Beccy
Well-Known Member
We have a young pair of zebra finches, who recently went through courtship, prepared a nest, laid four eggs, three of which hatched. The chicks hatched within about 36 hours start to finish, and began hatching Monday. The fourth egg did not hatch, and this morning when I shone a small light into the nest, all three chicks were motionless. We checked and sure enough they were all dead.
The parents had protein rearing food in addition to their regular food, spray millet, vitamins, cuttlebone etc. but I am not even sure if they were feeding the chicks, it was impossible to see what they were doing once they were inside the nest.
Is it possible that they were just too young and inexperienced, or should I be looking for other possible causes?
...should add to the above, that the parents did not appear in any way to have abandoned the nest or chicks, as I know that sometimes this can happen. One parent was always on the nest, they would switch regularly.
The parents had protein rearing food in addition to their regular food, spray millet, vitamins, cuttlebone etc. but I am not even sure if they were feeding the chicks, it was impossible to see what they were doing once they were inside the nest.
Is it possible that they were just too young and inexperienced, or should I be looking for other possible causes?
...should add to the above, that the parents did not appear in any way to have abandoned the nest or chicks, as I know that sometimes this can happen. One parent was always on the nest, they would switch regularly.