when to remove the nest?

[apachetear]

my little zebra finch baby fledged yesterday and i was wondering, how long after fledging should i remove the nest? we dont want them to breed again so wan to remove the nest as soon as we can to discourage breeding behaviour. the baby slept the nest again last night, he's still a bit unsure of life outside the nest. The parents appear to be getting rather tired of sleeping in the nest with him, the femele usually does howeve she seems to prefer sleeping next to the male on a perch now, shes done that for the last 2 days.
sorry if this is in the wrong section, i wasnt sure where to put it.

btw it probably appears like i'm very misinformed on taking care of birds as i'm always asking questions, but its my first time owning birds so i would rather check everything to make sure i'm doing things correctly.

thanks in advance =)

[Domenic]

You know, I'm wondering the same thing as you and I would love to see the answer you get to this. My zebra chicks will be fledging in a couple days.

I just wanted to say that you should definitely not be shy asking questions for fear of looking incapable of caring for your birds. The fact that you are always asking questions means to me that you are very capable of keeping birds because you are always trying to learn more and do more to make them as comfortable as possible. I think everyone on this forum feels that way about people who ask questions. I know I certainly do.

[lovemyfinch]

I removed my zebras nest as soon as I saw that the fledglings were staying out of the nest for a little while, and able to perch comfortably. If you don't want any more right away be quick to remove the nest, zebras are very very prolific. BTW we all live and learn, and have to learn somewhere, each species is different and have different habits - as I am slowly learning.

[L in Ontario]

I remove the nest the day or two after they fledge. Some remove it the same day. Finches do not need nests to be happy and comfortable.

[Sally]

I just wanted to say that you should definitely not be shy asking questions for fear of looking incapable of caring for your birds. The fact that you are always asking questions means to me that you are very capable of keeping birds because you are always trying to learn more and do more to make them as comfortable as possible. I think everyone on this forum feels that way about people who ask questions. I know I certainly do.

Very well said, Domenic! No one should ever hesitate to ask questions on this forum, we all learn from them.

With Zebras especially, get that nest out of there as soon as the babies fledge, or the parents will be starting their next clutch!

[Finch Fry]

Always ask questions.. its good.

As for me, I wait till every finch has fledged. The instant I see that, the nest is out.

[Domenic]

With Zebras especially, get that nest out of there as soon as the babies fledge, or the parents will be starting their next clutch!

Sally what if you do want the parents to start another clutch but you're afraid they will abandon the fledglings? Can you take the nest out and then put it back in after the chicks wean and the parents will pick up right where they left off? I just can't see that happening because finches are very insecure about people touching their nest. I feel like it will take them weeks to feel comfortable again to start a new clutch.

[ac12]

@Appache
The parents could have mated before the chick has fledged. If so, even if you remove the nest immediately, the hen may still lay eggs "someplace" in the cage. Mine started laying eggs within days of the chicks fledging.

Be aware that even w/o a nest, the parents could still be mating, and the hen laying eggs. I finally had to separate the mom and dad to stop the hen from laying eggs.

@Domenic
I would still remove the nest so the parents can concentrate on taking care of the fledglings.

Before the chicks fledge, you have 2 options:
1 - Remove the nest.
So the parents can concentrate on caring for the fledglings.

2 - Keep the nest in the cage.
The problem you "may" run into is, the parents may stop caring for the fledglings cuz they are concentrating on their next clutch.
The chicks being in the same cage "may" interfeer with the hen incubating the eggs. Especially if they want to sleep in the nest.


When the chicks have weaned. You have 2 options

1 - Keep the chicks in the cage, and put the nest back.
The problem you "may" run into is, the parents may be aggressive to the chick, because they want the chicks "out of the way" so they can start another clutch. My hen was very aggressive to her chicks after they weaned.
Even if the parents ignore the chicks, the chicks being in the same cage "may" interfeer with the hen incubating the eggs. Especially if they want to sleep in the nest.
The chicks may learn how to be parents if you leave them in the cage, and if the parents are not aggressive to them.

2 - Remove the chicks
So the parents can start another clutch w/o the disturbance of the chicks.

One hint. Band the chicks as soon as they fledge. If you wait until they molt, you may not be able to tell the parents from the kids. I waited too long, and I mixed up mom and one of the daughters. I figured out my mistake by watching who cuddled up to dad.

[Sally]

If it's Zebras, they will probably pick right up where they left off when you put the nest back in. As ac12 said, they usually continue to lay eggs in seeds cups, etc., even after the nest is removed.

My Owl pair that just fledged two babies were already laying eggs in the nest before the first clutch fledged. They are sitting on four eggs, and the fledglings may join in during the day off and on, but definitely at night, mom, dad, 2 fledglings all pile in the nest--those four eggs are certainly being kept warm! Mom and Dad don't seem to have eased off on feeding the fledglings, either. By the time these eggs hatch, the fledglings will be close to weaning, so I can remove them from the cage at that time.

[apachetear]

thanks everyone for your advice, i'm going to take the nest out tomorrow probably. The plan was to take out this morning but my female , tear , had alot of difficulty laying on egg, (looks like they wanted another family even before the baby had fledged!), so i think i should leave the nest in for now for her to have a good long rest in. The baby also seems unsure of the outside world, he only stays out for a few minutes then retreats to his nest, bless him his parents are crazy so i would want to stay in that nest as long as possible too!

[ac12]

apache
They don't need the nest to rest in.
The nest is a breeding stimulus, so if you have the nest in the cage, expect to find eggs.

The chicks will go back into the nest as long as you have the nest in the cage. Mine would go in many times during the day, and always at night to sleep.

[apachetear]

The nest is gone, i removed it this morning. all seems well so far. Thanks for all your advice.
This forum is a great source of information.

[ac12]

They will look for the nest for a few days. That happened when I removed the nests in 2 cages. The birds would go to where the nest was and look around like they were saying "where did my nest go?" They will get over it in a few days as they settle into roosting on a perch at night.