Aussie Finch Forum

One way of keeping track of your eggs is to number them as they appear, using a soft fineliner. eg. 1 egg when you 1st looked, put 1 on it, 4 the next time, put 4 on all 3 that are not numbered. etc.
That way you can throw out anything you know is over 10 days and showing no signs of fertility. Me I just leave them to sit so the hen can recover from laying. Less chicks but healthier birds. Which is more important to me.
LML

finchbreeder wrote:One way of keeping track of your eggs is to number them as they appear, using a soft fineliner. eg. 1 egg when you 1st looked, put 1 on it, 4 the next time, put 4 on all 3 that are not numbered. etc.
That way you can throw out anything you know is over 10 days and showing no signs of fertility. Me I just leave them to sit so the hen can recover from laying. Less chicks but healthier birds. Which is more important to me.
LML

Thats a really good idea!!!!.. is it safe to use a niko, i sorta thought that the eggs shell being soft would absorb it and poison it.. what fineliner do you use, the ones kids use for school? i think they are called felt pens/liners....???

thanks for the tip

Fineliners like college kids use, not textas like primary kids use. The first are light enough not to permeate the shell the second are not. Learnt to do this from Mother who has been using the technique successfully with her budgies for 30 odd years.
LML

Id be inclined to just leave them alone .

That's what I usually do Deb, leave them to do their thing. This is just a technique that I have used on very rare occassions that does work.
LML

Yes i woulnt do it every time they layed eggs, just i want to if i have to females, which im sure i have now... there's 9 eggs, BUT its been over 10 days so maybe i could be wrong and one is a male, but the eggs were all clear see threw with the torch, i think im just gonna wait and see what happens,

After a female lays a batch of eggs, and they hatch, how much longer after they are out of the nest can they lay again... i herd the term they breed like sparrows. in other words breed like rabbits, so can they just lay batch after batch all year round like rats and mice, or is there a period that they dont breed and go back onto heat for example?

I have heard that they will breed several times a season. But mine only had the one chick last season. And though he is trying to woo her again, nothing seems to be happening. Could be because the poor girl seems to be loosing her sight. She is a double factor pied. Almost pure white with just a touch of colour and very plum coloured eyes. Which are getting milkier. As she has been in this avairy for several years she is coping. But may have to transfer them to a large breeding cabinet if things get too dificult for her.
LML

Oh okay, so i guess just exspect anything. sorry to hear about your girl going blind,i dont white or pink java's. only the dark coloured ones with white cheeks.

Yes just be patient and see what they surprise you with , you could do more harm by getting in their space especially if they are young and not really sure what to do .

The cock is a normal gray, and junior is 2/3 white 1/3 dark pied. Have only had normals in the past but not different sexs So first successful breeding.
LML