Help! Mannikins Vs Zebs!

[kat78]

Hi all! New to the forum here . From Blue Mountains, NSW Aus.

I'm not new to birds, after having many birds over many years, though never bred any. Budgies and Peach Face. But I'm so over the noise, and my new little Finches are just fantastic.

Here's my situation: I now have a flight cage with 2 fem Zebs (I think they're both fem) and 1 male and 1 fem Mannikins. 5 days ago, Fem Zem lays 2 eggs in seed dish; I buy a couple of woven nest box thingies to which I add those two eggs. A day or two later there's another 3 eggs. Zebs have been sitting on the eggs, and sleeping in there. All seems lovely at the moment.

Now, today, the Mannikins seem to have hijacked the nest. Sitting on the eggs, chasing the poor Zebs away from their own eggs! (poor little darlings) I've also now found in the second nest box there's another egg or two in there, I think these are actually Mannikin eggs - unsure, as I've only seen a Manni in there once and thats when they would have been laid.


Firstly, I think all this chasing around is territorial. So should I be concerned at all? Should I worry that the Zebs will get 'tired' from being chased around all day? (they're having quiet periods, so this shouldn't be a problem) The Zeb that's been laying, is trying to get into the nest and is being chased out by the Mannis.....

Secondly, I don't suppose it matters who raises the chicks? Am I right?

Is there any aggressive behaviour I should look out for? Please don't tell me I have to seperate them....

Have I made a mistake by putting the two pairs in together? Embarrasingly, I didn't actually think they would breed.

Your help on this is appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Kat

[Jayburd]

before I start, are these 'Mannikins' african mannikins, or bengalese Finches?

[kat78]

Fairly certain they're Bengalese

[Buzzard-1]

You have picked the two most prolific breeders in the finch world.As for the Bengalese they are bullys and will hijack nests with or without young.Put some brush in the cage to give birds somewhere to gain respite.What size is cage/aviary.

[kat78]

Yeah, I can see it in the Manni's eyes ;) They are bullies.
I have a flight cage which measures 1m tall x 1m wide x 50cm in depth.
I've got some leafy branches (bottlebrush/camelia/gumtree) and the two nest houses. There's plenty of hidey spaces.
Like I said, I think I have manni's on Zebs eggs, though I think I might also have manni eggs in the other empty nest....? Sadly, I've also found one cracked on the cage floor and another on my loungeroom floorboards.
I'm not one to step infront of nature, but am curious, what do you guys all do with your babies? Sell them? Breed them? Remove new eggs (a theory I've heard of)?
Thanks for yr info.

[Jayburd]

agreed with Buzz.

Firstly, It's probably either territorial or just a breeding instinct. What happened to my Longtails and Jusdeb's gouldians is a classic example, the pair has more than 1 nest, and they don't care who's it was to start with. The male sees (as weavers do) the more nests the more attractive to a hen I'll be, so he went an hi-jacked the zebby nest.

secondly, not really, and Bengos are well known for fostering eggs of other species. However, it might be detrimental to the chicks to grow up under bengos while the zebs fight to get them back.

What I would do is take the bengalese out for a week or two, or until the zebra finch eggs have hatched. The hen zeb should take them back seeing she's been trying to get in the box. Put the bengos back after a while and see how it goes. If they do it again, remove them permanently, or remove the zebras.

In an aviary this is far more unlikely to happen, especially if there are twice as many boxes as pairs.

Hope that helps.

[finchbreeder]

As someone who is keeping and breeding Bengos and Zebs in the same avairy, with minimul conflict. I found the solution was to make sure there is at least 3 nests for 2 pairs of finches. Then the Bengos can have their 2 and the Zebs still get one. Can you please advise the dimentions of your avairy as this will help people to advise if you could have space problems. Is it possible to photograp your birds and put pics up? Then we can tell you for sure if your Zebs are a pair and if your Mannikins are Bengos. Alternatively look at other posts with pics on of Zebs and Bengos.
LML

[kat78]

Firstly, It's probably either territorial or just a breeding instinct. What happened to my Longtails and Jusdeb's gouldians is a classic example, the pair has more than 1 nest, and they don't care who's it was to start with. The male sees (as weavers do) the more nests the more attractive to a hen I'll be, so he went an hi-jacked the zebby nest.

- Thanks, this makes lots of sense in relation to what happened here. ;)

I have a lot to learn, and am quite interested in lurking in these forums to get all of your advice. My main problem is, I just love these birds, but just can't build an aviary just yet; my hands are tied through circumstance. So I have the above mentioned flight cage for now, which is big enough for the four littlies that I have and as soon as I'm able I'll build an aviary and let them breed to their hearts content. I might even get some little double-bands that I love so much. ;)

Thanks everyone for your replies. Though, I have to be honest, I don't know that I'm up for breeding just yet, so I've removed the egss. (if it's any concellation, I held them up to the light and they were still 'yolky') I feel terrible though.

So, until I can build my dream aviary, I'll be around looking out for all of your valuable information, I really do appreciate it.

Nice to meet you all
Kat

[finchbreeder]

Kat I have no hesitation in removing nests to prevent breeding. But I live in a much warmer climate than you do. If you remove the eggs as soon as they lay them they do not have time to form chicks so you do not have to worry.
LML