Egg Mystery?

[Ab's Finches]

Well this morning i went to do the daily husbandry, and was suprised with an egg sitting in the grit container....no idea how this is possible since all my birds are male..well i thought there were anyway. The only pair i have in the aviary at the moment are a pair of star finches who what i thought were both cocks.. Can some one explain what is going on? from what i know males cannot lay eggs. How do you sex the stars i thought it was from there face and colour in their tails.

Heres some photos:

[tonytoast]

You have a hen Star there (only cock Stars get colour below their beaks) and who knows with the D/Bar and Bully....if you haven't heard your Bullfinch singing (which is possible), then it too could be a hen.

I even think the RF Parrot Finch may be a hen but would need to see a closer photo to tell.

My guess is that your hen Star has laid as she may have bonded with the cock bird......pop the egg back in their and see what happens. If they are serious (which is unlikely given the type of nest), she will lay another three to five (one per day) and commence sitting on about the third or fourth.

One other thing....not sure where you are keeping them but if you do not have natural perches (sticks), then put some in and perhaps look at the size of the cage/aviary as the missing feathers may be due to squabbles in confined spaces....

[shirltra96]

Hi Ab
I think the star on the right is a hen, no colour under the beak, i think the double bar, bully and parrot are cock birds, can't see tell with the saint,
Cheers Anthony

[Ab's Finches]

ok thanks folks, you are right one is obviously a hen , what i have done is transferred the pair into a breeding cabinet with a nesting box and egg inside, so they can go about their business with no hassles etc, hopefully they will have a clutch, if they are serious like you said toast

cheers

[finchbreeder]

Hope your pair of Stars are happy in their new home. Give them regular fresh greens and wait patiently.
LML

[Ab's Finches]

It's happened again!! another egg in the grit container...this time im just going to leave them be, they have a dome nest witch i thought they were using because i have seen them fly in and out of it before, but she obviously prefers to lay them there so whatever floats her boat!