Aussie Finch Forum

Regretfully they will re-lay and re-lay sometimes. You can wind up with a dozen eggs from 3 layings is you let them. Though if this happens it usually means there are not enough nests and something is disturbing them so eggs don;t hatch.
LML

She has laid another one today.

2 of the eggs look much darker, is that because they are nearly ready to hatch or because they are not viable?

babychat wrote:She has laid another one today.

2 of the eggs look much darker, is that because they are nearly ready to hatch or because they are not viable?

Usually means they are viable...but if you are continously checking on them to see eggs...its a wonder she hasnt tossed them all...

The nest is in a position that I can see in without opening the cage. I only open to remove scraps and give new fresh food.

babychat wrote:The nest is in a position that I can see in without opening the cage. I only open to remove scraps and give new fresh food.

Doesnt matter it is still a disturbance...think how small they are then something as large as you looking that close into a cage where they have no escape..

My suggestions in descending order would be a disturbance, inexperience parents, too much protein/livefood, dead in shell.
It is always best to give finches an extra week or 10 days beyond when you expect.
OK, This sounds like a night distrubance, in this case- wind. And they left the nest too long. Once parents have started incubating 17 degrees is too wam but not warm enough for survival of eggs. Here in canberra, where night temp is much colder, in the first ~ 5 days parents can leave the nest with no ill effects. Not at 17 deg at 7 days.
Inexperienced/1st time parents often do this. The second nest will be better.
Too much protein can encourage Zebs to go back to 'Nest Building phase' even when they have chicks. But It doesnt sound like this to me.
Infertile or Dead in shell- by holding a torch up to eggs u can see if they were fertilised.
My suggestion would be to leave for 1-2 weeks, even. Dont be impatient. Dont add new nesting material yet. Plus 'if infertile' it is useful for the parents to go through a semi-grieving process, and let them leave the eggs naturally. Particularly 1st time hens, otherwise it may be repeated again & again.
Benj

Hi all,

I am very excited. I have 1 baby finch!!

Wasn't quite sure what it was at first, thought they had been packing the nest with more feathers then it moved!!

I read on another thread to give same seed I have been, greens and maybe some soaked seed. What is biscuit mix that I have seen mentioned a couple of times? Do they need that?

Thanks,

Babychat

Zebs raise just fine on greens and seed. Just caught and catalougued all mine yesterday. Anyone want to buy a couple of dozen spare Zebs? I breed mine 1 pair or a set of 3 matching pairs to an avairy. Don;t take much notice of what is happening accept to keep the greens up, till the 1st young jump out of the nests. Then I ring.
LML

When it comes to nest and bird inspections the activities of birds while you are around and when you are not is generally verry different.
They have better eye sight than us and know when we are there.
We over came this by putting small camera systems in and watching from a room well away,their actions were so different.
I do not suggest you go out and buy a video system,what I am saying just because you don't see your birds doing what you think they should be doing
doesn't mean they aren't when you are not around.
A prime example is trying to catch a Cuban finch comming or going from their nest,rarely does it happen.
It can be hard but patience is the key to success.Over the years I have pulled many old nests out only to find another nest behind with chicks in it.
Thats frustrating and may entail much work to salvage the situation.So patience +++++++

In response to the original post. Softfood or eggfood can be bought from most pet shops and It is used because seed is not high enough in protein to raise young. It is like raising kids on bread alone. Eggfood is higher in protein. Slightly wet it with water, sprinkle some seed on top so the parents recognise it as food. plus keep offering what you have already been doing.
Benj