FEATURE
season is the laying of eggs. Zebras get off the mark quite quickly and some hens lay their first egg within four days of being paired. We would normally expect eggs to appear between four and seven days. There is no need to be too hasty if a hen does not lay within that time scale. We leave a non laying pair for three weeks before taking any action. If neither of the partners is showing any interest, we transfer both birds into flights or flight cages with groups of birds of their own sex. They stay there for two or three weeks before being reconsidered for pairing. If both birds appear to be breeding fit but just not compatible – perhaps with one spending most of its time on the perch while the other is on the
floor of the cage – we would consider finding new mates for both cock and hen without them going through the rest period. Zebra finches are generally peaceful and friendly birds and only on very rare occasions do they attack their mates. However, you still need to be vigilant when putting two birds of the opposite sex together – until you are sure they have settled down. That is doubly so in the case when a change of breeding partner is involved. If the cock is observed treading the hen – but no eggs appear – the hen must be the suspect member of the partnership. If, on the other hand, eggs are laid but turn out to be infertile, there is a strong possibility that it is the cock that needs to be replaced.
Zebra Finches mating
BIRD SCENE 21
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