Do they ever stop ??

[Freddy Finchman]

Hi All,
I,ve had my " Saddleback Zeb's " now since the middle of May and have had 4 young out of the first batch, 3 out of the second batch, and i'm not game to look how many eggs they are sitting on now !!
What's the story ?? , Will they just keep breeding until they drop dead ?? They seem to be happy as harry !! [ They get the best of everything ] as do all my finches !!
I just have to get my " Young Gould's " to get in same mode !!
Cheers Freddy

[Diane]

Will they just keep breeding until they drop dead ??

Zebras are very hardy birds, their breeding habits seem more like rabbits!
The only way to stop them for sure is keep them apart. Their breeding regime could be the reason your gouldians haven't done anything yet.
Im not blaming the zebs, just letting you know about my similar experience, my zebras bred like mad and the gouldians nothing. When I moved the zebras on my gouldians started breeding. Maybe the gouldians like things just that bit calmer. ;)

[Jayburd]

yep, they breed till they drop!

[finchbreeder]

I have always found it wisest to put Zebs into an avairy or cage with no nests after they have produced 2 or 3 nests (depending on no. of eggs/chicks) so they don't breed themselves to death. Love them but they seem more interested in the survival of the species than the survival of the individual.
LML

[rey2pokey]

what is the safest amount of clutches zebra's are able to have in a certain time period?

[shanny2]

they will pop or they will drop

[Jayburd]

I would limit mine to at most 3 clutches a year.

[jusdeb]

I sold 3 pairs to some people because they failed to breed the same people rang a few months later asking if I wanted them back seems they were out of control and the aviary was getting too small for all the extra birds

[Mickp]

one of the members of my local bird society started with 6 pairs of zebs and a year or two later has over 300.
he's selling them at $1 each, reckons that they are breeding quicker than he can sell them though

[Pete Sara]

mice with wings i tell ya. or flies thats why they are the best birds to start with, be carefull as the offspring can reproduce at about 9 to 12 weeks of age.......unlike most other birds 9 to to 12 months......