Zebra Finch nesting

Question
Hi Tara, I have a pair of zebra finches who are ready to breed. The female has so far laid 3 eggs in her food pot!  The pair are sitting on them and also eating the seed surrounding them.

I have provided 2 different sorts of nesting boxes and the appropriate nesting materials etc. However, both birds ignore the nesting boxes, preferring instead the food pots!

How can I encourage them to use/build a more suitable nest?( They did try to build a nest on the top of a nesting box, but it just gently slid off!)

Thanks

Kathryn

Answer
Hello Kathryn

When my finches were nesting I offered a stick nest and a grass nest both covered, I also had string nesting material along with some cut cocanut stand fiber they used the string and put it it the hard slick nest! My apinion is too offer to or three types of nests and one or two types of nesting material. Do not try to move the eggs as they will ignore them instead let them try to hatch them there and offer food in another dish, you may want to put some soft thick bedding at the bottom of the cage where there nest/food dish is just in case a baby falls if they hatch.