breeding but not breeding. anyone have thoughts please...?

[Waxbillman]

I noticed my waxbills having a romantic moment today but I have not seen them exhibiting any other forms of breeding behavior. Have not noticed the female sitting on the nest provided for them or anything like this. They just seem to act normal. Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced this? Also a quick question about nests. I provided them with a canary style cup nest that is external to the cage. I covered it with some cardboard so it is kind of like a little cave with a cup nest inside. You guys think this will be ok? I thought about changing out the nest and putting a tube style nest but I feel if I disturb them now with something new in the cage they might get stressed. I will also add that I do notice that they roost in the canary nest and at night go to sleep inside of it. I appreciate any and all knowledge shared with me. Thanks in advance
Pete

[lem2bert]

Waxbillman

I would let them keep the nest they have if they are going into it. Maybe they just don't feel comfortable enough to mate yet. Do they have enough egg food, and calcium ?

[Waxbillman]

Yes they have fresh eggfood every day and a cuttle bone in the cage. Plus some added calcium in their food. I saw them mating. The problem is they don't seem to be interested in making a nest. Very strange. I thought human's were the only animals who mate without wanting babies lol. My green singers began making a nest right away once they mated. I witnessed their mating spectacle on saturday lol and now they're just going about their business as if nothing happened. As if they had a one night stand lol. Have you ever seen this before?

[lem2bert]

Waxbillman

Actually I have and I feel so bad for my female....he gets her and holds on to her head and I would swear he was going to kill her. She had laid eggs but they fall on the floor I think when mine were building their nest it was the male doing the building....have they put nesting material in the nest ?

[Waxbillman]

No they have not. I had put a very small amount of coconut fibre to start them off but i have not seen them ever add to it. I'm surprised you have also seen the same thing.. They don't fight or anything. They seem pretty well bonded to each other.

[lem2bert]

Waxbillman

They are the sweetest little birds , the female is so delicate looking.... Mine made their nest out of dry orchard hay .... mostly for the foundation you can get it at petsmart , but where your birds nest has a foundation you might want to try sisal fiber, They really like the sisal fiber for the inside as it is very soft. Just put some thru the bars of the cage , away from their nest and see what happens. It may just take them a while to get use to a new home and their surroundings. Hopefully once they realize there is enough food to feed babies they just might come around !!!

[lovezebs]

Waxbillman

What species of Waxbills are we talking about?

[Waxbillman]

We're talking about gold breasted waxbills.
Btw i just purchased some meal worms. I'm trying to gut load them to feed them to my green singers for their hatchlings. Anyone have a idea of how long it takes for the mealies to get fully gut loaded?

[lovezebs]

Waxbillman

If you keep them out of the fridge they will eat and eat, so it shouldn't take more then a few days. Don't keep them out of the fridge too long though, as they will get big and turn into black beetles.

If they come in a dirt mixture I would take them out and put them in bran to clean them out, both inside and out.

Offer them some potato, carrot, apple, they'll eat it all. Just make sure to replace the food regularly, so that you don't get mold in there.

[Waxbillman]

Thank you Elana. I kept them out of the cage for one day now I figured by tomorrow they should be good to go. Thank you. I wasn't sure if it takes a few days or maybe two weeks.

[lovezebs]

Waxbillman

Once they've eaten well for a few days, offer your birdies a few in a glass dish (so that they don't climb out), and place the rest in the fridge where they go into hibernation.

Take them out once a week or so, feed them, leave out for the day, then replace in the fridge .

[Waxbillman]

Thank you Elana. I will take your advice. I just made another post in the breeding section. I am so upset. When I left for work this morning everything was fine. I just got home and discovered the two little babies on the floor of the cage. They were far from the nest. Carried there by one of the parents. If I had to guess I would say the male. But I don't understand why. Everything was fine. He was feeding the female while she was sitting in the nest. It seemed he even fed the babies occasionally. I see no reason for this to have happened! They had plenty of food and water. This was my first breeding experience and it became a horrible one. I feel so bad that I was not here to see who the culprit was and possibly save them. the mother seemed very attentive. Not neglectful. The only thing I can think of was that the male did so that he could breed again. The babies looked healthy. I saw them feeding them last night. I don't know Elana. I have heard different things from online. Some say to remove the male other's say to leave them as is. I am clueless. This is the second clutch from this pair. The first eggs were empty. Please offer me any advice you have. Thank you
Pete

[lovezebs]

Waxbillman

Replied to the issue of tossed chicks in your oypther Thread.