eman 1 Report post Posted April 21, 2013 Good morning one and all and an early one at that.. I am Eman, a brit now living in Kuwait who is in need of help regarding 2 fighting zebs. I brought a pair say a month ago and last week mama zeb laid 5 eggs but now she is constantly harrassing baba finch and fighting with him and pulling out his feathers. I am new to finchy life so all help greatly appreciated. Is this par for the course, is she guarding her eggs or what should i do? He is looking so bedraggled and bitty now, he has feathers missing from different places. She is constantly attacking him. Should i leave them be or take him out or eggs out or what is best for all concerned for their happy marraige .. lolll Hope you all have a great sunday.. wakey wakey, its a lovely day out their folks... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dannyboy2012 63 Report post Posted April 21, 2013 Hello eman, you could try tying 4-5 bits off string at 10cm doubled over as these may relieve some boredom, if that don't work someone else will be able to gibe U some more things to try, I've seen a hen bird pluck her own feathers so her body heat is closer to the eggs, the only time ive had plucking is when its near breeding season and two males are fighting for dominance, and I just seperate them. Dan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted April 21, 2013 Hi Eman What Dan has said usually does work but recently I've had a hen who with the cock bird incubated 9 eggs and 8 hatched out After a few days I found a chick dead on the floor of the cage and the next day same thing happened. I noticed then that the hen was pecking the chicks in the nest and pulling the 'downey' feathers on their backs, in fact she had one chick bleeding (I did have bunches of string in the cage- usually always do lol) After advice from others I removed the hen for a while then put her back in the cage again but the same thing happened so she was removed from the cage permanently and I have been helping the dad feed the chicks by hand feeding them 3 times a day and he feeds them inbetween. But I think its maybe a different situation with yours (because this happened to mine AFTER the eggs were hatched)but one thing i would suggest, if the string doesnst work, if this behaviour is stopping them incubating the eggs then if its the hen who is on the nest most of the time then I would remove the cock bird to find out if she then settles down to incubate the eggs. Hope this helps Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paulm 119 Report post Posted April 21, 2013 Hello Eman and welcome to the forum. Is the cock sitting the eggs as well as the hen?, there could be a couple of reasons why she is attacking him, it could be he is not doing his part of the sitting and she is frustrated with him both cocks and hens can attack their partners in this situation, trying to bully them into doing their bit. It could even be she has not formed a partnership with him and has laid the eggs in the nest which would be clear and he is seen as an intruder to her, I would remove the cock or place a wire slide between them and she if the hen will sit the eggs by herself. Paul. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eman 1 Report post Posted April 21, 2013 Hi all, Thanks for your replies. Both of them take turns to nest but mostly seems to be him. Someone suggested (not from here) that i take eggs out and wrap them in tissue to keep warm and see if she stops attacking him, so I did that and she has stopped fighting with him. Now, 2 things.. Do i stick the eggs back? are the eggs ok in the tissue or has it ruined things for any potential chicks? 1 egg did break when i removed and was just a yoke. How long do eggs take before hatching? Oh and as for the string thing.. what does that do, is it something for them to play with or what? take their agggression out on the string.. loll What kind of string to use is safe for them?? Thanks for your help and with my many questions.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted April 21, 2013 I just use the normal string you buy for tying up parcels. They go for that instead of the other birds so it can be both a play thing and keep them occupied so they dont bother the other bird. I have never heard of removing eggs and keeping them in tissue paper after the birds have been incubating . I may be wrong but I doubt if that would keep the eggs warm enough but perhaps it would depend on how long you had kept the eggs out from the nest but that's something I would not advise you to do but I could be wrong. You could candle the eggs to find out if they are fertile. I'm sure if you go into youtube and type in 'candling eggs' there is a video showing you what to do and what to look for. Sorry I dont have the link at the moment. Hope all goes well in the future Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eman 1 Report post Posted April 22, 2013 Good morning one and all, You recommended using like parcel string to use.. Is like a woolen one ok to use for them or is it too soft? I dont know if it is too soft for them that they'll pull it apart? Any other suggestions for them for toy things for them to play or do for boredom? You see in petshops the 'usual' budgie kind of toys n them hanging treat things? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted April 22, 2013 i Eman I've never given mine anything but parcel string it makes it a bit more difficult for them to pull it aart and keeps them occupied The only other thing I give my finches is a swing they love that but I think I'm correct in saying this zebra finches dont go in for 'toys' like budgies do. Maybe someone else will correct me if I'm wrong Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eman 1 Report post Posted April 22, 2013 I have the finches in my class at school, up on a shelf so little ones cant get to them and i've tied up 2 small plastic building rings to a string and made it like a swing for them.. so they can either sit on the ring or on the string.. so far they dont seem interested with it lolll Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted April 22, 2013 Eman maybe the rings are too small. The ring type swings I have in my cages are about 6"in diameter maybe slightly more but i alos have the normal type of swings as well (3 finches can sit together on them at the same time.) When you said you have the cage in 'your class at school' does this mean you are a teacher ? Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
casamber 60 Report post Posted April 22, 2013 Hi Eman and welcome to the forum. I use twine for my finches. I have never known them to play with budgie toys and i would advise not to put a mirror in the cage with them! I tried it once and my zebs attacked it 24/7 until i finally took the hint and removed it Kerry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eman 1 Report post Posted April 22, 2013 Hi Emmy, Yeah im a toddlers teacher and wanted a class pet for my kids to learn about and birds were my only option n zebs are cute n small and very talkative with their song but somewhat messy ****** loll The rings i put in are too small for them to swing on but wanted to give them it more so to play or attack rather than swing on but they dont seem amused lollll Do they like sand or water baths to paddle or splash about in? Got told to take out eggs n put in tissue but wasnt told it was permenant fixture eggs surely were out too long to put back but actually once taken out she stopped attacking hom but he lookin like a scruff bag now n looks moth eaten n he was so nice looking before. What can i do to help him get etter condition? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ssteves 51 Report post Posted April 22, 2013 hi eman and welcome mine liked a water bath even in the winter when i had to break the ice open steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted April 22, 2013 Hi Eman, Like Steve says they love having a bath you do get baths to fit in the cage door but you could just put a shallow dish in with water in it but beware -you will get a bath too but its lovely to see them splashing in the water then preening themselves when they decide to come out of the bath. You're lucky being able to keep the birds in the classroom, not sure if its allowed in classrooms here now so many rules and health regulations - not like when I was teaching -One time I had a broody hen with chicks in a cage in the classroom also had a hamster that was allowed to roll about the floor in its ball - definaltely one way to keep the children quiet (not the school cleaners though when the hamster escaped from his cage one night) I was and still am a firm believer that children learn more from practical experiences and retain that knowledge- then the contents of the books related to the subject makes more sense to them. I have taught children from nursery age to 12year olds. They were like a second family to me. Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eman 1 Report post Posted April 23, 2013 Yeah the ages i teach are from 2 years to 2yr 8 months so still babies.. so not really teaching book wise, everything practical based ie playing shapes and colours and number/letter games etc. They love the finches especially when they in full singing mode and takes a bit to get kids attention back from the birds.. loll Maybe next year i'll introduce a different pet.. haha a rottweiller or something.. hahahaha Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
casamber 60 Report post Posted April 23, 2013 My son is 3 and his nursery classroom has a hamster cage with no hamster I keep wondering if they are getting a pet but so far it is just sitting there empty Kerry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted April 23, 2013 I keep wondering if they are getting a pet but so far it is just sitting there empty Kerry maybe its escaped and is in hiding busy chewing up some of their books to make a nest (not joking here that's what the hamster did that escaped in my classroom - the cleaners were terrified until I found it. It had made a lovely nest with paper from a jotter that had been left on a table) Emmy (perhaps it could be something to do with regulations regarding pets in nursery/classrooms be interesting to know if that's why the cage is empty - I do know there was something said about certain children could be allergic to some pets. ) Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
casamber 60 Report post Posted April 23, 2013 It could well be something to do with allergies... I was given a right telling off once because i left some chocolate in Jacks school bag! Your not allowed to do that incase one of the kids has an allergy. Thats fine and i totally agree... but they only found out it was in there because i took it out when i picked him up and gave it to him as treat for being dry (he was having a toilet training relapse). It's time for nursery now so i'm going to ask them about the hamster cage Kerry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eman 1 Report post Posted April 24, 2013 Good morning all... Time to give these fluffy things a bath.. * note to self.. move laptop and tea* as they are on a shelf above me and you have to watch laptop and your tea as you find bits of feathers and food in ur tea just before your about to take a swig.. lolll Can they have sand baths too or just water?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted April 24, 2013 Eman I give my quails sand baths and they love it but I havent thought about the finches I've only evergiven them water in their baths. Maybe some other members will be able to answer this? Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eman 1 Report post Posted April 30, 2013 Good morning all, Well she has got eggs again and this time just 3 and this time she doesnt seem to be attacking him or pulling out his feathers.. How long is incubation time for eggs with them? Hope you all have a good day today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted April 30, 2013 I'm sure its about 14 days after they have started sitting on the eggs but if they havent hatched out on the 14th day just leave the eggs in the nest sometimes it takes a bit longer. Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
