mail and female finches

Question
QUESTION: I have a pair of finches male and female.  Sarah the female has been alone in her cage for about a year.  We recently purchased a male, George.  They were doing well together for several weeks Sarah even laid two eggs, they never hatched.  Yesterday George began attacking Sarah so fiercely that most of her feathers have been plucked from the back side of her head and around her neck.  What happened why did George suddenly become so aggressive with Sarah.  I had to put a barrier in the cage to keep him away from her.  please help me

ANSWER: I am sorry to learn your having trouble.

It sounds to me that the male is sexually frustrated. Although finches are devoted parents, the females go off mating completely when they have chicks or eggs. Some males even throw out the babies so that the female will go back into breading condition. Taking him out if the cage and giving her the space, is the best idea for now. They will be ok a bit later when the babies have grown up and left the nest. Hopefully the stress won't cause her to neglect the babies, but if she does and then I suggest to take the nest box out and give them a few months to recover before starting again.

Let me know how it goes.

Charlotte

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Charlotte,  thank you for responding to my inquiry.  Going on your suggestion, I separated the two however Sarah finds a way around the barrier every time.  I looked in the nest box and I cannot see the egg any longer.  It's been about three weeks since I last saw the egg.  If this behavior continues I will have to purchase another cage for George.. Another question how quickly will the feathers grow back on Sarah and is she in any danger with the feathers missing?  Again thank you for your expert opinion.
Mildred

Answer
Hi,

Sorry to hear about this.

When i suggested separating them, I meant to put them in different cages. Sorry that didn't appear more clear. The problem with putting a barrier in the cage is that it make it into 2 really small cages and it stresses the nursing mother out.

May i suggest you get a spare cage anyway?

Laying eggs will bring her out of condition if she keeps loosing the eggs and having to lay more. Don't let them lay more than 3 broods in a year.

Clean out the nest box and let them spend time building a new one. Give it a week before you put it back in. They may look lost, because all finches do with life is build nests. They dont do toys or games. This will give you time to get a spare cage for when your male is being naughty. This time, give them less nesting material and give it to them in bits. If you put a clump in the cage in one go, they will put it all in within minuites.

Do check carefully however, that there are no little babies in the nest before you remove it. Watch closely to see if there is any movement. The egg may well have been rejected and pushed to the back of the nest.

Finches are pretty hard to breed in doors, and it is worth getting a good breeding book and reading through it to help.

Please get in touch again if you need more advice.

Charlotte