Zebra Finches stopped sitting

24 Oct 2012, 08:23

Hi all,

I have a pair of zebra finches who have layed 3 eggs. All was going well, sitting and nesting for 7 days then the past 2 days I haven't seen them in the nest during the day but are in there at night. They had pulled all the nesting material out of the nest but the eggs were still in there. Then this morning they have started rebuilding the nest and the hen is again sitting on the eggs.

Question 1 - do you think the eggs will still be viable? Temps here between 17 -22 0c during the day.

Question 2 - is this common for finches to leave the eggs during the day? If not, any suggestions as to why? Plenty of food and water, and fresh food too.

Thanks

24 Oct 2012, 12:09

Are they young and inexperienced? Could something have upset them? (Not common, most Zebs are bomb proof) They may be aware that the eggs are infertile and starting again.
LML

24 Oct 2012, 13:28

It was very windy here the last couple of days, could that be it?

They haven't kicked the eggs out, would they do that if they knew they were infertile?

Thanks for posting back, any info is greatly appreciated.

24 Oct 2012, 13:32

Eggs wont be viable......too many nest inspections? young inexperienced pair.....too much going on around them? As FB said usually ok....good luck with next lot...

24 Oct 2012, 14:34

I haven't done any nest inspections, I can see into it from outside the cage.

I'm not sure how old they are but they were sold to me as mature.

They are back sitting on them again so I will wait until the weekend when they were due to hatch and see what happens. If nothing then I will take them out and let them start over.

Thanks for your help.

24 Oct 2012, 18:43

Exactly what I thought was happening with my zebs, not sitting during the day, so I sold them to make room for the star finches and gouldians, go to clean out the nest box... 2 chicks in their. Now i'm hand rearing 2 baby zebs

Mine didn't sit when I was watching but sat when I was gone. When ever you walk past my bedroom now all you hear is *mipmipmipmipmipmipmip* drives me

24 Oct 2012, 19:20

Finch_Breeder wrote:Exactly what I thought was happening with my zebs, not sitting during the day, so I sold them to make room for the star finches and gouldians, go to clean out the nest box... 2 chicks in their. Now i'm hand rearing 2 baby zebs Mine didn't sit when I was watching but sat when I was gone. When ever you walk past my bedroom now all you hear is *mipmipmipmipmipmipmip* drives me

Same for me though I was lucky I didnt need to feed them..

mine didnt sit and had a well hidden nest. When I removed them to sell them I noticed 5 babies sitting on the floor. Scooped em up and out them with the parents who still fed them luckily. I noted that the hens didnt sit during the day or at least when I was around. I found that they associate me with green food and mealies so they were always on edge when I approached the cage eagerly awaiting a treat.

25 Oct 2012, 13:28

Thanks for the feedback.

Hopefully I'll have good news next week!

25 Oct 2012, 13:47

Play safe. Leave the eggs till they are due to hatch, plus 3 more days in case. Good luck. Some of mine leave the nest when I enter the avairy to see what I have for them. And some I can put my hands round the nest, carry it out into the safety area before removeing my hands and then have to shoo the parent off for inspection. They vary considerably in personality.
LML

28 Oct 2012, 11:56

An update,

She has been sitting on the eggs again, on and off.

Today is day 13 and she has laid another egg and kicked one of the old ones out of the nest.

I guess I will leave them all together as I now don't know which ones were the old ones and which is the new. Maybe she is just starting all over again. But would she not get rid of all the old ones?

Thanks