If you have finches as pets and enjoy them a great deal you may want to take on the ultimate challenge; breeding a finch. Actually finches breed quite well in captivity. They are some of the easiest birds to get to breed. You only have to provide them with the right conditions, a healthy diet and an acceptable mating partner.
When you are going to start breeding zebra finches you should first make certain you have a male and a female. This can usually be determined by just looking at the birds markings. The male zebra finch is distinctively colored with patches of orange on their cheeks and their beaks are very red. Female beaks are more of a dull orange color and they do not have the bright orange cheeks.
Provide your birds with a cage or aviary that is large enough for them to reproduce in. The cage you currently have may be perfect for two birds, but if you are breeding them the two birds will quickly become four or even six birds. A good size for a breeding cage is 2 foot long by 1 foot wide by 8 inches high. If you can give your pair of finches more space than this it will be even better for your results.
You will have to provide them with a nest to lay their eggs in. Nests made from bamboo are very popular for finches. They are not expensive and readily available at most pet supply stores. You can purchase the bamboo nests in small or large sizes. It is probably best to get the larger size in case your birds have a large clutch of eggs.
Wooden nesting boxes are also frequently used for finches. You can place the wooden box inside the cage or you can mount it outside the cage, and provide your birds an access opening into the box. These make wonderful nests and are easy to clean and care for when the nest is not being used. The wooden box mounted on the outside of the cage also allows you to count your eggs, and check on the nest with the least amount of disturbance to the parents.
You can provide your birds with several different materials to build their nests. Bits of string and shredded tissues make good materials. Caution! Your birds can get tangled up in the nesting material and possibly die. Make certain the material is not to fine or not too long.
Watch your male bird for signs that he is fussing with the nest. He will begin to add materials to the nest and prepare it for the egg laying. Not long after you notice this behavior you should notice the birds either doing a little mating dance or they may start to sing their mating song. Either way it will not be long before you have eggs.
The female will do the majority of the nest sitting, but the male will help. In thirteen days you will have little baby finches hatching. Good luck.
Parrot Toy Safety - How To Choose Safe Toys For Your Parrot Or Cockatoo Finches Information and Tips for Bird Lovers Choosing the Proper Finch Aviary Can Make All the Difference How to Give Your Pet Aviary Birds the Right Start for the Breeding Season
0 comments:
Post a Comment