Emergency Zebra finch egg care!

[Theresa.mc]

Well, this is one way to introduce myself to the fourm.. Mother zebra finch abandoned her eggs after we had to remove dad from the cage. (Yes, we where all positive that she had abandoned them) I candle lit them and saw the embryos moveing. I am currently the foster mother for them. We had nothing to incubate the eggs in so they stay in my bra for warmth until I got home. It was about 6 hours in there, as far as I can tell both are fine. Checked when I got home and saw ones hear beat normal but the others embryo was moveing around lots. They are currently in a make shift nest int my geckos terreriam since it's nice and warm there. I made she that there is no way my gecko would disturbs the egg. I'm turning it once ever 3 hours but I need help. I have no idea how to care for finch eggs, let alone hatch them on my own or how to rais them. Long story short I need ALL the info... I apologize for anything I have done wrong thus far with care but t
I'm a hormonal wreck and I dI'd not want to just toss them... also we have absolutely no idea how old they are

[Babs _Owner]

Theresa.mc

Welcome to the forum!
I have used and RCOM mini incubator in emergencies with a very low hatch success. I dont know how well your reptile enclosure will sustain them. They have to be turned every hour and on a constant 99 degrees.

If they hatch...this is the set up I use for the babies to handfeed.

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=36591

[Icearstorm]

Theresa.mc

If at all possible, finding someone with society or zebra finches ready to foster would be the best option. Hatching and hand-rearing are rather difficult and/or time-consuming. Can you post pictures of the eggs being candled? Some of us may be able to determine the age of the eggs.
Here's a useful article regarding candling and incubation: Eggs

[Sally]

Welcome to the forum! It's difficult to incubate finch eggs successfully, so good luck with it. If the eggs do hatch, you've already gotten some good advice, and there is information here about how to use a baby wipes warmer as a brooder. Handfeeding is time consuming but so rewarding.

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12274

There are also many good articles at www.fiinchinfo.com. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier for members to help you.

[ac12]

Understand that once the eggs hatch, you are now the mommy for the next 6+ weeks.

Read the reference in the FIC.

The first few days are the hardest.
You have to feed the hatchling a "tiny" amount every hour or so. And you have to be SUPER CAREFUL not to get food into its lungs, or it will aspirate and die. Yeah it is scary to do.
I have never had a hatching survive for more than 4 days. But others have. So it can be done.

Get your food NOW.
I use LaFebers Nuti-Start. Others use Katee Exact. Get whichever one you can find, and read up on how to use it, and get the feeding implements. And do a dry run, so you know what you have to do and can find any problems in your process.

Tip: to determine food temp, I use an IR thermometer similar to one that Harbor Freight sells for about $17. Because the amount of food that I mixed was so small that I could not use a cooking dial thermometer.

You NEED to make a brooder to keep the hatchling/chick at the proper temperature. There is a thread on making a brooder.
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12274
Set it up NOW, because some take a bit of time to get to the correct temp and the temp stabilized.

gud luk in your decison

[Theresa.mc]

[quote="Icearstorm"]Theresa.mc

If at all possible, finding someone with society or zebra finches ready to foster would be the best option. Hatching and hand-rearing are rather difficult and/or time-consuming. Can you post pictures of the eggs being candled? Some of us may be able to determine the age of the eggs.

I can't figure out how to attach a photo I have take from my camrea roll onto here