Help,birds sleeping at night

[trljr14]

I would like some feedback.I had a nest box in when my gouldians were breeding.I took the nest box out after birds fledged.My wife is driving me crazy,she thinks the birds need some place to sleep in.I have gouldians,society,and star finches.I told her they can sleep on the perches,but she thinks im being cruel to the birds,thanks tom.

[franny]

Many people think they need nests to sleep, but most finches actually just roost at night. Societies (and other finches) will often sleep in a nest if you provide it, but certainly don't need it.

In fact, it can do more harm than good if it causes any of the females to keep laying eggs. They need a rest period as laying eggs depletes them of calcium and other nutrients. Sometimes the only way to make sure they stop laying eggs is to remove nests.

My Goldbreasted Waxbills raised 4 babies this fall, and when the babies fledged in late November, I left the nest in for the first week or so, as they were all returning to it at night. But when I saw that the hen had laid 2 more eggs, I removed the nest as it was time for her to rest from raising a family! She laid no more eggs, and they all sleep peacefully at night, lined up together on a perch. Now that it's just Mom & Dad finch, they are also just fine cuddling together at night. And I don't even cover my cage. The overhead light goes out and they know it's time to settle down. So tell your wife not to worry. They will be fine without a nest!

PS.Besides, too many birds sharing a nest and it can get pretty dirty! So best to have one in there only when intending to breed them, unless you want to be tossing out eggs a lot.

[L in Ontario]

Franny said it all quite well - finches do not need nests or nestboxes to be happy.

[poohbear]

Birds roost fine on perches...you tell her they don't get four posters in the wild

[franny]

Wow, I love this picture! Proves the point. They are all so cute, sound asleep like that.

[trljr14]

To everyone that replied thank you.The pictures of the birds is cute.My wife finally got the message that the birds dont need a nest box to sleep in.I only started with my first pair of gouldians in july.Then i got a pair of societys,and now have a pair of star finches.

[dfcauley]

No, they don't need a nest. And gouldians will not sleep in a nest anyway.

But I am with you....... I always feel like I need to supply a nest for my birds that like one. My owls, shaftails and society finches all like to sleep in a nest.

[bonnies_gouldians]

Poohbear - I keep having to change my background on my computer. i cant decide which picture that you post is the cutest!!!

[poohbear]