spice finch was nesting, took nest away

[garuda]

Hi there

I gave my boy/girl Spice finch pair a nest because they looked so lonely on their little perch. They started to fill it with bits of grass and so forth and they jump on each other in a, um, "mating" sort of way.

I read on this site that the nest will probably lead to babies.
I can't handle the stress of worrying about more little birdies! I took their nest away and they looked bummed.

So my question is...since they were clearly getting ready to have a family, is my hen going to pop or something now that she might be pregnant if she can't lay eggs? I don't really know how their reproductive cycles go....
Is she going to die if I don't let her lay eggs now that she wants to?

Thanks for your help.

[B CAMP]

Well I don't think she will die, what will happen is she might or might not lay eggs if she lays them in the bottom of cage or in seed cup just throw them away,if you don't want them to have babys.
They dont have to have a nest to sleep they will do fine on a perch

[garuda]

Thank you for the prompt answer B Camp!

[Christopher Smith]

Spices finches sleep in a a nest at night. If the they don't have a nest they become stressed.

[garuda]

Really? I have never heard that Spice Finches need nests...

[williep]

I've kept spice finches before but never provided the young birds with nests. I sold them when they were 2 years old and had no problems or deaths in taht time. They should do fine IMO, if you don't want the stress of babies don't give them a nest.

[Christopher Smith]

Really? I have never heard that Spice Finches need nests...

Yes really. Most lonchura species roost in a nest at night. Please read the last few lines in the "habits" section http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... _finch.php

And they may not die if they don't have a nest but they will be stressed. Most stressful situations are not life and death. I figure if we are going to put these creatures in a cage we are obligated to give them the best that we can. But to each his own.

If your worried about them laying eggs, replace the eggs with dummy eggs. Or keep them in same sex pairs.

[B CAMP]

I have had spice finches for thee years and mine havent sleep in nest at all the cage has three nest that they don't use at all? The chicks are raised mostly on seeds (dry and soaked), greens, and some insects. Once the chicks fledge, they may continue to sleep in the nest at night for the first few nights or more.