To successfully breed Zebra finches it is advisable to keep them as a caged pair. Like this it guarantees the pedigree of their offspring, although it is best to keep the male and female apart until the breeding season begins to really be certain of this.
The next step is to make sure that an adequate nesting box is provided in their cage or aviary. As constant inspection of the nesting box is essential, it needs to be easily accessible but it also needs to be secure for the hen to feel comfortable and safe. Most finches will nest anywhere but by providing a nesting box will definitely encourage her to lay and sit her eggs. Soft dried moss, clean feathers, dry grass or soft hay make ideal nesting material and a little of this should be placed in the box with a small well in the middle for the hen bird to lay her eggs on. It's a great idea to leave a small amount of this nesting material scattered around the cage so that the hen can finish her nest if she wants to. By providing all of this it will encourage her to lay her eggs and start sitting on them.
After she has laid her first egg remove all the extra material from around the cage and pretty soon she will have made herself comfortable and sit on her clutch of eggs. As caged birds are in a controlled environment breeding can take place at any time but during the colder periods a heat lamp will help control the environment and trick them into thinking that it is the right time to breed.
All finches need to be fit and healthy in order for them to breed well and by keeping the pair which are intended for breeding in large aviaries for just over a month will get the birds into ideal condition.
By adding cod liver oil to their diets for three days and alternating this every three days will ensure that their intake of the valuable minerals and vitamins that are needed will be slowly absorbed into their systems. This diet should be maintained the whole time prior to introducing the breeding pair into their smaller breeding cages.
Introduce the pair that has been selected for breeding into the cage and watch for the normal behavior of courtship. This is when the cock bird starts to puff himself up whilst singing and dancing around the hen to catch her attention. The hen should react to his antics by swaying from side to side fanning her tail as she does. If all goes according to plan the pair will mate immediately.
A hen needs to feel secure in her nest so it is really important to make sure that she is or she may refuse to use the box which has been provided. She should lay within the first week but if she doesn't it is best to introduce a new mate. It only takes five days to see if the eggs she has laid are fertile. Infertile eggs should be removed to let the hen lay a further batch.
Derek Tannon is a finch research expert. For great information on breeding finches, visit http://www.finchcaretips.com.
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