Aussie Finch Forum

Hi
i have been expecting my nesting painted finches to hatch any day now and today i see them making a totally new nest in a new part of the cage. The old nest has been abandoned with 4 eggs, and alot of the nesting material has been used to construct the new nest.
If the eggs are infertile do they abandon the eggs after a while, i reckon the hen had been sitting for over 2 weeks.
This is the first nest they have made since i bought them a few months ago.
What do you guys reckon??

Hi speedy, Just had the same thing happen. 4 egg infertile, made quite a big nest in a half finch box. I let them go for a couple of days after removing their eggs but now they are not going back to the old nest. I have removed all the material from the old box & they are now rebuilding again in the same box.
Quite common from what I've heard. Sometimes 2 or 3 time before success.

Anyone have a pair go back to a nest and lay eggs again?

Ive had infertile eggs, disappearing eggs, deserted nests, chick tossing all from the same pair .....almost gave up hope but they produced one baby finally. The baby has yet to get higher than 6 inches off the floor but its active enough

mine are doing the same. 3 infertile clutches in a row. They have been sitting in their current nest for 4 weeks now but I can't see in this one. If no young pop out of the nest in 2 more weeks, I'm separating them.

i broke open the abandoned 4 eggs this arvo, 2 had half formed birds in them and two were infertile.
I have them in an aviary with a pair of stars that are nesting with young birds in the nest.
two pair of birds in the one cage, with 5 different nest recepticles, does anyone suggest removing un-used nesting recepticles once finches start making a nest in another?? i thought this may remove the temptation to abandon a next and start in another nest.
what do you reckon?

I would leave things as they are. would be more inclined to put your troubles down to young inexperienced birds. if they have never bred before give them time, not easy to do but it is something we all have to try & do with our birds.
I know that I hate having to be patient

Might have to put in another cock bird to shake things up.
Heard this can help other wise just give it time.

My Painteds have moved to a new location and are now nesting in this.
Fingers cross again.

Breeding painted finches sometimes can be very frustrating.But you have to remember that they are a desert bird in the wild & I think the weather has a lot to do with breeding.
One good tip when breeding painteds is to have a bowl of crushed charcoal in the cage for some reason they love to use this in their nests not sure of the reason but if it makes them happy why not let them use it.
Southy

Thinking someone told me the charcoal keeps the nest fresh and firetails dont like stale nests....sounds good to me.
I have charcoal in all my boxes and have noticed the stars and zebs like it too.