subject: Easy Tips To Get Your Zebra Finches Breeding [print this page] Easy Tips To Get Your Zebra Finches Breeding
There are many reasons why people consider breeding finches. The most common reason is for profit. Some people make a hobby of zebra finch breeding. These people create different color combinations and introduce new pets to the avian market. Getting your feathered friends to reproduce is actually quite easy. Breeders often compare finches to rabbits when it comes to the ease of mating them. This can also make it tricky when you are trying to ensure that only certain birds are mating.
The first thing to consider is the actual birds that are going to be involved. When talking about zebra finches, breeding can take place as young as twelve weeks. However, it is recommended that both birds be a minimum of six months old before allowed to mate. This helps ensure their offspring are healthy. To pick a good pair of birds you must take into consideration their age, health, and history. Healthy birds have a better chance of producing healthy babies. At the same time, you want birds that will complement each other in terms of markings.
After you have found your pair of zebra finches, breeding should be done in a quiet space. Their cage should be placed in a warm area of the house that is away from other animals, children, and loud noises. A stressed bird will not breed often, and when they do breed, they tend not to produce viable eggs.
While the location of the cage is extremely important, the size of the cage is equally important. A breeding pair should be given plenty of room in their cage. This is a case of bigger is better. Once the birds fledge, there can be upwards of a dozen finches hopping around in the cage. Consider this when purchasing your cage. A cage that is large enough for one pair may not be large enough once the babies have left the nest.
Really, when it comes to zebra finches, breeding will take place anywhere whether you are ready for it or not. If you want them to breed successfully, it is up to you to make sure the conditions are optimal for this purpose. One of the ways you can do this is by providing the birds with a nesting box. There are two basic types of nesting boxes. One type is placed inside the cage and many times the birds end up nesting on top of the box instead of inside it. The other type is attached to the outside of the cage and is accessed through one of the cage doors. These are handy since they do not take up any interior space.
Why you are considering breeding your finches does not matter. However, there are just a few things to remember. First, make sure that your birds are healthy. Healthy birds lead to healthy eggs and babies. Second, make sure that the cage is of the appropriate size and in the right location to give the birds plenty of space and keep them stress-free. Third and most important is patience. When it comes to zebra finches, breeding can take place the first month or can take several months. Either way, you must remember this is an act of nature that cannot be forced or rushed. Do these things and you will soon hear the chirp of baby finches.
