Me girl drop her egg

16 Nov 2009, 20:15

My pair have gotten used to human time. They wake up late & go to bed after the sun sets. It's actually been what has surprised me the most about domestication of the Zebra. But one thing I have noticed if I clean there cage in the evening they are much calmer compared to doing the same in the afternoon. Seeing I was going to be busy the next few days they got an early cage clean tonight & I moved the nest to the higher spot. Soon as I did that the hen was on the perch close by having a look inside. I bet in the next day or so they will move in & set up home ? I will also give them extra feathers & swamp grass they can drag into there nest beyond what I have already put in there.

Other members of the family remark how when they are watching TV both the Zebs do the same, sometimes giving there own objections to Kevin Rudd or Malcolm Turnbull.

17 Nov 2009, 14:20

Birds raised indoors really are part of the family , my male Quarrion will start whistling pop goes the weasel the minute the alarm goes off or is due to go off .
Only thing is unlike tha alarm they dont have a off button and on those days when you want a sleep in 53 versus of pop goes the weasel can be quite maddening.

17 Nov 2009, 14:37

jusdeb wrote:53 versus of pop goes the weasel can be quite maddening.

17 Nov 2009, 18:29

Pop goes the weasel you do have some clever birds. Dont think my Zebs will be able to accomplish that ?

Well moving the nest higher did spark there interest. Apparently all day they have been getting the easy to reach feathers & swamp grass out of the wicker nest. And trying to place it all over the wicker nest, but it keeps falling off. I even dislodged some poking out of the cage. To see what there reaction was, they quickly snatched it up & placed it back on top. It really is a sight to see them prancing around the cage & making this warbling noise. They are so happy

19 Nov 2009, 09:58

My pair have decided they want there nest on top of the wicker nest. This is not working out so good as the materials given to them feathers & swamp grass keep falling out the cage bars. Hopefully they will realize to venture right inside the wicker nest. so far all they will do is steal the materials out off & place on top. I have tried to intise them inside by putting a branch of thistle seed inside all they did was retrieve it out.

Any suggestions would be welcomed.

19 Nov 2009, 10:17

Is there any way you can make the nest higher so there is no space between the top of the nest and the top of the cage?

22 Nov 2009, 17:50

Well my pair have now been given a lesson in nest building. Seeing they would not use the large wicker nest. I went back to the bird shop & explained the situation. The guy thought maybe a smaller version they would like. Nope they would not go inside just look inside. And then build a disaster of a nest on top. When I was at the bird shop I noticed a small plastic nest. The shop guy said that was for cannery & Zebs would not like. Well I went back & got it. The Zebs were not happy at first me knocking down there disaster. So I placed branch of thistle seed inside. They checked it out & began to enjoy hopping from the perch to the new nest. So I placed some nesting materials in the new diggs. The male went to investigate & test its feel. After a short time they were both busy carting materials & have now settled into a cannery nest. All I can say is they have tamed up & prefer to let me have a good look into there home.

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I will get a better picture of them when there is more natural light.

24 Nov 2009, 10:45

Hell my pair are so inexperienced. Just went to check up on them as I had there cage by the back door for fresh air. And to my surprise there was an egg on the floor of the cage. I promptly opened the cage & moved it to there nest, it was still warm so she must have just laid. They both have gone up to the nest to investigate but nether have made an effort to attend to it. What to do now ?

Update just went to check on them & they are both in there nest tending to the the egg

Just had a look at my pair & to my surprise there is now two eggs in the nest. Looks like I might have a family ?

For some reason or am I incorrect the hen should constantly be on the nest keeping the eggs warm ? The male is going back & forth to the nest with materials but the hen is setting on the perch eating & drinking.

This is the first time I have had birds lay eggs! Any advice would be warmly welcomed ;)

24 Nov 2009, 14:26

Congrats!!!

A couple of Tips.

1. if you want them to breed, its best to keep the cage in one position the entire time as moving a cage whist their is eggs can cause abandonment.

2. don't give any more nesting material as the male may get excited and build over the eggs,

3. when handling eggs try and use a utensil(spoon) as our fingers can have moisture and other stuff that can absorb into the egg damaging the embryo.

the hen wont sit tight till majority of the clutch is laid because the eggs are viable for around 7 days before it needs to be fully incubated.

good luck

Jarryd

24 Nov 2009, 15:22

I only touched the one egg when I found on the cage floor & promptly put in there nest. I went over to the pet shop & got a good run down on how to manage a breading pair. I always thought the bird laid egg then sat on it. See what I knew LOL I now have a small book on Zeb's which I am reading. The pet shop guy thought it was ok to give there cage a clean now before the eggs get to far along. My pair were the usual calm birds when I cleaned. I did give them more nesting materials as the little cave like part of there nest was falling apart. They seemed to be really glad with the grass they have woven it into a new opening. Guess now I have to wait & just be more careful around there home.

These pictures are the best I can get without disturbing them too much. You really cant see the eggs for the white feathers.

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Ok my pair are getting territorial now so possibly last picture you can see the TWO eggs.

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