Baby Finch HELP!!

Clauzilla · Post by **Clauzilla** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:52 am

I have 3 Zebra Finches, they have in past laid eggs that never hatched. I have 2 greys ,male and female and 1 white female. The white has 5 eggs, I shined a light on them a few days ago and it looked as if 2 were dark, kept looking, looked this morning nothing, went to college, returned for lunch and I have a baby.....didn't touch him, nothing more than standing on the stool looking in nest for maybe less than a minute, left returned home around 9 pm, see mother is sleeping on a perch, not in nest, think maybe she heard me come in and just flew out...get light look in nest see baby sleeping, no others in nest. The house is about 72 so not really warm. Go about business, keep peaking in at bird ( she can't see me) and she has NOT gone back into nest box, its now midnight and she has not gotten off her perch. The other finches are in their nest sleeping the entire time, even me looking in the nest did not wake them so I am not being disturbing. So now what to I do, I don't want to jump to conclusions, I know a baby can live about 20 hours on the yolk sack, but what about chills....what should I do if she doesn't want him in the AM and he is still alive? I have done wildlife before so I have raised sparrows from day one, but I do not have them time to do this, if she doesn't want him can I give him to the other birds?.....PLease someone give me some answer, I posted on another forum and NO replys. Idon't want him to die unhelped.
Thanks

Email me if you want. Clauzilla@aol. com ( space added so as to post)

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 1:25 am

my first thought would be to not check the nest so frequently. It may be very hard not to, but it can make them really nervous and leave the nest entirely. I am sure you will get some better advise from seasoned breeders as the morning dawns (in the US anyhow

)...keep an eye on your posting. Also, how is mom acting? Have you given her extra supplements to help her be able to care for the chick? She may be weak or sick if she has not moved from the spot on her perch in hours. Have you noticed either of the other pair bothering mom, maybe chasing her from the nest or anything like that? I have heard of zeb's pairing up and bullying the third wheel. If the cage is large enough, after this event, you may want to get a second male for the loan female, or get a second cage and pair her up with a male that way if your present one is not big enough to hold four zeb's.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:08 am

clauzilla,

Zebras are usually very good parents. Is this their first time to have any babies? I would not keep looking into the nest if possible so much.

If the baby is still alive this morning she is possibly feeding it.

I have had this to happen and I know you may not want to hear this, but something may be wrong with the baby. Sometimes mother nature just has to happen.....

Keep us posted and let us know....

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:13 am

I have to agree with the others that yuo should try to not peek so often. She may not be able to see you but she may see your shadow or hear you coming near the cage/nest.

I don't think there's really much you can do if she doesn't want to take care of it. IF you have other birds with eggs that have just hatched, you might be able to give this hatchling to them but still they may not accept it.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

Clauzilla · Post by **Clauzilla** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:07 pm

Well this morning the bird is still alive and it looks like now she wants to be a mother. She is feeding it, also I wasn't peaking into the nest alot, I directly looked in the nest 2 times, that is no more than normal, I was a across the room checking on her so I was not even coming near the cage, she slept out on the perch all night, in the AM I turned on the lights and she popped into the nest. No other eggs had hatched this morning, I put new seeds and millet and egg food in the cage so I hope she knows what she is doing.

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:51 pm

I am glad to hear that she took a look into the nest and is acting more like a momma and I am sure that she will know what to do from here. Like the others said, zeb's typically make good parents. Keep us updated, I hope your little one makes it!

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 6:13 pm

That's great that she went back in the nest in the morning. Mother Nature is wonderful... usually.

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Baby Finch HELP!!

Baby Finch HELP!!

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