finch fertility

[finchman67]

Hi all, just wondering is there any way to improve fertility in finches in general , i no that it drops off after a couple off years , but have had young birds in first year of breeding only fredge 2 young and on inspection the other eggs clear . anyway just throwing it out there .

[Shane Gowland]

It all comes down to nutrition and exercise.

[Lachlan1]

Inbreeding is an issue as well (not saying that this is what is happening in your case).

[Craig52]

Young birds can be just as bad as old birds,they can be hit and miss in their first year.Two year old birds are more mature and settled imo.I believe vitamin E supplements help with fertility as well. Craig

[TomDeGraaff]

A cursory look at a bird nutrition/medicine company's website says that a diet with good levels of fatty acids such as Linoleic and Linolenic acids, plus extra Vitamin E is helpful. These enhance eggs size, clutch size and egg development.

Vitamin E also aids the function of other vitamins. It is generally credited with enhancing fertility. It is fat-soluble and souces include vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables, cereals and egg yolks amongst others.

Seems to me a varied diet including things like silverbeet, spinach, eggfood would do the trick.

Cheers

Tom

[iaos]

This season a had two pairs with identical genetics. The cocks were siblings and the hens were siblings.

The first pair had two clear rounds and hatched a couple in the third round. The second pair laid 10 and hatched 8 in the first round, laid 5 and hatched 5 in the second round and laid 7 and hatched 7 in the third.

Sometimes you just can't pick it.

[finchman67]

Would like to thank for the feedback will take all advice on board , there seems to be something different this time round because when first started with finches all them years ago purchased three pair of diamionds in august and breed over thirty young in first year. there feed and water are the same as before . these birds were purchased from different source maybe have somthing to with it. may have to look into seeing wether can get some from origanal source .

[finchbreeder]

As the originals all came from the same source they could have had the pairs and higherachy already worked out when they arrived and been able to get straight down to business. While if your current birds come from different sources they will need to pick their partners and sort out higherachy before they can get down to business.
LML