I think you're supposed to replace eggs with a fake egg before tossing it or else the momma bird will lay even more trying to replace it.
The egg was on the floor; the hen was not nesting. No need for nests or fake eggs, just toss the egg.
Finches reach sexual maturity at 6 months old. Please correct me if I´m wrong
@finchly
So, the question is do you want chicks or not?
^^ This. Apparently she does want chicks, and a lot of them.
These are apparently zebra finches, even 4 months sometimes they try to breed. This does not mean they are READY and IN TOP CONDition to breed. At that age they aren't really mature. It is best for the bird to wait until they are over 1 year old to breed them. If you don't want to breed, don't put in a nest. If they nest in the food dish, remove the eggs. Come on it's not rocket science - you're the owner and you are in charge. Do what is
best for the bird.
If the breeder said put in a nest, that is because he breeds for money. Never mind their health - just breed breed breed.
Sorry Zara, I missed the previous thread.
I would like to know why you want all of your birds to breed.
I´m interested to know, although I´m sure I´ll be ignored.
You have lovebirds sitting on eggs, and now finches on eggs.
Are you also intending to breed your other birds too?
What will you do with all of these chicks? Will you keep them, or is there a high demand for them in your country?
What will you do
@Cowboy&Chica if the babies are tossed or a parent bird dies - are you ready to hand feed? All night and all day, can you do that? I'm hand feeding only one right now but it's every 2 hours. I am exhausted.
Do you have the money to buy more cages, more food, and more medicine/vitamins/supplements for these birds, and their young, and each next generation? Can you find homes for these (fairly common) species?
These are not questions to drive you away . They are things to seriously consider. I once met a man who had zebra finches - he'd taken a flight cage and added on a cage here, a cage there.... it was huge with all these cages fastened on, every one had zebra finches. He actually cried he was so overrun with the finches. Begged me to take some. (I did. I am a softie) This was because he didn't consider all the ramifications of letting them breed and inbreed.
@Zara and everyone else -- I think this all boils down to whether your birds are members of your family or a commodity. Ours are part of the family. My canary hen became egg bound (chronic layer) last week. We did our best but she passed. We all mourned the poor thing and we are still talking about it. That's a family member. When you are pushing them to breed before they are all the way mature, that's a commodity; you're in it for the money. Yet, if you are doing it right and providing food, fresh vegetables, probiotics, calcium, etc etc etc then you won't make any money. You'd be lucky to break even.
But we can talk ourselves silly, and if someone is determined to breed, they will. All we can do is provide good solid information. And hope or pray that they change their mind.
