Hi all, i am very new to the finch world after being given two female zebra finches for my birthday in October. I think I'm doing OK so far, both birds are still alive, but i do have a few issues.
Is it normal for my girls to lay eggs so frequently with no male around? I'm currently getting about 3 a week and they can be found anywhere from the floor of the cage (usually still in tact) to in the food bowl. I don't have a nest and i remove the eggs when i find them. Im not sure whos laying which as they're never sitting on them so unsure if its both birds or just one.
I'm trying to keep their calcium up but not too sure how apart from the cuttlefish and eggshells but they're not interested in the latter.
My cage is rather on the small side, which unfortunately i didnt get a say in as it was a gift. I'm currently trying to find something new so i can have a few more birds (once ive mastered these two) but I'm not sure what's best for them. At the moment they are kept upstairs inside beside an open window that's warm but shaded, and they hang outside when I'm home if weather permits. Is this Ok?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Just another newbie
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Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire
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- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
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Re: Just another newbie
Females can lay eggs, even without a male being present. Are you feeding a high-protein diet, such as supplemental egg food? If so, I would cut back on that, as protein can be a breeding trigger.
As far as keeping their calcium up, a mineral supplement such as oystershell grit heps with calcium, also eggshells (which you are already giving). You could always supplement with a liquid calcium from time to time, but I don't like to give this on a regular basis.
Fresh air is fine, sunlight is desirable as long as there is an area of shade so they don't get overheated. If you put your cage outside, watch out for predators such as hawks or neighborhood cats. Make sure that the cage doors are secured shut with twist-ties. I'm assuming you aren't in the northern U.S. or Canada!
As far as cage size, finches like flight room, so I would get the largest cage you can afford or have room for. Minimum size for two finches would be 30x18x18". Finches prefer a cage that is longer than it is tall, if possible, though some height is OK as long as they have the horizontal length for flying.
Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find articles on finch care, housing, diet, and especially the Zebra finch. If you put your location in your profile, it makes it easier to answer locale-specific questions later on.
As far as keeping their calcium up, a mineral supplement such as oystershell grit heps with calcium, also eggshells (which you are already giving). You could always supplement with a liquid calcium from time to time, but I don't like to give this on a regular basis.
Fresh air is fine, sunlight is desirable as long as there is an area of shade so they don't get overheated. If you put your cage outside, watch out for predators such as hawks or neighborhood cats. Make sure that the cage doors are secured shut with twist-ties. I'm assuming you aren't in the northern U.S. or Canada!
As far as cage size, finches like flight room, so I would get the largest cage you can afford or have room for. Minimum size for two finches would be 30x18x18". Finches prefer a cage that is longer than it is tall, if possible, though some height is OK as long as they have the horizontal length for flying.
Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find articles on finch care, housing, diet, and especially the Zebra finch. If you put your location in your profile, it makes it easier to answer locale-specific questions later on.
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Clueless
- Pip
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2014 4:04 am
Re: Just another newbie
Ok that's very helpful!
I was looking at new cages today, and found heaps i like that are taller rather than longer, but i only lean towards this as its easier for me. They do seem to enjoy their outside time and im worried about cutting that out of their lives when i have a cage i can't cart around so easily. Will do more research tomorrow!
But my pet shop exploring today leads me to my next question, will my girls get along with all other finch breeds? Or do i need to stick to certain types. I only plan on getting females for now, babies are in the distant future!
Thanks for the website, i can't seem to find anything closer to home that would be more appropriate but at the moment I'll take advice from anywhere!
I was looking at new cages today, and found heaps i like that are taller rather than longer, but i only lean towards this as its easier for me. They do seem to enjoy their outside time and im worried about cutting that out of their lives when i have a cage i can't cart around so easily. Will do more research tomorrow!
But my pet shop exploring today leads me to my next question, will my girls get along with all other finch breeds? Or do i need to stick to certain types. I only plan on getting females for now, babies are in the distant future!
Thanks for the website, i can't seem to find anything closer to home that would be more appropriate but at the moment I'll take advice from anywhere!
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Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 17929
- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
- Location: DFW, Texas
Re: Just another newbie
Zebra finches tend to be pushy, though some are better than others about getting along with other finches. Unless you have a pretty good-sized cage, I would not advise adding more birds to the two girls you have right now. If you are interested in other species, the better choice would be to get a second cage.
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Clueless
- Pip
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2014 4:04 am
Re: Just another newbie
Hello again! I chose a new cage and my birds seem to be doing great in there 
I went back to work on Monday after having time off for Christmas, to discover we have been given 4 male zebras and a large cage. No one seems to know much about them, so I've taken them under my wing (haha) but I haven't done any research on males as i don't plan on having any myself. Will they need anything different to my females?
They all seem relatively healthy except for one, i noticed right away that he was missing a large amount of feathers from his chest. After watching him for a while he seems to be ripping them off with his beak and dipping them in the drinking water. Is this unusual behavior? I suspected bordem and ive loaded the cage up with things to do but im yet to notice if this has made a difference. When i found them they only had seed and water. He seems healthy otherwise.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I went back to work on Monday after having time off for Christmas, to discover we have been given 4 male zebras and a large cage. No one seems to know much about them, so I've taken them under my wing (haha) but I haven't done any research on males as i don't plan on having any myself. Will they need anything different to my females?
They all seem relatively healthy except for one, i noticed right away that he was missing a large amount of feathers from his chest. After watching him for a while he seems to be ripping them off with his beak and dipping them in the drinking water. Is this unusual behavior? I suspected bordem and ive loaded the cage up with things to do but im yet to notice if this has made a difference. When i found them they only had seed and water. He seems healthy otherwise.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!