Zebra Finch

Question
Hi Tara,
Its Joan again. I wrote you some 5-6 wks. ago and you were so helpful I hope that you can help me again.At that time had one egg that hatched out of 5 that our pair of finches started out with ( never did find the rest of the eggs-no idea what happened to them).
The baby is now 4 1/2 wks. old and the pair are at it again. So far 4 eggs have been laid, but 2 have been broken and out of the nest, Once and a while they are  aggressive towards the baby, but not too often. All 3 sleep in the nest on the eggs, as well as sometimes during the day it (the baby) will sit on the remaining eggs with mom or dad. My question-do you think this is why the eggs are being taken out of the nest, because the baby is interfering with the process? And if so, is it old enough to move out of their cage? I have read that you shouldn't until about 6 wks, when they get their sex type colors. It is eating on its own now.
Thanks again for the help.
Joan

Answer
Hello Joan

How old is the baby? Six weeks is a good time to take the baby out but if hes eating on his own and hes almsot six weeks you can put him in a different cage now, at six weeks you cant tell male from female, at about 12 weeks you will start to see the cheek patches apper in the young males. If the baby is offen in the nest he may be disturbing the pernants normal sitting habits therefore this is why the eggs are getting broken. You dont want to leave the baby in long enough for it to be able to breed because it will inbreed with its pernants and inbred birds are ussaly unhealthy and dont live long, also put an enclosed nest in the cage that you are going to put the baby in, allzebra finches like to sleep in enclosed nests at night and sometimes during the day.