Lesbian Zebra couple

[Niki_K]

Thought you guys might find this interesting- I'm carrying out a study looking at incubation and offspring provisioning in Zebra finches, and how chronic stress affects this. The birds are microchipped, and I have readers sitting in hte mouth of the nestbox, which tells me who went in there, and for how long. I had a single female adopt one of these nestboxes, and start laying eggs- no male has ever entered that nestbox, so I have no idea who the dad is! Anyway, near the end of incubation, another female started stopping by and incubating the eggs as well, and they are now happily looking after the chick together (who incidentally just fledged a few days ago).

[Diane]

Ive heard this happens with Bengalese too. Probably how both the Zebra and the Bengalese are so successful at multiplying so fast!

Wouldnt that be nice to get my gouldians chipped and have nestboxes set up with readers that would make sorting out who is with who so much easier!

[Niki_K]

Ive heard this happens with Bengalese too. Probably how both the Zebra and the Bengalese are so successful at multiplying so fast!

Wouldnt that be nice to get my gouldians chipped and have nestboxes set up with readers that would make sorting out who is with who so much easier!

Also hideously expensive; my equipment cost well over 10 grand to set up 10 nestboxes.

[mattymeischke]

Interesting stuff, Niki, thanks for that.
I noticed when I had zebs, and also with bengos, that they seem to go on social rounds, visiting other pairs' nestboxes without apparently disrupting the occupants.
Have you found it to be common for nonparents to go into active boxes or was that just my imagination?

[Mortisha]

I have 2 red cheeked cordons males who are a couple - another bird laid an egg in their nest. They brooded, protected & hatched a chick.
I'm rearing the chick now. Think is is going to be a painted (they have their own nest as well.)

What is the stressor you are using?

[Diane]

Also hideously expensive; my equipment cost well over 10 grand to set up 10 nestboxes.

Hmmm, think I will stick to sitting outside the aviary with a notebook and pen and glass of wine handy...the wine is probably why it takes me so long to sort the pairs out...

[Niki_K]

Interesting stuff, Niki, thanks for that.
I noticed when I had zebs, and also with bengos, that they seem to go on social rounds, visiting other pairs' nestboxes without apparently disrupting the occupants.
Have you found it to be common for nonparents to go into active boxes or was that just my imagination?

Hey matty,
It's very common. Before strong pair bonds form and the primary occupants start chasing other birds away, it's not uncommon to have 10 different birds (in this case, out of a colony of 25) visit a nestbox within 12 hours. Once a pair becomes territorial and are incubating young, this drops to about 1-3 other birds visiting per day. The visits are relatively brief; generally between 20 seconds and 5 minutes, but certain birds seem to be more tolerated than others (possibly friends?). I haven't analysed the data from the chick rearing stage yet (apart from the same sex pair), though, so can't comment too much on that.

[Niki_K]

I have 2 red cheeked cordons males who are a couple - another bird laid an egg in their nest. They brooded, protected & hatched a chick.
I'm rearing the chick now. Think is is going to be a painted (they have their own nest as well.)

That is very cute. I have a 12yo disabled male zebra finch (affectionately known as Gammy), who I keep in a large breeding cage as he can't fly. I put a female and a breeding pair in with him, as he seemed lonely by himself, and he ended up kicking the breeding pair out of their nest, and raised their offspring by himself!!

What is the stressor you are using?

Unfortunately, I'm not too comfortable commenting on that at this stage, as I haven't finished experimentation (scientists are a guarded lot just in case someone pips us to the post!).

[mattymeischke]

Fascinating stuff, keep us posted.