i think they are ready?

[shanny2]

I think my finches are sure to breed soon as i cut some little branches and cable tided them together and cable tided them to the cage wire and i just went to check them and one has wood shavings

[kimberley breeder]

Yep-they are in nesting mode-make sure you put some nesting grass or coconut fibres in otherwise any eggs they lay will fall straight through.

[shanny2]

what about sticks because the could make there own nest and there was just a tiny amount of wood shavings

[spanna]

your zebra finches won't use sticks shanny. bits of grass between around 20 and 40 centimetres long are what they need. and some white feathers would be loved as well.

[shanny2]

because my last finches a pair made a nest with sticks there own nest the had others but built there own one is that natural has it happened to you guys

[spanna]

they may have made a nest of sticks if nothing else was available, but it would be likely that any eggs or chicks may fall out of the nest. grasses are definitely what finches prefer. some finches will use nesting baskets that they line with grass, others build the whole nest themselves in the brush, and some will do both at different times. but in all cases, they need grasses. the only finches i've ever kept that use sticks are painted firetails (emblemas)

[jusdeb]

you can get swamp grass from the pet shop and they will appreciate some feathers too ....the quails will use the swamp grass to nest also

[shanny2]

what about grass from out side

[kimberley breeder]

Make sure they are in legths and not just grass clippings from a mown lawn. They have to be able to make a structure out of it. If you take some pics of the grass you want to use we might be able to advise which would be best

[shanny2]

clover and normal grass