Hatching Zebra Finch eggs...advice???

[BirdyGirl7198]

Okay, so today I found an egg that my finches have abandoned. So I decided to incubate it. I have hatched 4 finch eggs before so I know how to do it, I just need some help for when they actually hatch. I fell asleep through one feeding a while back and when I woke up in the morning they were dead. I felt so horrible

I just don't know how many times they are supposed to be fed during the day, or during the night. And advice would be verym much appreciated

I just want to see this one grow and live a full life

Thanks for all your help,
Carmen!!!

 

[usschicago1]

Quick Google Search, Chart seems easy to follow.
http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/spenser.htm

 

[justbugged]

I wouldn't take the eggs away from the parent birds. My Zebras are excellent parents. In fact in the flight cage, all the finches share feeding duties. I would put a small nest in the cage and give the them some nesting material. The adult Zebras are normally very good parents. So trust them to do the job. Their instinct should be good enough that at some point you will have more finches than you know what to do with.

 

[BirdyGirl7198]

Quote:
There was a nest and nesting materials in the cage, but they layed it on the ground. I also just noticed that it has a small crack in it (probably from being pecked at), but it didn't break through the inner skin, I have no idea what that's called, so it should be fine. I have hatched eggs with cracks in them before.

 

[BirdyGirl7198]

Quote:
Thank you so much! That helps a lot!

 

[usschicago1]

Quote:
Thank you so much! That helps a lot!

Your Welcome!

 

[BirdyGirl7198]

I have another question

When is a good age to wean them? From the link the latest it should be is about a month, but when is the average age? Thanks!

 

[BirdyGirl7198]

It's only about 5 hours after the egg was set and I can already tell it is fertile

I can see the little douuble ringed bulls eye in it! So awesome! Can't wait

 

[dwhite]

Handfeeding a finch from day 1 is very difficult, most people I know that have tried ended up not having the finch survive past day 3.

Even though the membrane is intact look for info on how to repair it, I have had several duck and cockatiel eggs over the years that fit your same situation and none hatched, I was told, but didn't verify, that the crack/chip allows for moisture to exit the egg that normally wouldn't which causes the chick to be DIS.

 

[whiteirishtiger]

some eggs end up on the floor .. most stay in the nest. I let them do what they know and they KNOW how to make and raise babies.

they don't need much .. just feed fresh veggies / fruit, hard boiled eggs, get the grit out for them, shredded paper for nest materials, and a bath before breakfast (& maybe a finch massage lol).