Zebra finches not laying...

[Terri O]

I have a pair of zebra finches that have raised several broods in the last 2 years. NOw the female is not laying any more. He is busy carrying everything into the nest but no eggs! Do they get too old? I dont think she is over 3 or so...Her daughter is laying like crazy but not sitting on any eggs at all. She has a mate with her too. I was hoping to make enough of them to put them in an aviary this summer. Any ideas what to do? TErri O

 

[Skyesrocket]

Are the mother and daughter caged seperatley? If so give momma some of the daughters eggs to incubate. Momma might just be too old to lay.

 

[Terri O]

Hmmm--good idea. Do you think I have to give her one a day so she thinks she is laying them? Terri O

 

[MissCluck]

Do they have a nice source of natural lighting or a "sun lamp". Sometimes that helps... also lots of fresh greens and eggfood, calcium.

Your older hen may just be retired.

 

[Terri O]

Well they are in the kitchen but there is not a bunch of light from outside. Maybe I will put them in the back room where it gets morning light. I am going to try the egg thing today--I think the daughter is laying now. How long do they lay for? I think she is about 4. She is so funny...right now she is trying to pull out the little dingy part in her bell. The other ones are swinging on their hay ball...guess I better fill that up again! TErri O

 

[MissCluck]

Aren't they great little birds? I love mine and have about forty assorted finches.

The natural light may help a lot. For the egg food I crush a boiled egg very fine - shell and all. Some people add some honey or seeds to the mix but I just feed mine plain and the little 'uns go bonkers over it.

Sometimes you can buy a full spectrum light to simulate sunlight. I've done this for my finches over the winter since they are in a rather dark corner during that time.

I think the hens would love to keep laying right up until their deaths...the little boogers!