My strrawbs are breeding?!?!?!

[Strawblady2000]

Hello All,

Well...I;m in shock.

My strawbs were nest building a couple of weeks ago...and I decided to let them be, after all, if they were incubating, I'd know it...right?

Wrong, lol.

Happened to do a nest check today and there are at least 3 eggs (yay!). I had changed their diet and added calcium and other supplements to prepare for March's breeding season. They started building a nest the very end of Dec. By Jan 2nd, they were sleeping in it at night (which I've NEVER seen them do)

Looks like they beat me to it, lo. It's been unseasonably warm here in TX, so...maybe that in combno with the diet gave them a boost.

I keep detailed notes about their diet, behavior, etc. I just thought they were going in/out of nest alot, lol...thinking breeding season was a bit away. I have NO clue when the eggs were laid. I'm guessing as early as Jan 5th or as late as 4 days ago.

Anyhow...I would like to hear your stories about strawberry finches and breeding them. I am having a hard time deciding whether or not to foster. I dont mass produce at all...just hate to see the eggs/chicks not make it.

My strawbs are SO flighty...I'm worried that simply changing their food/water will cause them to abandon. I took a quick peek in the nest, thinking nothing would be there, but there was. This would be my pair's first clutch.

I know that if this clutch fails, they will lay more...that's what birds do. BUT///after having my goulds toss their first clutch llast year, I hate to see the strawb babies not make it because I just sat there.

Ugh...I know, I know...best to leave 'em.

Please share your stories with me...especially ones about first clutches. I've read that I shouldnt get my hopes up with the first clutch (which is also why I'm considering fostering).

I am wondering:

When does incubation begin? After the 3rd egg?

Sometimes the color of the egg as it ages can indicate fertility. I'm too chicken to candle these.

Thank you so much, everyone!

Nikki

[laurab]

Hi Nikki

Matthews your man and I am sure you will have an answer soon ;-)

Although I have a pair of Srawbs, I have yet to succesfully breed them. :-(

[Waxbillman]

Nikki i'll be glad to answer your question, when i get becak fro work

Matthew

[Strawblady2000]

TY soooo much!!!!

I am so thrilled to have found you!!

Anyone's experience...both successful and unseuccessful are so very welcomed.

I have an odd pairing, so to speak.

I do not have an aviary...my 3 strawbd (2 hens and a cock) are kept in a very large flight cage. I know that "3's a crowd", but they are all taking turns sitting, etc. and are very affectionate towards each other. I DO know which hen has been laying, which is good for if I pair the other hen off with a male later on. I cannot find a male in the area and everything seems okay as is (for now, at least, lol)

I found an egg on the floor this morning (not from the nest, but "freshly laid". I'm hoping it came from the "spare" hen. No other eggs have been laid on the floor, only in the nest.

They are all still sleeping in the nest together (all 3) and switching off throughout the day. They are eating nearly all of the egg food daily. I feed them 3x a day, with seed mix, supplements, etc. and greens/veggies, fresh eggs and eggfood. I've tried livefood...but they won't eat them, so they just get away, lol...


I know this is a first clutch...so my odds aren't great. I am pretty surprised that they came into season early. I've been preoccupied with my gouldians, as they went into season in Oct, so this was a little surprise!

Oce again, thanks you all SO much!!!

[Waxbillman]

your lucky that all three get on well together, i have read that hens can be nasty together during the breeding period, though i have never tried this theory i breed them 1 pair per flight with other estrildids of a similar diet.

if your scroll down the forum you will find an article on red avadavst that i wrote, you'll find that use full

Matthew

[Strawblady2000]

Thank you Matthew...great article...and saved as a reference on my favorites, too.

I "rescued" the hens together...they were at a local pet store. I was told they came in "paired". I think they thought they were a true pair...not sure.

This may be why they have gotten along so far.

Of course, if the second hen is also laying, this may change.

I understand you have lots of experience with breeding strawbs.

I have searched the forums and have read lots of great stories here! Learned lots too!

Thank you!

Nik

[Waxbillman]

thanks Nik

well we are all here to anwser each other's :-)

Matthew