wait a week or so, or go ahead and put the nest in now? I've been VERY anxious to breed them, but have been waiting til they were old enough and we were back from vacation. I'm dying for some BC babes, but if advised, I can wait a little longer...

[cindy]

Nelissa, I would give them your normal food, some veggies, if the house did not have any birds there should be no need to medicate.

You can go ahead and offer the Black cheek a nest. I have BC and may I advise using either a Canary bamboo nest or a nest box. The standard finch size bamboo nest has a tendency to be a bit small for them.

Keep us posted and I hope you have a good clutch of BC babies...I adore my BC pair.

[nelloyello11]

Nelissa, I would give them your normal food, some veggies, if the house did not have any birds there should be no need to medicate.

You can go ahead and offer the Black cheek a nest. I have BC and may I advise using either a Canary bamboo nest or a nest box. The standard finch size bamboo nest has a tendency to be a bit small for them.

Keep us posted and I hope you have a good clutch of BC babies...I adore my BC pair.

Thanks for your response, Cindy.
They were raised in a plastic canary bowl, like this:

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/img-sh ... ary-tn.gif

I plan on giving them one of those, as well as an ABBA nest box and letting them choose.
I've never used a nest box before though, should I put anything in it, since it's just a flat bottom?

[ac12]

I partially build the nest in the nest boxes, primarily to cover up the bottom of the box. Although some birds don't build a nest and just accept whatever is there. Give them grass or other nesting material and see if they add to the nest.

[nelloyello11]

Thanks, Gary! My other pair of zebras went crazy with the nest building, and I really enjoyed watching the process. So I am really hoping these will do the same.
I put both nests in, empty for now, and they seem curious, but not daring enough to go in just yet. If they don't start soon, I willadd some material to get them started.
Ohmygoodness! I'm so excited!!!

[cindy]

I add a tiny bit of Cozy Comfort to the bottom of the nest...sometimes my black cheek buil other time not. This last time that buil a really nice nest in a plastic mesh cyliner using ong coco fiber. Then then went on to foster 3 penguin eggs/chicks and three of their own.