New finch owner....need some advice please

[finchmunks3]

Hello everyone I am new to owning finches but I have done sone research and know a few things. I am looking for some guidence and tips on how to properly care for my new feathered friends.

First I have 3 zebra finches. 2 males and one female. I believe one of the males is a young from the older two. (Sorry for my lack of proper terms). I have been giving them a finch seed as that is what they came with and as I have been looking online I seen that eggs are good for them as well. So today for the first time I offered them mash hard boiled eggs with shells. They loved it, I wasnt sure theu would but it was a hit. Now my question is ...

How much and how often should eggs be given?
What other food should I be offering them and how often?
Is there special foods I should be feeding when the female is laying eggs?(as I have found an egg in the nest yesterday and one new one today)
Any other helpful tips would be apperciated.

Thanks!

[debbie276]

During breeding and nesting I offer egg every day, shell and all.
Welcome to the forum

[Angela&Shalamar]

check out all the articles on the site they are informative. Many things can be offered to birds...kale, spinanch, sweet potato, broccoli, and the list goes on. I feed different veggies each day specially during nesting and egg laying. Once the nesting and rearing is done I'd back off of giving egg much more then once a week or so as it can sometimes encourage the female to lay too much which can deplete her own calcium stores.

[finchmix22]

Welcome to the forum! There is lots of information in the Finch Information Center at the top left of your screen. You can find information on cage set up, sizes, food, breeding, behavior, health etc. Also, members are very willing to answer questions too. Enjoy your new finches!

[finchmunks3]

Thank you all for the welcome and advice.

I have been looking around and trying to navigate the site looking for any information I can get. We are at three eggs now and I have offered egg everyday and they gobble it up.

I have been looking into it and I think I will need to add some vitamin D to their water as well.

[debbie276]

There is vitamin D in the hard boiled egg but if you think they need more I would sprinkle it on the egg food rather then add to their water. Adding things to their water can make the water go off quicker and there are times when the birds don't drink because of the taste which would be very bad.
Good luck

[Sally]

Welcome to the forum! If you put your general location in your profile, it will help later on when answering questions about where to buy supplies, etc. We always love to hear about member's finches, especially pictures of them!

[ml830]

Hi Finchmunks3 and welcome to the forum! I'm fairly new to bird-owning, too. I learned how to take care of them and what to feed them the same way you have...by research and then trial and error. You're so lucky your birds love eggs. One thing I found mine LOVE is germinated sunflower seeds. I saw some growing under my bird feeder outside, so I washed them, cut the whole plant and roots up, and they were gone within 5 minutes. So, I took some of the whole birdseeds in the shell and planted some in a big pot. My birds are in heaven! Broccoli is another favorite, too, and that helps out with vitamin D.

[debbie276]

Broccoli is another favorite, too, and that helps out with vitamin D.

Broccoli has no Vitamin D in it but it does have Vitamin K and Vitamin A along with other goodies.
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/veg ... cts/2356/2

[Angela&Shalamar]

My guys favor broccoli too.

[ml830]

Oops on the vitamin D thing! Sorry!

[debbie276]

Oops on the vitamin D thing! Sorry!

No biggy Vitamin D is one of those vitamins everyone is looking to supplement so I just didn't want anyone to think broccoli was doing it for them.

[ml830]

Thanks, Debbie276, I need to re-read the info on veggies!

[debbie276]

A good reference to nutrients and their sources is on this link:
http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/nutrients_and_sources.php

Also here for safe, toxic and unsafe foods:
http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/safe_toxi ... _foods.php

[tcrose88]

Adding onto this question, since I am a new bird mom, too: has anyone had any trouble getting their birds to eat fresh foods? My guys don't really seem interested in anything besides millet, seed, and the dried herb salad in their seed dish.

Do you put the fresh goodies inside of their food dish, or at the bottom of their cage? I only have room for two dishes, food and water, so the bottom is my only other option. Any suggestions?