Hen eating & drinking?

[TarponConch]

Am new to breeding javas. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a pair of normals that are incubating 7 eggs. Have been for 10 days. I'm kind of concerned because the hen almost never comes off the eggs. I don't know when she could be eating or drinking, although she must be getting enough nourishment because whe she does come out she acts fine. Is it possible that the male feeds her in the box while she's incubating? Anyone ever have that experience?

[Icearstorm]

TarponConch
My female gouldian behaves similarly when she's on eggs; she only comes off for about half an hour a day to eat and drink before going back in; if I'm not around all day, I don't see her. I have heard that both canaries and societies may feed each other while on the nest, so it doesn't seem too far-fetched that Java finches would too.

[TarponConch]

Well it kind of makes sense I guess. I hope she's as diligent at taking care of the babies as she seems to be at incubating.

[lovezebs]

TarponConch

Welcome to the Forum.

I have five young Javas, but no one is breeding, so I'm not really sure.

I do know that Canary males will feed their mates when they're sitting tight.

I know that with the other species of finches, they take turns in the nest once serious incubation has started.

If she's looking fine and acting normally, I wouldn't worry too much.

Goodluck with the egg babies.

[littlezebra]

Hi, i have a few javas at the moment, the hen is sitting on 9 eggs, but she gets out few times a day to eat drink and the male takes her place so probably she goes out, but only it is on times when you dont see it

[TarponConch]

Hi. I kind of thought that too, but if she is coming out it sure isn't for long. I guess all is well, she's just a real good mom so far. We're on day 13 of incubation. I'm getting impatient now.

[littlezebra]

Ye im almost on the same time maybe day 12 or so, at least mine is coming out for a minute or 2 to eat drink and strech her wings

[littlezebra]

so its a small windows to see but i do see her because she comes out in the morning and when i get back from work

[TarponConch]

I do really think she's not coming out hardly at all because it seems like the dad never stops eating all day long. Far more than what he used to. Then he disappears into the nest for awhile. When he comes out he eats again. He's like an eating machine. LoL!!! He does spend the whole nite with her, so I think that's probably good. Anyway, I'm driving myself bonkers with this. You'd think I was the expectant dad!!!

[TarponConch]

Ok, I need some advice please. My clutch of 7 eggs from my young pair of javas has gone like this. 4 of the eggs were infertile. Then two mornings ago I found a very immature baby on the cage floor dead. She was tosed by mom. That left 2 eggs that were growing normally. Today was hatching day for the first one. A fully formed nice healthy baby hatched. All was good all day. Then just a few minutes ago, I found the baby tossed. It was still very much alive and seemingly unhurt. I carefully placed him back in the nest about 30 minutes ago. Mom has been in with it all this time. Hasn't tossed it yet. What's some opinions on the possibility of her letting it stay and caring for it?

[TarponConch]

Also, part 2 of this question. I know there is no real way to know why it was tossed, but is it possible that mom got disturbed somehow. My 2 year old grand daughter went running in the bird room yelling and hollaring late this afternoon. Could that have freaked mom out. Now that all is quiete, does anyone think she might continue on and raise it if there are no more interruptions? It truly was heartbreaking to see that baby laying there so alive.

[lovezebs]

TarponConch

It is entirely possibe that Mom got freaked out by your grand daughter, and jumped out of the nest carrying the infant with her accidently. It does happen.

You did good, to put it back in the nest, and hopefully parents will continue to care for him.

Just to be on the safe side, I would buy some handfeeding formula, and be prepaired to handfeed if they toss again.

If nothing happens, then all is well (keep the handfeeding formula in the freezer for future need), but if you need it, you have it at hand.

[TarponConch]

Well thanks. At least you've given me some hope. I'm sitting here on the floor keeping vigil until it gets dark allthe way. I'm hoping that if she's in for the night all night with the chick that maybe all will be ok. The male has been spending all night every night with her for two weeks. I'll be curious to see what happens tonight, if he does as well.

[TarponConch]

Just an update in case anyone is interested. All is still quiet. The male did join the female as usual in the box for the night. Everything seems normal again. I guess tomorrow will tell the tale. The other egg that's left is due to hatch tomorrow, so it should be an interesting morning. If she does accept the baby back, it would appear that the reason for the tossing was she got startled. Here's hoping. Can't wait till morning.

[TarponConch]

Hi all. Another update on the tossed hatchling. I've been totally staying away from the pair so as not to possibly spook them again. However I needed to replenish their eggfood. While doing so, mom popped out of the nest. I took a chance and quickly checked the nest. The tossed hatchling from yesterday is still alive. I guess she accepted it back. So it's been a little more than 24 hours now since it's hatched. Will mom have started feeding it by now, or is it still living on it's egg yoke? I'm kind of assuming if she doesn't feed it and it dies, she'll toss it out again. Any thoughts out there?