Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Don't count on having baby finches...
    
    My friend gave me 2 "female" finches and they started laying eggs,
    so I accused him of messing up.  It seems that finches are like
    chickens and just lay eggs.   If you have 2 females, they probably
    will get tire of laying eggs after a while (mine did).  If you truly
    have a pair and the eggs are fertile, they should start to turn
    greyish in a coupla days.  12 days after they are laid, they hatch.
    One week after they are hatched they look like birds and 2 weeks
    after, they jump out of the nest.
    
    I have had some real good (healthy) broods and a few that they were
    dead in the shell and a few the parents killed.  If you want more
    info, give me a call.......DTN 321-5101
    
    Cheryl  (who has zebra finches coming out of her ears!)
    
     

    Hi:
    
    What kind of finches are they?  I have cordon bleu finches and if
    your finches are sitting on the eggs day and night they should hatch
    in 14 days or so from when they first starting sitting on them
    regularly.  If they hatch (and before), you should be feeding your
    finches soft food along with the seed -- spinach leaves (wash and
    pat dry first), chopped up hard boiled egg (boil for 25-30 minutes
    first), chopped carrot (raw - small grated pieces) - scrape off
    outer skin and wash first, crunched up shredded wheat softened with
    water or skin milk.   Feed soft food twice a day (and throw out
    old when giving the new portions late afternoon) and continue until
    babies are eating seed.  This means starting now before babies hatch,
    through the 2 weeks or so the babies are fed by the parents in the
    nest, and about 2-3 weeks after the babies have left the nest and
    are still be fed out of the nest in the cage.  Within the 2-3 weeks
    after they've left the nest they will start trying to eat seed and
    then you can separate them from parents (about 3 weeks later).
    
    If the parents aren't incubating regularly, the eggs won't hatch.
     You'll know in 14-18 days.  If they don't hatch after 18-20 days,
    they're infertile and you can remove them.  Did you give your finches
    nesting material, like dried grasses, straw, to put in their nest
    frame?  I suggest you buy a book on finches immediately and read
    all you can about the breeding process.  Feel free to call me at
    DTN 244-6724.  Good luck!
    
    Sandy
    
    P.S.  Try not to disturb your finches if they are sitting on the
    eggs, except to change food and water.

    Just read Cheryl's note after writing mine.  I've also had dead
    in the shell -- very depressing.  And lots of eggs not incubated
    and therefore never hatched.  Breeding can be quite frustrating
    but if it's successful, one of the most incredible, wonderful
    experiences.  I have 2 cordon bleus incubating eggs right now and
    am hoping for the best.
    
    
    

    Both are Zebra finches and the female (So they said it was ) sits
    on the eggs a lot.  They had the nesting straw 2 weeks ago when
    I saw them trying to pick the "Person Made" nest apart.  The female
    laid 3 eggs now and the male is still trying to mate her.  I don't
    know diddly about finches but both seem to be doing thier part.
    The male "So they told me" built the nest and he stays out of the
    nest alot untill late at night and they both stay in there.  The
    female seems to just come out to eat and a little flying.  
    
    Well I will keep you updated and thak you for the advice on feeding
    I will extract the info and give it to my wife.  "She is just too
    happy about this"  I hope she doesn't get dissapointed should something
    happen to the eggs...
    
    Steve..

    I always gave my finches meal worms in raw wheet germ.  after they
    ate up the worms they started feeding the wheet germ as well.  I
    did not plan on this because I also gave them plenty of seeds &
    greens as well.  
    
    After doing this to two different species, one zebra pair and one
    green singing pair I finally traded the whole mess off.  it seams
    that once I got over 15 birds in 3 months in one cage it got to
    me.  the other cage got up to 20 in 4 months.  My husband said get
    something that breeds slower.  so I got Bourkes & wind up with 30
    after a year.  

    Well she is up to 6 eggs and 4 of them look grey.  Both birds spend
    time in the nest.  The female spends a lot of time sitting on the
    eggs.  It looks like they are still looking for straw for the nest.
    They are trying to rip the paper at the bottom of the cage.  Well
    we should soon find out if they hatch or not...
    
    Steve...