How do I stop my finches from breeding?

Question

I started out with two zebra finches. Cool. Well, they hatched three babies about a month ago. Just as these are ready to go, I found four more eggs in a little round thing that used to hold millet. I didn't even notice them building another nest! Well, I've determined that it was the original parents who have mated so its not inbreeding. But now I'm worried about taking the three younger finches out of the cage because its so violent trying to catch one that I'm afraid it will disturb the second nest. The millet holder hangs from the top of the cage and it is in front of the door so anytime I do anything it swings. This cage is going to have 9 birds in it when these eggs are hatched and I think I'm ready to stop the insanity. What can I do to get the young birds out of the cage? And how can I trick the parents into not mating?

I thought that finches required a mate or they would waste away.

I thought about throwing the eggs out but I have a very strong love for my pets and I don't think I could traumatize them like that.

Answer 1

They don't require a mate, but if they've bonded, separating them can actually cause them to go into a depression and die. Something that has worked for a friend of mine was just taking the nest box away or taking away all nesting materials. Eggs laid on the floor of a cage hardly ever will hatch. Something else that I had heard of was actually taking the female out of the cage to "play" each day. This disturbs her enough that she decides that the cage is not a safe place to raise babies and will not lay any more eggs. If you can't really do any of these things, talk to a pet store or breeder. Ask them if you can give them babies in the future. Some places will let you, as long as they know ahead of time.

Answer 2

As you have discovered, finches are prolific breeders! The best way to catch the fledglings is with a small net sold in most pet stores. You don't have to worry about inbreeding with finches. As soon as the eggs have hatched and those babies have fledged, take away the nest! If you really like your finches, you can make some money from raising them. All you need to do is build a large cage from aviary wire (smaller form of chicken wire) which you can keep in a corner. You can sell the babies for $5.00-$7.00 each. If this isn't your bag, you could get rid of the original female (pale cheek spots) and keep a male fledgling (or vice versa).

Answer 3

You cannot trick the birds into not mating. Separating by gender is the only way to stop breeding. Get a nice big cage that you can transfer these guys into but keep the smaller cage for daddy and other males. You should be able to get a zebra finch book with really good pictures to tell you which ones are the males. If not, have your avian vet help. It will probably be ok to let the babies hatch before you try to separate anyone, but again check with an avian vet.

Answer 4

I had my bird spayed, yes spayed. I am starting to think my vet is the only one who does it because nobody I talk to has ever heard of this procedure. She kept laying eggs and I don't have a male bird so they were not fertil, but she was becoming egg bound and I had the one extracted($400.00 later). The next set of eggs came no problem. Then she had a few more and she was bound again. I decided she needed to have the surgery. It is costly, around $800.00 for my conure, but it was worth it as she will hopefully live another 20 years.
I think you should try the fake egg idea, if I knew that trick I would have tried it myself. I know I have seen fake eggs at bird shows, here is a link that you may be able to find a show near you.
http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/shows.htm#shows

Answer 5

Take away anything and everything that they can use to build a nest.
To catch the young birds, you will need a small net that you can get from a pet store, they aren't very costly and do NOT harm the birds.
You really can't trick them. it is their nature, again, you can try to prevent it by making sure that there are no nesting materials available to them OR you can try using fake eggs that you can get from a pet store or craft store.
Best of luck.

Answer 6

They will NOT stop breeding unless you keep the sexes seperated.

However..the females may still lay eggs..if stimulated by the song of the males in hearing distance.

I never ever throw out eggs either. Just seems the 'wrong thing to do'. Anyhow..if you do..they can lay more and more..and become calcium deficiant ( spell that for me? LOL).

So my answer..is to keep either all males or all females.

Answer 7

There are fake eggs you can get. (or make) It will fool the parents into thinking they have eggs and they won't lay anymore. Talk to a breeder about where to get them.

How do you feel about tossing the current batch of eggs? You don't want any more birds, so get rid of them. Get the babies out to re-home, and find the fake eggs to take care of the problem.

Or, just get the babies out any way you can. If the eggs are damaged, or the parents stop taking care of them, Oh well, you didn't want them anyway.

Move the feeder.

Good luck.

Answer 8

Zebra finches are prolific breeders. whilst they start up up, it truly is problematic to supply up them from producing toddlers. make particular to are waiting for greater birds! you would be wanting calcium for the female, and egg nutrition for the toddlers. you will additionally go with a bigger cage because of the fact the birds will start to combat between themselves. Your finches could be too youthful to reproduce yet. have you ever given them a nest container and nesting fabric? which will stimulate egg laying. additionally, birds go with a undeniable form of sunlight hours to supply the hormones needed for egg laying. This time of 365 days won't be conducive to egg laying until you employ synthetic mild. Nature will take its direction quickly adequate. then you definitely would be in this communicate board asking counsel on a thank you to supply up your finches from laying and hatching this form of great form of eggs!!! I communicate from adventure with zebra finches!!

Answer 9

It has to take the male to fertile the eggs,so if you don't want any babies you have to seperate them.And no you don't need a pair,years ago i had a parakeet (female)for about 9yrs.She would lay eggs and i just threw them away,because they weren't fertile.Good luck with your little ones.

Answer 10

They won't waste away. You can have males in one cage and females in the other. Only sure way. If you keep throwing the eggs away, she'll keep laying, and this will cause calcium deficiency.