New Finch Parent... THERE'S AN EGG.

[amandap]

I've been reading the Finch Forum for a little while now, but this is my first post. Thank you to all whose posts have been incredibly helpful. This time I'm looking for some really specific input.

I'm a brand new finch parent and like all parents, there are some things I would have done differently if I had known. Let's call them rookie mistakes.

I started with a 36 x 18 x 18 cage and four finches. Two male societies, one female zebra, and one shaft tail (gender unknown). I didn't even know that the last one was a shaft tail. Not wanted to support a big box store with unknown breeding practices, I bought them from a birds only store about an hour away from home. Not sure if that helped, the woman working that day didn't know much about the finches. I would have gotten more shafts, but that was the only one they had.

Long story short, the societies were a little mean to the other two and I quickly realized I needed a more cat proof housing situation. I read that six finches get along better than four, so I built a larger aviary (pictured below - though I've since added some greenery) and added two male zebras.

I had hoped that not providing nests would discourage aggression and breeding (I'm not ready for baby birds). I realize now that just having one sex would have accomplished the no breeding much more effectively, but again, I'm a rookie.

About a month after they moved into their new home, I came home last night to find an egg in one of the food bowls. I haven't seen any breeding behaviour, no one has been sitting on the egg, and there aren't any new eggs. Can I just throw out the egg? It seems cruel. But no one seems to be paying attention to it anyway.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Sally]

Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on housing, diet, and the general care of finches. Florida is a great location for finding finches, as there are many marts throughout the state. You are correct that six or more finches in a cage seem to get along better than four, but having just one female may cause quite a bit of trouble (though the Shaft-tail could also be a female). If there is any way to swap out that Zebra female for a male or a male of another species, that would help. Often though, we get attached right away, and so it is difficult to rehome birds.

There is nothing wrong or cruel in tossing eggs IMO. It is far worse to let them continue to breed if you don't want babies or don't have a way to rehome babies. Many people have used this method to control breeding.

[amandap]

Thanks, Sally. The girl Zebra, her name is Fawn, seems to get along with everyone and kind of seems like the leader. She tries everything first and gets along well with everyone. The societies and the male zebras get a little testy with each other from time to time, but nothing serious. The shaft, Latte, is the odd bird out. Though no one is bullying Latte, Fawn is the only one that seems to befriend her/him. It would be really hard to rehome her. If I must, I will divide the aviary into two levels (by putting a shelf back into it) and get her a girlfriend, and get another boy for the other deck. Though my wife really only agreed to two finches and I'm already up to six!

[MiaCarter]

Hi and welcome!

I wouldn't hesitate to discard an egg. It's not developed, so it's no more alive than the eggs in your refrigerator. So no harm there.

Now, if they'd been incubating, that might be a bit different. I have pulled fertile developing eggs early in development - a week or less. I won't pull any older than around 10-11 days of incubation as to me, I see them as alive at that point and I would feel guilty. (I've actually got that precise dilemma right now. I was away from home in the hospital and I came home to 4 eggs that are a day or two away from hatching. So I'm going to just let them hatch. I have the room and the love to offer, so it's okay. A little frustrating that it happened in the first place, as I told my husband to check for eggs, but it's okay. The ship has sailed! LOL)

Generally, most birds won't incubate without a nest (there have been a few cases of babies raised in food bowls, but they're relatively uncommon.)

So chances are they're not in breeding/parenting mode anyways, as evidenced by the fact that only one was laid. (Usually, when they're in parenting mode, they'll lay one a day until they have a full clutch. Most will start sitting once they have at least 3-4, though some sit from the first egg and others don't sit until they've laid the entire clutch.

Welcome again! You've got a lovely little set up!

[amandap]

Thank you, MiaCarter!

Sorry you had this frustration on top of a hospital visit. Sending you happy, healthy thoughts.

[lovezebs]

amandap

Welcome to the Forum.

The one egg problem, eh?
As was mentioned above, you should be able to remove this one egg, without any problems, most especially since no one is incubating anyway.

The problem I see with your community combination (as Sally mentioned) is the one female ratio to four or five males. In the short run, you will have problems with males fighting over her (both the Zebras and Societies, possibly the Shaft Tail as well (if it is a male).

Regarding adding more Shaft Tails.
If you decide to do that, get your present Shaft Tail sexed, either by a very experienced breeder , or dna testing. If you end up with two males, you may end up with bloodshed (especially with that one little Zebra female in the equation).

Good luck and best wishes.

~Elana~