Zebra Finch's and (lack of) breeding.

[GerardWay]

We have kept Zebbies for almost 10 years and never had any luck with breeding until the last 2 years. We are now on our 3rd cluch (I think that's what they are called) but they all die after leaving the nest. The last baby was from an older mum but a new dad (the other dad died of old age so we got another male). We have at the moment 3 sets of Zebra Finches. It is so upsetting to keep losing the babies.

Hi you don't say how they are housed - 6 in one big cage or is it an avery? We bred several sets but only ever had 2 birds per cage with plenty of food, water and nesting materials. When they leave the nest are they fully fledged or do they end up on the ground?

Thankyou for replying. They are in a very large avairy in the garden on a concrete base. It also has a very large nesting box/shelter as well as lots of individual nesting boxes. Yes to plenty of food, water and nesting materials and they are all in full feather but unable to fly when they are on the ground. The first lot were learning to fly when they died. We also put out special baby food for them once they have left the nest.

Ah sound like they are getting kicked out of the nest early and they won't survive on the ground. Might be worth splitting off a pair into a cage to see how they get on when there is no pressure to breed again off different mates. Once they are fledged remove the nesting box for a whole until they are feeding themselves then separate them from parents, reintroducing the, to the avery once they are fully grown.