Shaft tail mating behavior?

jendavis · Post by **jendavis** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:44 pm

Hi all,
I'm new to finches and the forum. I just adopted a pair of shaft tails. They took to each other as a new pair very quickly. The first night they cuddled on the branch together. the next night and there after they have been sleeping in their little nest.

I provided nesting material and our little guy built his new lady a home. So after two weeks there is an egg in the nest....... So I have a few questions.

1. Only one egg and it's been a week an half. they are not incubating what do I do? take out the egg? wait for the rest of the clutch?

2. Today it was all normal behavior, singing, churping.... then I hear noise from hanging out on the bottom of the cage. Our lady is sitting/hoping on the bottom. I went to change the water and she didn't move up to the branches ( like normal) I'm worried. she looked like she was injured...she's wobbly, but can't really tell. Is she about to lay an egg? He is showing mating behaviors. (tired to hop on) I just put in egg food and she eating it. maybe she needs more nutrients?
not sure what this all means

any advice would be appreciated....thank you!

Post by **Sally** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:57 pm

Is your hen puffed up, with wings kind of droopy, sitting on the bottom of the cage? This usually is from being eggbound, and you need to take action quickly. If you have any liquid calcium, give her a drop of it right in her beak with an eye dropper. At a minimum, put her in a small cage with some heat (wrap a heating pad around the sides, or even just a desk lamp with the lamp aimed at one end).

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:26 am

Hello Jen...just wanted to say welcome to the Forum!

Hopefully somebody can help with your questions.

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:39 am

I agree with Sally that she may be egg bound. Give her calcium and keep her warm.

As for the pair not incubating the single egg that is not unusual as most finches will start their incubation after all the eggs are laid. But you may have BIGGER problems at hand.

Chris

jendavis · Post by **jendavis** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:30 am

Thanks for the responses!

Yes I am very concerned now. She was puffed up, eyes were half closed. and wings were droopy. she looked up to him on the upper branches and thought about coming up but looked like she could not. I put her in her nest to make her more comfortable then covered the cage with a smaller heater near by. I do not have any calcium on hand but i did put a small dish of egg food on the floor and she ate some.

Should I liquifly the egg food? go get the calium and eye dropper?
what is does egg bound mean? will she lay another egg? will this happen every time she lays an egg till the clutch is complete?

I just uncovered their cage about 30 mins ago and her eyes look perky. he came out of the nest and is singing to her. she is still in the nest. I think I will take a half sick day to go get these items.

thanks again everybody!
jen

Post by **Sally** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:20 pm

Hi, jen, and welcome to the forum. I'm glad your hen is looking a bit better. You may have a hard time finding the liquid calcium--I don't know how the pet stores are in your area about stocking bird items. If you have a breeding pair, it is always a good idea to have a liquid calcium on hand for emergencies. A heat source is needed, as heat is one of the best things you can offer a sick bird. A small hospital cage is nice to have, and sometimes necessary to isolate the bird.

Eggbinding is one of the most serious conditions you will find with your hens, and it can be quite common. There are some articles at the Finch Information Center, linked at left, that will explain it to you. It is also pretty easy to eliminate the problem, with supplements and diet. Breeding hens need extra calcium, protein, and fat. You will just have to experiment to see what your birds will eat, they are all different. You can try adding a little safflower oil to their eggfood, or palm oil. It is always good to have a supplement that is specifically made for breeding birds. Keep us posted on how your hen is doing.

jendavis · Post by **jendavis** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:54 am

Hi Sally,

thanks so much for your advice. The Mrs. is doing great. she is much better. i think she was egg bound and stressed. Yesterday I found dark yellow spot (yolk?) on the paper. I put heat and placed her in a separate box for awhile. she's now back with her mate. Everything looks good. I did pick up some supplements and bird calcium.

thanks for all the advice. I do have another question. she opens up her beak when I change the water and food. is she mad?

thanks
jen

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:36 pm

I'm pretty sure an open beak means she is stressed.
Are her wings open slightly too when she does that?