Laying already

alwaysfullofjoy · Post by **alwaysfullofjoy** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:41 pm

My zebra babies are only 15 days old and the hen is already laying again. I did a nest check when I can home and there was a little egg in the middle of the three chicks. The chicks haven't even fledged yet. They won't be coming out of the nest for a couple more days now. I'm going to pull the egg but how do I keep them from mating? I can't take the nest yet the babies are still in it. What do I do, just pull the eggs as she lays them and hope they stop breeding?

On another note, one of the babies is gray with white tail feathers and has a little white on its shoulders and white on its little head. I haven't seen all of it of course I have to wait a few more days to see just what I got. The other two babies are cute little gray guys.

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:15 pm

My zebras do that all the time. I just keep pulling out the eggs while they still have fledglings in the nest. Once the fledglings are old enough I take them out and move them to their own home.

Then when Mom and Dad start laying eggs again, I take the eggs out and substitute them with fake eggs. Now at the time I needed them I could not find them here locally, and to order from online would take too long. So, I went to the craft store and picked up that bakeable clay. You know, the non-toxic stuff that you bake in the oven at 275F? I got some white,and made a dozen little white eggs and baked them. They are cleanable, and they can look like real eggs.

Anywho, the zebras can't tell the difference, because right now Romeo and Juliet are taking turns sitting on 6 fake eggs made of bakeable clay. hee hee hee..

Jeannette

alwaysfullofjoy · Post by **alwaysfullofjoy** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:28 pm

Thank you for the idea. I was at a lose as to what to do. I can't see if she has layed more the babies are in the way.

Hubby saw the little ones hanging on the inside of the nest today. Hopefully they will start to come out soon. I can't wait to see them. I really want to check out the spotted one. I did get a good look at the tear drops on the gray babies eyes. They are too cute. Sorry way excited. Babies I didn't have to raise.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:50 pm

Jeannette,

Great tip on the bakeable clay eggs!

With zebs you get alot of bang for your buck. The are so easy and undemanding, they really get you hooked on birding. And don't ya just love the way the chicks sit with their heads poking out of the nest? So cute!

TammieB.

alwaysfullofjoy · Post by **alwaysfullofjoy** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:36 pm

There are three eggs in there now that I can't get too. This is why I will use nest boxes in the future. The babies are still in the nest today and are sitting on three eggs I need to take out.

Is this going to cause a problem between mom and chicks? Are they going to run them off? I want to take the eggs but don't want to force the chicks from the nest to do it. Hopefully they will leave tomorrow and I can pull them then. I just hope she's done. She only had 4 last time so........

These guys breed more than rabbits.

FINCHforum

Laying already

Laying already

Forcing a rest between clutches