Hey everyone,

Im new to this site and are wondering if you can help me.

After the riots where I live recently, my husband found a Zebra Finch walking around his work yard. We think, it may have been from the Pet shop was broken into and the pets let out. He was a very depressed male finch. Wouldnt eat, move or fly, he just slept all day. I looked on the net for info to help me help him. I knew already that they were a flock bird, but before I got him a mate, I thought I would see if he survived his time out in the wild.

A week later and his still depressed I got him a mate. He instantly perked up and began flying and eating well. They got on really well and a few months later they decided to mate. After moving their nest all around the cage, on their toy rope (in the corner of the cage) using the back of the cage, the rope and straw and bedding. In their food bowls. Everywhere except their wicker purpose made nest!!

Now they have stayed in their nest in one of their food bowls!! Laid 4 eggs, 3 of which to date have hatched. The chicks are 4 days old now and seem to be doing well. I have searched through the net to make sure I know what to expect, to do etc and give them grit, added nutrients etc and greens etc. so they have all they need.

They share the responsibility of feeding and sitting in the nest etc.

The one main prob I am having which I cannot find out what to do about is now the parents are chasing each other around the cage and fighting!!! The male chases the female, and vice versa!!! They really mean it too. PLEASE, if anyone can help me and advise me what to do. I dont want them to hurt each other. The chicks are fine, one egg may not hatch as its been a few days now with no sign of hatching. This is the last egg, so I will give it another few days.

The cage is a corner cage and stands about 6ft high, with various perches and plenty of space.

Thank you Tania

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Two beautiful Zebra Finches and three chicks, One female cheeky Senagal Parrot, Two lively rabbits and until recently a beautiful Blue ringnecked Parakeet

If the fighting is getting out of hand, watch to see which parent takes care of the youngsters most often (usually the mom, IME), and then remove the other parent from the cage for the time being.

There are varying opinions regarding grit, but I don't offer it to my finches. I've read that it can cause impactions in chicks, and that finches don't really need it anyway since they hull their seeds.

That's very kind of your husband and you to take the little boy in! Zebras can be a little feisty. I agree that taking one of them out for a while might settle things down. Maybe Dad. Are you feeding them lots of egg food and greens for the parents to feed the babies? Good luck to you and your new Zebbie family

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Trish
8 adorable Society finch ~ 4 beautiful Gouldian finch
~1 Cockatoo~1 Sun Conure~1 Green Cheek Conure~1 Parotlet~1 dog~ many pond fish & a 7ft Red Tailed Boa, Little Niki

I agree
Take dad out, mom can take care of the chicks herself.
You just need another cage for dad, and put it in another room, so they can't hear each other. Otherwise mom may spend time calling to each other rather than caring for the chicks.

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Gary

gouldians (GB,YB,BB), blackbelly firefinches, penguin zebras, societies (foster parents)
red factor canary

Thank you so much for all your help. They both sit in with the chicks, but mum seems to do most of the feeding. I tend to leave the food door open so that if things get too stressful for them the dad can come out and fly around or peck the carpet! Why they do that I dont know.

Mum seems to be the aggressor and chases the dad all around the cage, he doesnt seem to have to do anything other than maybe get too close to the nest and she gets angry! Other times they sit in there together. Strange, so I dont know what starts them off fighting, seem as though they both do the work for the chicks.

I have given them egg food and after going through some of the mess on this forum I have grated an egg and given them some. I also give them a little bread soaked with milk too.

They like finely chopped cucumber and lettuce and finely grated carrot. Also orange and apple. So I vary the treats they get given.

If there is anything else I should/shouldnt be doing, please let me know. Or if there may be other advice, Im open to any assistance to do whatever I can for them to remain healthy.

Thank you so much.

Tania

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Two beautiful Zebra Finches and three chicks, One female cheeky Senagal Parrot, Two lively rabbits and until recently a beautiful Blue ringnecked Parakeet

Hi,
The only thing I would suggest is not to feed the iceberg lettuce like we normally eat. It's mainly water and not nutricious for the birds. Romane Lettuce is the best. A cuttle bone is better then grit. Plus Cuttle bone is calcium they need for good bones.

The poor baby (dad) was sure lucky. That is awful thing to break into a pet shop. I hope they got caught.

Sunny 25