A measly 2 eggs

[MariusStegmann]

My 3rd pair of Parrot finches has started incubating 2 eggs. As far as I can remember this is the first time ever that a hen of mine has laid less than 3 eggs! And there is nothing wrong with their diet. They get fed very well. Now I only have 1 pair of parrot finches that are not raising chicks or incubating eggs. The pair have settled on a nest at least. Before they were undecided between 5 different nestboxes.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann
Two eggs, are better than no eggs, my friend.
I have a pair of Gouldians ( who tried to murder their chicks and suceeded with one, not sure about a second one which disappeared) that are now alone in a cage with a nest. She laid three eggs, then both of them sat around the nest watching the eggs for something like two weeks. Finally I had enough, and tossed the eggs which were clear. Neither one of them would sit on the darn eggs. Just stared at them, expecting a miracle. So if yours are sitting, be .

~Elana~

[Ginene]

MariusStegmann...it sounds like you are having a very productive breeding season, even with this 2 egg clutch. Please keep us posted on all the tiny little wonders that will be hatching in the coming weeks. Best of luck to you

[MiaCarter]

Did something happen that could have disrupted them?
Sometimes a scare or other disruption can cause them to stop laying a bit earlier than they would have otherwise.

And sometimes, they just have a small clutch for no rhyme or reason as far as I can tell.

Whatever the case, that's good news for you! I'll keep my eye out for updates!

[MariusStegmann]

MiaCarter You might be right, something could have scared them. I recently got a pair of canaries, and the canary hen is sitting on 3 eggs not more than 3 feet away for the parrotfinch nest. The canary cock lords it over the other birds in the aviary and my son reported heavy fighting between the two cocks the previous weekend. The canary cock is obviously much bigger and stronger. Elana, you are also right, I am ungrateful.

[KarenB]

I just had a measly two gold breasted waxbills that fledged!! Yay for their two measly little lives!!

[Smurf]

Marius, it sounds like your having a good season so far with 3 pairs breeding, i wouldn't be too concerned with them only laying 2 eggs especially as it sounds like the canaries could have disturbed them.

At least you should find out if the're producing fertile eggs and good parents. I'm sure next clutch will be larger.

Possible reasons for incomplete clutches would be disturbance, inexperienced young birds or an elderly hen

[MiaCarter]

I bet that canary was to blame. That could definitely qualify as a disturbance if they were having at it.

I've had rather small finch clutches this year 1 (from 2 eggs), 2 (from 4 eggs) and 3 (from 5 eggs).
But I actually prefer it that way, as I keep everyone whom I breed, so the smaller numbers are actually better for me. And honestly, if I ended up with more than 4, I usually pull the excess. (I didn't pull with the last clutch with the Gouldians as I honestly didn't expect any real survivors as they were first time parents, in a nest instead of a nest box and I know they can be slow to get in the groove. But shock me, shock me, shock me, all 3 fertiles hatched and fledged!)

But I bet if I was going to sell the offspring I'd want more than 2 too!

[MariusStegmann]

KarenB I also had 3 GB chicks during our winter. The 2nd clutch they had consisted of infertile eggs.

[MariusStegmann]

Smurf The hen is supposed to be 2 years old. But you really can't tell, some breeders spin tall tales. At times they want to sell their junk birds that has one or the other problem. Then they tell you what you want to hear. Small RF clutches annoys me because it is reported on the internet that parrot finch clutches are between 4 and 6 eggs. So far I have had only one clutch of 4 eggs, where 4 hatched and 3 survived. Maybe the PF clutches in South Africa are smaller.

[Smurf]

MariusStegmann , i think alot to do with the clutch size is because of the age of hen, all my hens are last years and lay between 4 and 6 eggs with 2 clutches of 5 fledglings being my best result, i've also only had 2,3 or 4 fledglings from full clutches of 6 eggs. Fertility issues are generally to do with the cock due to either age or obesity.

I totaly agree with you that bird sellers will tell you whatever you want to hear in order to make the sale even when they know that there's something wrong with the birds, one of the sales pitches i hear too often is that the birds are 18 months old which i now never believe unless it's closed rung or being purchased directly from a trustworthy breeder

[MariusStegmann]

I now prefer to buy parrot finches that still has to colour up. Then I at least know for sure that they are young. The problem with a 2 egg nest is if only one chick hatches, the begging might not be loud enough and the parents often leaves one chick to die. Maybe they recon it is not worth their while. I think that I have a nest with 4 redface parrots chicks. They suffer a lot in the heat that we are currently having. I will see when they fledge, it should be within the next week.

[Gráinne Barrett]

Oh you are so lucky with 2 eggs! Mine won't even build a nest right now!!! they will soon though

[MariusStegmann]

The secret to my success is a huge aviary. My aviary is 5.5 meters by 4.5 meters with another 3 X 1.5 meters with glass windows added to the side.

[MariusStegmann]

Ginene This is especially for you Ginene. This is a picture of nest of RFPF. There are at least 3 chicks inside. I am hoping for 4. The father is pied and it looks like they might have a bit of pied because both upper and lower beaks have yellow colouring. They will fletch in this coming week.