Other finches use abandoned nests?
Posted: 28 Jan 2023, 07:18
Hey gang, I have a flight cage 1.8meters long by 1.8 meters high by .61 meters deep. It has four nests.
Two pairs have built nests in them from scratch (box style nests) and both pairs of Gouldians failed (first-time parents). After they abandoned the nests, I removed the baby bodies and unhatched eggs so they could try again but ... they won't use the nests and instead both pairs went to NEW nest boxes and are building again.
My question: Should I just remove and discard the completed nests that they abandoned or do OTHER finches see it is now empty and, when they are ready to breed, think, "Oh Geez - here's a completed nest for us to use - SCORE!" I see another pair who has been 'practicing breeding and picking up nesting materials and they peek into the nest but won't use it.
How would you all handle this situation? I just don't know what finches think about using someone else's nest. Would other finches in same cage remember a nest belonged to someone else so ignore it or would they use it? And if I put a DIFFERENT pair of finches in the flight (someone who has never seen the nest being used before), would the new birds realize it isn't being used and possibly use it?
I've searched extensively and can find nothing on this subject. I started another thread about reusing nesting materials and I won't reuse it but ... 1) the original parents might come back, 2) other birds might realize it's abandoned and use it and 3) new birds to the flight might want to use it.
What would you do please? Remove the materials or leave it there?
Two pairs have built nests in them from scratch (box style nests) and both pairs of Gouldians failed (first-time parents). After they abandoned the nests, I removed the baby bodies and unhatched eggs so they could try again but ... they won't use the nests and instead both pairs went to NEW nest boxes and are building again.
My question: Should I just remove and discard the completed nests that they abandoned or do OTHER finches see it is now empty and, when they are ready to breed, think, "Oh Geez - here's a completed nest for us to use - SCORE!" I see another pair who has been 'practicing breeding and picking up nesting materials and they peek into the nest but won't use it.
How would you all handle this situation? I just don't know what finches think about using someone else's nest. Would other finches in same cage remember a nest belonged to someone else so ignore it or would they use it? And if I put a DIFFERENT pair of finches in the flight (someone who has never seen the nest being used before), would the new birds realize it isn't being used and possibly use it?
I've searched extensively and can find nothing on this subject. I started another thread about reusing nesting materials and I won't reuse it but ... 1) the original parents might come back, 2) other birds might realize it's abandoned and use it and 3) new birds to the flight might want to use it.
What would you do please? Remove the materials or leave it there?