I have 2 male finches and one female finch (all Zebras). I have tried to add a pure white finch before, but they wouldn't play with her or be very nice and she died.
This morning, I went to clean their cage and found a egg in their seed bowl. I have never put in a breeding nest and am now unsure if the egg will hatch or if this is just something that happens every now and again. I'm rather confused because I was told they wouldn't breed without privacy.
What should I do to look after a baby finch? Will they lay another egg? I'm assuming no, but thought I should ask anyway. Will it be a issue that there is two males?
Thanks to all that help. Lana :)
By Alanah from Brisbane
I have two finches and I was told that as long as you don't put a nest in the cage they won't lay eggs. Well, mine did, and she layed them in the food tray. So, I just added another food tray so I didn't disturb the eggs. But, I only saw them sit on the eggs a few times.
LilHoneyBrat form Minnesota
I once had a pair of finches and she laid eggs all of the time but the eggs were never fertilized by the male so, of course, they never hatched. If she has laid all the eggs (zebra finches often will not sit on them until the last one is laid) and is not sitting on them constantly, except for eating, then they are not fertile or something is not right about them. If as time passes the eggs take on a deeper blue/grey color then there is an embryo but if she's not sitting on them the majority of the time they are not going to hatch. Zebra finch eggs generally hatch at 14 to 18 days.
You should also make sure she has enough calcium nutrition since she'll often lay eggs. There are special egg foods available at pet stores and it wouldn't hurt to have nesting material just in case there ever ends up being fertile eggs. Don't touch any of the eggs until you know they are not going to be hatched because many birds will shun their eggs after being disturbed.
Enjoy your finches! I loved mine because they made the most relaxing sweet sounds and it was fun to watch their antics. Oh, and every time the phone rang they broke in to a chorus. Oh, and there are ooddles of books on finches at the library so maybe check a couple out to learn more about your babies. :-)
Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
My two finches laid their egg in the seed basket. Should I move their egg (would the mother reject it) or is it safe if the egg stays in the seed basket? Thanks.
I would move the egg and hope for the best.
I'd move it but then swap the places of the egg and the seed basket so its technically in the same place.
This is my first time owning zebra finches. About 20 days ago one started laying eggs and finished about 2 weeks ago. She laid 4 eggs in total. Today I noticed a 5th egg. Should I remove the other eggs?
Usually they don't start to sit on them until after they lay the last egg. So, start your timing from the final egg, and then give a couple extra days just incase.
What do I do if my zebra finches lay their eggs in different spots and I don't know how long they have been there?
The article I read said that the bird will lay one egg a day until she is finished. She can lay up to 8 eggs, but usually 3 to 6.
My finches laid eggs, but it has been over 18 days can they still hatch?
I have a pair of finches. They laid four eggs more than one week ago. After laying the fourth egg they broke the egg. Initially they sat on the eggs for some time, but now they are not sitting on the eggs. What should I do?
Remove the eggs, they are spoiled. I raised finches and Canaries for years. The broken egg or it's remains would have spoiled in the nest & made an unhealthy habitat for other viable eggs.
I have two finches, one male and one female. She laid to eggs, but I don't know when one egg fell out of the nest and broke. I didn't know until too late and it was dead in the egg. How can I help the last egg survive? And how often do finches mate and when do they mate?
That was the best information I received since I got me Finches.
My first male didn't like the female so I took i back to the pet shop.
These two like each other just fine. I have had 12 eggs in a very short time .( in 2 different settings).The first clutch didn't work for me except for one and I tried to candle it and I broke it. I had a moving chick that I think would have hatched in about a week.
Read all you can on hatching chicks.It will help you in the long run.
I have two pairs of finches in my cage and they are doing good. One day I met with a surprise and there's an egg in one of my finches' nest. The next day there was only one egg and the next day an egg was there. But today there's no egg. I need to know whether this is the last egg or there's still a chance of getting more eggs.
Do not panic this is very normal. Some birds will lay an egg each day and others will not. Do not worry and mother nature normally takes it course in cases like this. These birds can lay up to 7 eggs but normally it is more like 3-5 before they will sit on the nest. The male and female will take their turns sitting on the nest. Just sit back and enjoy and allow the two of them to do what come nature to them and take care of the babies.
Finch tend to do this and it is normal! They could lay a lot more within the week or 2. They are great parents and know what they are doing to get ready for there family. Mother nature at it's best!
Why hasn't my egg hatched when it's over due?
You start counting from when the bird starting sitting on it, not from when it was laid. Are you sure it was a fertile egg?
Eggs may be laid 2 weeks before the bird starts sitting on them.
My finches have laid eggs, but are not sitting on them and are panicking. What should I do?
They will not sit on them until they are done laying all their eggs.
That way they will all hatch at the same time.
My white finch birds laid 3 eggs and were sitting on them continuously for 3 days. On the 4th day they stopped going into the nest. They didn't sit on it for around 10 hours. They just see the eggs from outside and hardly go in for less than 20 minutes.
That is not a good sign. See if there is another nest, and combine the eggs.
Originally I had 2 finches. I assumed they were both female. They would lay eggs then not really bother sitting on them. However, one of my birds died and I got another. I was still unsure whether or not it was male or female. Although I think now it's a male. My other female has just laid 3 eggs and has been sitting on them constantly. When she's not, he will take over. I am thinking I'm going to have some baby birdies in the next 2 weeks. Is there anything special I should feed them or just let nature do its thing? They seem happy and content.
The best thing to do is provide the birds as much privacy as possible. Don't try looking in the nest to count or check on eggs. You can get some excellent, basic finch breeding information at www.petfinchadvice.com/zebra-finch-breeding/
I hope the eggs hatch and you enjoy the pleasure of watching the little ones mature.
My finches laid eggs, but they didn't hatch. Someone has said that they will never hatch, can you tell me if this is true.
Thank you.
No this isn't true. Normally the female will lay one egg a day and it could go on for 4 to 6 days. After the last egg is laid that is when she will sit on the nest. If she isn't sitting on the nest then the eggs will never hatch at all.
My finch laid twelve eggs. Is there anything I should do or buy besides feeding and watering them?
This is the time when you should let nature take its course. Dont bother the birds or handle them.
I have 2 pairs of finches in my cage, 1 of the females just laid an egg and now she and her mate are being extra protective and a little aggressive towards the other pair. Should I move the other pair into their own separate cage or should I just leave everything alone since the other pair has started laying? I don't want to disturb the other pair since they just laid their first egg today and I don't want them to get scared or reject the egg or stop laying eggs. What should I do?
They should be moved to a separate cage.
I had bought a pair of zebra finches, a brother and sister, from a friend and after keeping them a while the female died. I didn't know what to do so I bought a new zebra finch and put her in his cage immediately and she laid an egg. They have not incubated it. What should I do?
I have two finches, a male zebra finch and a female Hecks Grass finch, they laid an egg and they have been sitting on it 24/7; it should hatch this week. But I just read that only the same type of finches can breed. So is it possible that the egg will not hatch?
