male zebra finch escaped

Question
QUESTION: We have a pair of zebra finches, who have built a big nest and layed some eggs.
the male finch has vanished, we think he must have escaped via an open window while we were out.
can the female look after the eggs/chicks by herself, or is she likley to abandon them?
is she likley to bond with another male, if we bought one?
thanks, Mary


ANSWER: Its hard to say what the male will do. If I were you I would keep an eye out for a body. Why would you open a window near a finch cage anyways? The draft is bad for them and when you aren't home things like this happen!
It's best to get rid of the eggs if they aren't too far along (shine a light through them each individually and see if there is red or flesh forming). It's too stressful for the bird to raise the babies by herself

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

QUESTION: thanks for your reply.
in answer to your question about the window, our finches do not live in a cage, but in a room which they had never ventured out of. elsewhere in the house the bathroom window was opened while we were out. We've learned now to always keep the door shut no matter what :(
the nest theyve built is very difficult to get to. so i havent inspected the eggs yet. it was almost impossible to even see the eggs. she is not incubating them, but i suppose its early days i think. i was thinking about incubating and hand-rearing the eggs, if she doesnt sit on them soon. i know it would be really hard work, do you have any experience this?
she hasnt stopped looking for him since he disapeared, squeeking and looking behind everything. its heartbreaking.


Answer
I actually have a lot of experience hand raising finches. It's hard work but it is doable. What you will need is:
a fish tank (I use a three gallon personally) empty of course (no lid)
a heating pad
soft fabric
a tiny (emphasis on tiny) bowl of water
thermometer

What you do is set up the tank so that the heating pad is under it (I like having it on low to start and using a thermometer (digital ones used for fish tanks work splendidly) to keep an eye on the temperature. Adjust the temperature on the heating pad so the temperature is roughly 30C no lower and the babies will freeze to death. Too high and you'll cook them to death (37C is the max they can handle I find).
Lay down the fabric and put the bowl of water in one corner but make sure the babies can't get into it when they decide to move around. The water will add humidity to the air. Put the babies in and cover them up with more fabric. The softer you can find the better. I use igloo fleece found in fabric shops. It's soft and to the babies it feels like a mother finch.
The bird food you use will be the best stuff you can get a hold of from pet stores. Use the highest quality you can get a hold of.

There are plenty more steps when there are babies but that's a lot for this. Should there be any babies contact me again and I'll tell you how to feed them