Nesting Problem

[Harvey11]

I was just checking my Zebras and the pair i have in the bottom cabinet have layed an egg in the corner of the cabinet,they have a nesting box in there but did not use it Why????

There is plenty of nesting material in the cabinet

What do i do now,
1 Just leave it
2 Make a nest for them in the box and move the egg in there.
3 Help needed

Thanks
Harvey11

[Nathan Morleyy]

I'm sorry to hear that Harvey,
But if it was on the ground I think that it was probably infertile and a dud.
Best of luck with your finch breeding.

Thanks Nathan

[Diane]

If the zebras dont get too worried by you getting your hands in there, if they were my birds I would scoop up the egg, (use a spoon) and tip it gently into the nest, they may not have the idea of using the nest yet.
Is wont matter if the egg is fertile or not you haven't lost anything as it couldn't be sat on if its laying on the floor.

I have done this with a gouldian hen that would lay anywhere but the nest box, she got the idea eventually.

[Tiaris]

Perhaps try alternate nest site(s) - maybe something half-open or an enclosed cane nest. Also a handful of nesting material in the receptacle often sparks their interest.

[jusdeb]

Not such a problem Harvey but a learning curve .
If its the hens first egg she may have not known what was happening at the time , seeing the egg now she will associate the feeling of passing an egg with producing an egg .
A lot of my birds first eggs have been passed outside the nest box .

Scoop it up if you want , if its not fertile then dont bother . Don't worry she will get it right eventually if not then nest position etc should be addressed .

Early days to be getting worried yet .

[Harvey11]

What about i pick up the egg and put it in an open cane nest i have,making a nest for her in the same position the egg is located.
By the look of the egg it is fertile .
I think she layed the egg today so i asume she will be laying more..

As deb said its a learning curve,thank god for this site as i had no idea what to do.


Thanks
Harvey11

feeling better now so i will be off the school tomorrow

[djb78]

Harvey I would put some nesting material in a nest and place the egg inside, you have nothing to lose as she wouldn't sit on the egg anyway.

[Myzomela]

I may have missed something, but how can you tell if a newly laid, unincubated egg is fertile without opening it up & destroying it?

[Harvey11]

I only checked the cabinet yesterday and did not see any eggs but i might have not seen it.
The egg is nice and white.
Anyway i but the egg in an open cane nest near where the egg was and will just wait and see.


Will the Zebra lay any more eggs in this clutch or could it be a 1 of


Harvey11

[finchbreeder]

Eggs are not usually able to be seen if they are fertile or not till 3 or more days old. She will with luck go into the nest and start laying again or keep laying depending on the time between this egg and the next. Will depend on how whe feels. Don;t worry it will happen when the time is right.
LML