Zebra or Society Finches
FAQ
Poephila Guttata or Lonchura Domestica
By Connie S. Soto
How old should my Zebra or Society Finch be to start a
family?
A healthy finch should be at least 9 months old to be used for
breeding.
How do Zebra or Society Finches select a mate?
The male finch is the one who chooses a hen. He tries to
get her attention by hopping and flying around her as he sings his little heart
out. He may be the one to woo her but in the end she is the one who actually
chooses. If she likes him, she will respond with similar gestures and only then
can the courtship ritual begin.
Will the Zebra or Society Finch mate without performing a courtship
ritual?
No, they always complete the entire courtship sequence for
mating to take place. The ritual is typically repeated several times.
Do Zebra or Society Finches mate for life?
In the wild Zebra and Society Finches most always mate for
life. In captivity it is not unusual for finches to choose a mate and stay
together even outside of the breeding season.
What should I do if my Zebra or Society Finch has lost its
mate?
Finches are very social birds that require the company of
other birds for optimum health; therefore it is essential to provide them with another
bird. Just like humans a finch mourns the loss of its mate. Although it will
take a little bit of time for the finch to accept a new mate they usually do
come around and will greatly benefit.
Do Zebra Finches need a nest year round?
This question is more or less a controversial issue for whether
finches require a nest outside of the breeding season. In the wild they only
use a nest during breeding season. With predators it would not suit them to set
up housekeeping so to speak. It seems in captivity that probably half the
people provide nests for them all year and half do not. I believe it is a personal choice and as long
as the nests are clean and there are enough nests for the number of birds it is
probably okay.
What kind of material for the nest do Zebra or Society Finches
prefer?
The most important consideration for nesting material is to
understand that some materials can get wrapped around a leg or tangled in their
feet. This can cause them a loss of a foot or even the leg. Items that are notorious
for problems are material like coconut husk fibers, string or any type of fibers
that are too long, they are not good choices. The finches do very well with Jute
or Bermuda grass and they need soft material to pad it with. Provide cotton
from the pet store not cotton balls from the drug store. Raw cotton pods are
fun which you can obtain from pet supply stores. For an inexpensive material, burlap
can be cut and shredded and it works quite well as long as they are not cut any
longer than 2 inches. Do not use material with dyes in them.
Where do I place the nest for Zebra or Society Finches?
Remember birds feel safe if the nest is placed high in the
cage.
How many hours of daylight are required for breeding?
Warm weather, a minimum of 70 degrees and about fourteen
hours of daylight typically triggers the start of the breeding season.
How long does incubation take for Zebra or Society Finches?
Once the female sets on the eggs it will take 14 days for
them to hatch.
How many eggs will the Zebra or Society Finch lay?
She will lay one egg each day usually 3 to 6 on average. It
is not unusual for younger or older birds to lay only 1 or 2 eggs. It is
unusual for them to lay as many as 8 eggs but not impossible.
Which Zebra or Society Finch incubates the eggs?
Both parents incubate the eggs.
What should I do if there are no hatchlings after 14 days?
Always wait a total of 20 days before removing the eggs if
they did not hatch. This gives the last egg laid time to hatch if any of them
are fertile. Only remove the eggs and not the nesting material as the birds will
typically try again.
What are they called and when will the nestlings fledge?
When the egg hatches it is known as a hatchling, once it
gets its feathers it is then known as a nestling. To fledge means the nestling
is ready to leave the nest. The nestling
name is now known as the fledgling which occurs at 21 days old.
How long do the Zebra or Society Finch parents feed the fledglings?
The fledglings start to feed themselves usually when they
reach 28 days old and the parents wean them by 5 to 6 weeks.
Do I have to separate the Zebra or Society Finch babies from
the parents?
The parents will want to start another brood and so it is
important to separate the fledged babies as soon as they can eat on their own.
Klipo & Zypo
By Connie S. Soto June 16, 2012 ©