When I got my two Zebra finches 6 months ago I was thrilled to bits when they laid their first egg.....I called my relatives, my friends, nearly threw a party with all the excitement--I thought it was miracle. Okay, so now I'm a little wiser. Their first clutch of eggs, there was only one survivor. Now we are on clutch #2.
I was so sure (hopeful is probably more accurate) that although the Zebras laid 9 eggs, not all of them would hatch. Not only have they hatched, they are all thriving like crazy, flying around the cage , squakking non stop, and now the parents are laying new eggs!
I am not going to let them raise more babies because I think 9 is enough for now. The babies all stuff themselves into the nest at night for sleeping (don't ask me how) so I don't want to take their bed away. It's time to strategize a way to stop their prolific breeding.
What if I simply take out the new egg that gets laid each day until they get the message that it ain't gonna happen? If I keep removing the eggs, will they just keep laying them? Or should I remove the nest altogether and just let all those babies huddle together and sleep on the perch? I don't want to be mean to them.
Anita
9 eggs, 9 survivors...I must be doing something right
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anita
- Pip
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- Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:41 pm
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mickp
- Weaning
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- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:23 am
- Location: South Australia
get that nest out of there fast, although it wont stop any new eggs straight away as the hen will already be full of them. she will probably continue laying for up to two weeks on the cage floor. just remove each egg as you find it. the little ones will be just fine on a perch.
keep a close eye on the hen though, she may try to sit on any new eggs even ones laid on the cage floor and zebra young can start to breed from as early as 3 months
keep a close eye on the hen though, she may try to sit on any new eggs even ones laid on the cage floor and zebra young can start to breed from as early as 3 months