Post by deebee on Feb 25, 2015 3:11:02 GMT -8
Firstly, I want to say that although zebra finches make the ideal birds to breed for a beginner, they shouldn't be looked down on by any advanced keepers. Although I am no longer breeding zebra finches I would absolutely love to do it again in the near future. I find them fascinating, fun and cute. They breed readily under the right conditions and can even be bred as a colony if given enough space . They are the perfect bird to keep and breed!
So, on to the tips:
Getting your birds into condition before you breed is absolutely essential. If you breed poor quality parents they will raise poor quality chicks. Make sure that your finches are eating a good diet of foreign finch seed, millet, fresh leafy greens, egg or egg food etc. If you don’t already give them dietary supplements then I recommend you give them a product that contains calcium and vitamin D3 mixed in with their fresh foods (easy enough to mix in with egg) a couple of times a week to ensure that the hen will lay safely. A cuttlebone alone is just not enough, especially if you intend on breeding indoors
Giving your birds protein ensures that they will raise healthy chicks that will grow nice and fast. I use a moist egg food as well as meal worms. Sometimes I will scramble some eggs with the shell on and feed it to them while it is still warm. I often mix in herbs, spices and supplements with the egg too for that extra boost
Make sure that there is plenty of fresh water available at all times. Zebra finches will feel at ease knowing that it is there. If you have enough room you should provide them with a large, shallow bath as they will use it often
Do not put too many birds in an enclosure. If you’re using breeding cages then I would stick to one pair per cage, however, in an aviary you could have multiple pairs providing you have given them enough space. I kept about 4 pairs in a 6 x 6 x 6 foot aviary and they did very well. Overcrowding will put birds off breeding and could potentially cause aggression. Birds will be competitive for space and resources so breeding will be the last thing on their minds
If you find yourself with an aggressive bird upsetting your flock dynamics then your best bet would be to remove them all together. Aggressive birds will trash nests, kill chicks and even attack parents in order to put their point across
Make sure the area around your finches is quiet. If you have them indoors and stick their cage in your main living area then you will most likely not see any good results. They need to be somewhere where they have little distraction or threats. The same applies if you have an aviary. Cover the roof and 3 of the sides so they only have to look out of one side. This can stop them from seeing predatory animals that may be wondering around. Cats, dogs, foxes and wild birds can be very daunting to finches. If they don’t feel safe then they won’t breed
Offer them a wide range of nesting materials. I have used nest liners, animal bedding, willow twigs etc. and each pair have their chosen preferences. If you give them the opportunity to choose which material they want to use then hopefully that will give you some success. Birds can be very fussy, especially if you make their nest for them
Ensuring you have enough nest boxes is a top priority. As I have said already, birds will feel the need to compete for space and resources. Make sure that for every pair you provide two nest boxes. This only applies if you’re breeding a colony in an aviary but it is still something you should know. This stops pairs from being possessive of one nest in particular and gives everybody an equal opportunity in choosing their nest. If they’re not forced to use one nest then they will be happier making a nest in one they've chosen themselves
Your nest box should be kept high up. The higher up the better! Most birds who do not live on the ground will feel very uneasy at a lower level. They feel more vulnerable and so won’t be breeding at all. If you have your nest higher up then they will feel safer from predators and will be able to see things better, giving them a sense of security
After every clutch it is vital that you clean the nest box thoroughly. Use a good disinfectant (I personally use F10) and remove all of the nesting material. Wash it and let it dry out before disinfecting it
I hope this helps anybody considering breeding these amazing little gems!
So, on to the tips:
Getting your birds into condition before you breed is absolutely essential. If you breed poor quality parents they will raise poor quality chicks. Make sure that your finches are eating a good diet of foreign finch seed, millet, fresh leafy greens, egg or egg food etc. If you don’t already give them dietary supplements then I recommend you give them a product that contains calcium and vitamin D3 mixed in with their fresh foods (easy enough to mix in with egg) a couple of times a week to ensure that the hen will lay safely. A cuttlebone alone is just not enough, especially if you intend on breeding indoors
Giving your birds protein ensures that they will raise healthy chicks that will grow nice and fast. I use a moist egg food as well as meal worms. Sometimes I will scramble some eggs with the shell on and feed it to them while it is still warm. I often mix in herbs, spices and supplements with the egg too for that extra boost
Make sure that there is plenty of fresh water available at all times. Zebra finches will feel at ease knowing that it is there. If you have enough room you should provide them with a large, shallow bath as they will use it often
Do not put too many birds in an enclosure. If you’re using breeding cages then I would stick to one pair per cage, however, in an aviary you could have multiple pairs providing you have given them enough space. I kept about 4 pairs in a 6 x 6 x 6 foot aviary and they did very well. Overcrowding will put birds off breeding and could potentially cause aggression. Birds will be competitive for space and resources so breeding will be the last thing on their minds
If you find yourself with an aggressive bird upsetting your flock dynamics then your best bet would be to remove them all together. Aggressive birds will trash nests, kill chicks and even attack parents in order to put their point across
Make sure the area around your finches is quiet. If you have them indoors and stick their cage in your main living area then you will most likely not see any good results. They need to be somewhere where they have little distraction or threats. The same applies if you have an aviary. Cover the roof and 3 of the sides so they only have to look out of one side. This can stop them from seeing predatory animals that may be wondering around. Cats, dogs, foxes and wild birds can be very daunting to finches. If they don’t feel safe then they won’t breed
Offer them a wide range of nesting materials. I have used nest liners, animal bedding, willow twigs etc. and each pair have their chosen preferences. If you give them the opportunity to choose which material they want to use then hopefully that will give you some success. Birds can be very fussy, especially if you make their nest for them
Ensuring you have enough nest boxes is a top priority. As I have said already, birds will feel the need to compete for space and resources. Make sure that for every pair you provide two nest boxes. This only applies if you’re breeding a colony in an aviary but it is still something you should know. This stops pairs from being possessive of one nest in particular and gives everybody an equal opportunity in choosing their nest. If they’re not forced to use one nest then they will be happier making a nest in one they've chosen themselves
Your nest box should be kept high up. The higher up the better! Most birds who do not live on the ground will feel very uneasy at a lower level. They feel more vulnerable and so won’t be breeding at all. If you have your nest higher up then they will feel safer from predators and will be able to see things better, giving them a sense of security
After every clutch it is vital that you clean the nest box thoroughly. Use a good disinfectant (I personally use F10) and remove all of the nesting material. Wash it and let it dry out before disinfecting it
I hope this helps anybody considering breeding these amazing little gems!
I used to keep Gouldian's but I've found them to be very sensitive birds and we lost ours very early on. I know some people think it's a myth that they're not hardy but from my own experiences I have to disagree. The slightest draught can be detrimental to their health. I've kept Gouldian's, zebras, Bicheno, Bengalese and silverbills. Not had a problem with anything except for the Gouldian's 
