Cruel intentions??

Is your finch sick or not well? Find out why.
Post Reply
User avatar
TheFinchMan101
...............................
...............................
Posts: 1319
Joined: 18 Apr 2011, 16:42
Location: Canberra, ACT.

There is a culprit (muderer) in my zebra finch aviary!! :evil:
I went out to check the aviary today and noticed that a baby had fledged the nest and was on the ground. I also noticed his head looked a bit bruised and battered so I took a look into the nest and noticed that all the young in the nest besides the one on the floor was dead. They had serious injuries to their head as if it had been pecked at.
So that got me thinking....... Could there be a pair in the aviary that wanted that nest and killed the babies just so try could use it?? I did also notice an egg in the nest that hadn't been there before either.
Also why wouldn't the parents of the original babies try and defend the nest?? Unless they did but failed??
I'm thinking the cause of this is overcrowding, so I think I may sell off most of my zebras.
Would that be a good idea??
Top
Nathan Morleyy

Finchman,
I would think that it was over crowding or there was not enough available nesting sites for the other pair to breeding so therefore they kill (what in their eyes is competion) and replaced them with their own eggs remember always have 2 nesting sites for each pair as to make sure that this never happens again.

Thanks Nathan
Top
User avatar
TheFinchMan101
...............................
...............................
Posts: 1319
Joined: 18 Apr 2011, 16:42
Location: Canberra, ACT.

hmm thats why i want to get rid of most of them as i have over 10 breeding pairs.
Top
User avatar
desertbirds
...............................
...............................
Posts: 1318
Joined: 21 Nov 2010, 09:13
Location: Alice Springs

Over crowding and lack of nesting options could be the cause . I have had a rogue budgie do that years ago (hen bird) although we had ample nest boxes. Interesting that a couple of her offspring (hen birds) carried the same trait.Just nasty.
Top
User avatar
jusdeb
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Posts: 9796
Joined: 12 Mar 2009, 19:43
Location: Dubbo, NSW
Location: Western Plains NSW

Any or all of the above , Im hearing horror stories from people I know about their birds doing the same thing ( fella lost most his IRN collection in under a week while he was in hospital ) anyhoo yes sell off your excess Zebs , it wont hurt to free up some territory for the remaining birds and throw some more nests in if necessary .
Sorry for your loss but like I keep saying breeding season can bring out the worse in some birds ....
Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.
David Brent
Top
User avatar
TheFinchMan101
...............................
...............................
Posts: 1319
Joined: 18 Apr 2011, 16:42
Location: Canberra, ACT.

BAD news, the other baby looks like its just about to die. ive got him right now in my hands and it doesn't look like i can do much about it. i tried feeding him but he wouldn't take it. it also looks like the parents were trying to attack him when i looked earlier when he was in the aviary.
Top
User avatar
flap
...............................
...............................
Posts: 1251
Joined: 20 Jul 2010, 08:54
Location: Perth, WA
Location: Perth WA

Sorry to hear that FM, never nice to have that happen.
flaP
Image
Top
User avatar
finchbreeder
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Posts: 11630
Joined: 27 Jun 2009, 20:00
Location: Midwest of West. Aust. Coast
Location: Midwest of West.Aust.Coast

Sorry to hear that. But like Nathan said, always have more nests than hens. And Mostly that will do the job if they are not overcrowded. Or you have not had the misfortune to get one of natures nasties.
LML
LML
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Finch Health”