Painted finch pair: Should I clean the nest?

FINCHIE · Post by **FINCHIE** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 5:01 pm

My painted finch pair have been trying for months now. They have been sitting on eggs for months and nothing is happening. My problem is, is that the box has started to smell, as though there are dead babies in their or something. I feel like I need to clean it out. It is a very big breeding box, full of grass and other nesting material and it would be almost impossible for them to take things out of the nest, i.e push out infertile eggs?

So , should I take it down and clean it out? I feel really bad, but there has to be something dead in there and I don't want to create a breeding ground for disease?

Your thoughts greatly appreciated.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 5:10 pm

Yes...if it's as bad as that...start afresh...preferably new box.They'll soon adapt to it.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 7:16 am

remove the old nest and replace it with a new nest. I wouldnt bother to try and clean the old nest, just bin it.
my painteds dont "push out" infertile eggs they eat them, I'm sure of it. as they always lay 4 - 6 eggs and usually only 2 hatch & fledge. but once the young flrdge there have never been any eggs left in nest and none on ground either.

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 8:45 am

Finchie when you say painteds do you mean emblema picta ? painted firetail ?Just wondering as different counties use different terminology.I have never had a painted firetail nest in a box.Mine always use nesting brush to build there own nest.They also love to line the nest with small pieces of charcoal.This maybe to protect the eggs and keep it dry.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 6:29 am

mine use pieces of cuttlefish. has me beat as to how they manage to fly with it they look so out of balance

FINCHIE · Post by **FINCHIE** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:12 am

Thanks. I figured out that it wasn't actually their nest that stank it was another, old abandoned parrot finch nest.

But they seem to be in there alot, and no babies so far. It is a very big old nesting box, and they have been on it for months. Ohh well I guess I ll just wait and see what happens!

They are Painted Firetail finches, (Emblema picta).