Hi there. I am new to this site and am not sure if this is going in the right place, but here goes... I purchased an outdoor aviary for my children and myself in August as I had a lovely zebra finch years ago who lived for 14 years and my children had grown up with him. We went to good pet shop and got plenty of advice about getting the finches and setting up the aviary etc. All has been fine up until today when we looked in on them this morning to find FOUR new arrivals! Wow! Well done them! The trouble is, we are now wondering how to best look after the new arrivals. I have looked in several books but they do not mention the nursery stages. I have put extra shelter around several sides of our hexagonal aviary to save them from the wind and fed them with meal worms but any more help and advice would be greatly appreciated. I was told that you take to nesting boxes out if you do not wish for them to breed again, but what if any of the birds are just about to lay?

Taking the nest boxes out doesnt always help as they will try laying in the seed bowls/hoppers instaed. Generally the parents will do the work although a bit extra in there diet with the cold may help. My mates fiches loved a little brown bread soaked in milk. She also use to add extra oyster shell with added charcoal. You can get mineral blocks but they shouldnt really need it. If weather very cold keepa eye as my mate lost hers last year with the cold first time ever. This year shes fitted a small lamp heater placed in the corner so they can warm them self if need be. Sorry cant hepl more. Put a bit of hay in they sometimes add this to there nest materal.

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Banner By Smudge.

i kept zebras in an indoor aviary.

Mine always had a handfull of hay put in their aviary every day which they would use for their nests.

Mine prefered open nest boxes rather than enclosed wooden ones. once they had their two clutches that i allowed a year i would remove any other eggs as they laid them.

i do like zebra finches , not sure how open nests would work though in this cold weather.

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If you think the hen maybe about to lay again, or you think its pos she will add some calcium supps in there, like cuttle bone, or Boiled eggs + Shells Normally boil for about 20 minutes, this will help the Hen regain any calcium she has lost through production of the shell.

The parents will do most of the work, so no real need for you to do much at all, and as said before taking away the nest wont stop them breeding as such, but may slow them, zebra`s will nest in just about anything Including Food Trays lol, if you dont want anymore it would be best to remove any eggs. I know removing the nest seems cruel but it will help in someways, but i never remove the nest until the babies are ready to fend for them selves.

Ive also heard that lowering the food levels will help slow breeding, one very nice chap has told me. the more food the more they will say to themselves "Hey there is enough food here for more of us" how true that is i dont know, but i can understand the logic.

Anyway let the parents do the work and try not to worry to much

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WIndows Live/MSN dingal2000@live.co.uk

i give all of mine egg food, millet sprays & some japanese millet & theyre all fine

you should never give to many millet sprays, they are good as treats every now and then, but not all the time

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WIndows Live/MSN dingal2000@live.co.uk

I love zebra finches we lost our pair a few months ago and love the sound they make, we just have our canary now.

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