My little finch died today, and she has eggs!

[LauraJ]

I don't know what to do, this afternoon my female society finch died. I noticed this morning that she looked like she was sick, puffed up and keeping one eye closed, but she was still picking at her food and able to fly, although weakly. Within a matter of hours she was gone, I didn't even have time to get a vet to see her.

About a week ago (I'm not sure exactly how many days), she laid a clutch of eggs. 2 were kicked out but the remaining 2 look like they're fertile (they have a pinkish translucent band). Now what happens to them if they hatch? Do the males take equal part in caring for young, would he take care of them?

I also have 2 spice finches in the same cage, and they all go into the same nest together. I've read that spice finches sometimes act as surrogates to other species' young, and I'm hoping they will help. I don't know what sex the spices are.

The male society and the spices have all been going in the nest (even all 4 of them cramming themselves in there at the same time) but I don't know if they've been going in there to sit on the eggs or if they've just been going in because it's warm and comfortable.

It was random luck that I ended up picking out a male & female and I never expected to see eggs, but here they are and I don't know what to do. If they hatch and the father (or the spices) don't care of the babies, what can I do? Would it be kinder to take the eggs out now and prevent them from hatching? I don't have any experience with breeding or taking care of newborn babies, and the worry about them hatching and then starving to death is breaking my heart. Can anyone offer me any advice?

[catschair]

My male finches have always been pretty helpful with their babies. I'm thinking if the birds are good enough about setting the eggs to hatch them, there is a reasonable chance they will feed them. I know there are some threads about handfeeding finches, but it does sound like a challenge to me. Good luck & I am sorry about your little lady.

[Cindy215]

I'm sorry to hear about your little finch. How old are the eggs? If only a few days yes I would remove them and freeze them. Longer than that, it's up to you.

Actually Society finches make good surrigates too.

In my pet store an employee hand fed a baby zebra and it was exhausting and very hard. He did survive but the guy was very experienced and it's very very rare.I don't believe you'd be able to do it from day one.

When this is over I'd remove any nest materials and give them strict natural daylight schedules. In a room with natural sunlight no artificial lighting after 3 pm including dusk and dawn. So they are going to sleep when it's dusk/dark. Long days increases breeding behaviors. Also Calciboost. You have to order it online it's not in stores. Twice a week but in egglaying more often. It's the only supplement that I will use in water and it works great it's very absorbable. Finches are voracious breeders and you can end up with zillions and also fighting sometimes. (I know you didnt want to intentionally breed, just saying....)

Good luck. Hopefully they wont hatch at all.

[Cindy215]

OK yes, if it were me I'd remove them if they're a week old. It would be very upsetting to me, like you said, if they were to hatch and there was nothing I could do but watch them starve. Freeze them for 24 hours.

[krissyg1989]

well....finches actually make great parents and tend (if they're all caged together) to help one another out with their young. the daddys included. i doubt u'll have any trouble with the babies, just let the others raise them. for whatever reason, even though they're real small, they make good parents and usually have no trouble producing and raising babies on their own without any human interaction

[ROYJOY]

if the surogates dont start feeding them, give hand rearing a try. have a seringe and formula ready in case the other finches dont start feeding them after 2 days. they still live on the yoke sack the first few days then the parents start feeding them when they start begging with open mouth. i know you havent hand raised before, but this is an excelent oportunity to learn. if, in the end, they dont servive, at least you will have tried to give them a second chance, and you will have gained valuable experiance in case you have to do it again some day.

if the others arent sitting you can incubate the eggs with a terarium heater or an egg incubater, but its easier to find a terarium heater.