1 Day Old Zebra Baby

[foxxybrownn]

Hello guys. Well thanks for your help with the rescued finches. As I said before there was four eggs. One hatched last night and the other three are still noth atched. I can see the new baby. It is just kind of laying there in the hest. I can see it breathing so I know it is alive. As you remember i rescued these finches out of the rain and got a lot of useful info from a lot of people here. So do I leave the nest alone and let mama do the work? When do i remove unhatched eggs, and is it safe for mama to keep siiting on other eggs. I am worried she will suffocate new baby. Lastly, I have not caught her feeding it yet, how do i know if she even will??? Thanks for any advice you can give me.

[catschair]

Zebras are usually good parents. I would not worry too much about the other eggs just now--I usually just clean them out when the fledgling leaves the nest. You may still have another one or two hatch. Congrats on your new fid!!

[foxxybrownn]

Great advice thank you...should I be worried about the mother still sitting on the eggs while there is one hatched? I look in and cannot see the new baby at all and she is completely covering it up. Sorry to be a bother I am just afraid the bird is gonna die. Will it be alright?

[cozyparrot]

Mom will not suffocate the baby. This is normal not to be able to see the baby or even be able to detect mom feeding him. She is keeping him warm which is what he needs right now. They are quite subtle about feeding. You will begin to see him grow in the next few days and indeed may find another hatchling or two. The eggs are fine for now. Once the babies hatch and several days have passed, you can try scooping up the eggs with a spoon to remove them to make more room for the babies if you want. But don't worry, the babies will nestle around them. Sitting on them won't hurt mom at all. Once the baby(ies) start getting bigger, look at the area on their neck right below the beak to see if you see it enlarged. This is the crop and mom stuffs it full. You will know for sure they're being fed by this and their growth. Also, if you have some egg food, now is the time to offer it to mom so she can feed the young extra protein for the rapid growth. Baby zebras are so cute!

Gena

[cozyparrot]

P.S. Where's dad?

Gena

[foxxybrownn]

Thanks a lot Gina. You really eased my mind. DAD is obviously a "hit-it & quit it" deatbeat because I haven't caught him sharing in the nest duties at all. Mom has been doing it all. I have observed him sitting on the top of her nest a few times but never near the entrance or any attempt to get in with her. I have yet to see him sit on the eggs either. I guess he has decided to upgrade...sure hope she isn't expecting child support. Antway, i am so proud of myself and I really thank you all for your support and advice. I would not have made it without you. Glad to hear that she is keeping baby warm and not suffocating it. I will keep checking throughout the day and night to see if any others hatch. I will definately try for pictures soon, maybe after a few more days and be sure to share them with everyone. Thanks again. P.S. what is egg food and where do I get it???

[catschair]

Dad may be more help when the babies are older. I think it is amazing to watch adults feeding the babies when they are almost the same size!

[foxxybrownn]

Cool I will update and keep everyone posted.

[christie99]

Egg food is a dry mix that contains chicken egg protein. It doesn't go bad as fast as fresh eggs do. I purchase mine at Lady Gouldian Finch.com – Superior Birds, Supplements, Medications & Supplies but the pet stores should have it as well. I offer it in a seperate dish so they can pick and choose. I also offer healthy greens for them to feed the chicks.

Soon you will be able to see the crop on your chick, so don't panic! The following photo is a five day old Gouldian finch chick, so it will look a little different than your zebra, but not much. The giant buldge is the crop, well stuffed with greens and seeds.


I agree about leaving the eggs in. Sometimes you will have two different hatches, a day or so apart. The parents will feed all the chicks, so I won't worry.

You may not have detected them feeding because for the first 12 hours or so, the chick survives on what is called the yolk sack. When they have used all of that, then the parents will start to feed.

[cozyparrot]

Perfect picture of a stuffed crop Christie! Yep - that's just what it looks like and the parents know the importance of allowing the crop to empty out completely so they know just how much to feed. It is amazing!

Gena