How long of a hiatus for zebras?

[MsDoolittle]

Hi all.

I bought 10 zebra finches last September for my new aviary. Obviously, they loved it so that now I have about 25 finches! Now I have discovered the rabbits of the bird world, lol. Anyway, I know that it's time for a well-deserved break.

How long do you let your breeders recuperate before next season? I was even thinking late summer/fall....but I didn't know what's best. The females are still laying eggs like crazy and I do supplement with egg food and fresh veggies/fruit.

Any suggestions?

a

[catschair]

I used to put the boys and the girls in separate cages around this time of year for about six weeks (more for population control, honestly). Also, you don't want to let them interbreed for too many generations, so may want to find some other owners that you can swap babies with to keep the colony from getting too inbred.

[MsDoolittle]

Yes, since I am unsure of the parentage of these birds, I am not letting them go for another generation. I plan on pulling any eggs right now (in fact I pulled about 20 or so today) for birth control purposes and I am going to throw out all nests after the fledglings are no longer going into it at night. I have already re-homed several of the November babies, and I am going to bring in some new bloodlines, too.

a

[catschair]

You may want to give them fake eggs or "scramble" and return, so they won't lay a new batch right away, but will wait for these to hatch.

[MsDoolittle]

Yes, I scrambled the eggs; and I do need to buy fake ones. THere are already 3 more eggs now, and more on the way, I'm sure. Where is the best place to get fake eggs?

a

[huntress]

L_M_Bird Leg Bands Products Catalogue

sells fake eggs. I let my birds break for at least four months.