Zebs abandoning eggs twice!

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Lois57
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Posts: 48
Joined: 14 Sep 2013, 22:20
Location: Kiara WA

Hi All :)

I have one pair of Zebs that have bred twice, set up nest.
1st time we moved the cage and that was enough.
2nd time they have been sitting for about 10days on a few eggs then yesterday the male started building in his night nest and
now the female has abandoned her eggs and has joined him in the 2nd nest!!!!

Can anyone suggest possible reasons for this!!

I have resisted looking in the 2nd nest (which I might add the male really when berserk when he was building it, the female could barely get in there for nesting material!! lol)
The cage is next to our balcony door which didn't seem to bother them until yesterday???

Hope this all makes sense? :)

Thanks
Lois
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Diane
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Joined: 05 Apr 2009, 14:23
Location: Northern 'burbs of Adelaide
Location: Northern 'burbs of Adelaide

Birds can go through a couple of false starts even a species so focused on breeding as Zebras. Just keeping to a routine with regard to their feeding and cleaning schedule and they will settle and before you know where you are you will be looking for another aviary to house the young!
Diane
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
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Niki_K
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Joined: 23 Oct 2011, 12:18
Location: Melbourne, VIC

I've noticed some of my pairs abandoning infertile eggs, so this could be the case. As Di said before, it could simply be a couple of false starts :)
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Lois57
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Posts: 48
Joined: 14 Sep 2013, 22:20
Location: Kiara WA

Thanks guys :)

Typical, the little buggas ar sitting on them again!!!!! :D

LOis
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ragamuffin
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Joined: 08 Aug 2013, 06:33
Location: Newcastle NSW

Glad I found this post, our zebs have just laid eggs (definitely one male and one female this time!) and sat on them for a day before leaving them (two or three days ago now). The male's had a few clutches before we got him, but it's Penny's first time so I'm going to clock this one up to inexperience.

Just out of curiosity though, they still sit on the eggs at night, and they don't seem to like me putting my hand anywhere near the nest when I'm fixing up their food and water of a morning, they're still very protective. Would leaving the eggs there for a while and seeing if anything happens be advisable?

Amanda
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finchbreeder
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Location: Midwest of West. Aust. Coast
Location: Midwest of West.Aust.Coast

I would definately leave them. You may have just been looking when they had slipped off for a feed or whatever. Don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water. And it will also give the hen a break between laying. My little 1st time hen and her more experienced cock laid 3 eggs and only hatched 1, but are doing a good job of their daughter. Yep she is fawn from gray/black chested.
LML
LML
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