Question about fledglings

[lisa64]

Hi, I'm new here. But I have had finches my entire life just have never bred them. My Zebra's laid 2 eggs of which both hatched but I only know when the first one hatched which was about 18 days ago. Not really sure when the second hatched since daddy kind of covered up most of the opening of the nest so I cannot see anything. One has been in and out of the nest for the last three days but the other has not been out yet or even poked it's little head out of the nest but, has a great pair of lungs (lol). Do they usually come out around the same time or could it have been laid later?

Thanks, Lisa

[Fraza]

It depends whenever they feel the need too the parents know the time and stop feeding them as much inside the nest so they come out for food also if she's m/he's over 3 week old you can bring it out your self

[cindy]

The parents will call them out of the nest when it is time to eat and they are ready to fledge. They will come out, some come out for a short time and go back to the nest and make little visits out... some come out and stay out. Good luck with your babies!

[lovezebs]

lisa64

Hi Lisa, and welcome to the Forum.

The babies will fledge when they are good and ready, and in their own time. If one baby hatched several days after the other one, he might still be too young to leave the nest, so I would leave him alone.

As long as parents are feeding both babies, then all is well .

[lisa64]

Thank you.
I love this forum with all the info here. You guys rock.
Yes, they are both being fed. I figured that the second egg was laid a few days after the first. Just wanted to check. They sure have good set of lungs. That's for sure.

[Fraza]

Yeh there is a massive difference in development between a day with the chicks

[Sally]

lisa64 Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on breeding finches. Congrats on the new babies!

[lisa64]

Thanks. I had to temporarily remove the daddy and put him in a smaller cage by himself because he started chasing one and trying to pull the feathers of the smaller one. Anyone else have this happen? If so what did you do? Thanks again

[Fraza]

Yeh people have this problem and they do the same thing as you lisa64

[Babs _Owner]

lisa64

Sounds like you took swift action and got the plucker-dad out of there. Hopefully mom can peacefully handle the kids on her own so the kids don't pick up any bad habits from dad.

Zebras are nuts.

Make sure mom has plenty of boiled egg and millet to keep the feedings up.

And our brave zebra owners can chime in on what else to do.

[Fraza]

When this happened with one of mine I didn't know what to do and left it in there too long and the her baby carried the mums traits of attacking and hissing

[sparrowsong98]

lisa64 As I am just finding out myself, zebs can be very nasty little creatures. Why he is doing that I do not know, but it could be just as simple as he doesn`t like that bird or something.

[Fraza]

Every zeb is like ie this u less you have two hand reared ones from different clutches that you breed also if u are thinking about getting more finches look at getting society finches they are the best very sociable cheap have amazing dances and most inpornatan they are the best parents and even foster you could have two males who foster your zeb babies

[lisa64]

thanks all. I didn't want to take chances so I just removed him to be safe. One of the babies is not ready to be on it's own while the other is because he eats on his own and he is at least a week older than the other. I would have removed the babies into their own cage if the little one was ready but it's not so daddy had to go for now.

[stargazerwolf]

He is probably thinking its time to breed again...sometimes they get impatient waiting to have their next clutch. Its good you removed him. I'm sure the mom can handle two chicks on her own