How long does it take finch eggs to hatch?

Question

A house finch laid four eggs outside of my house, after nearly a month, the mother discarded one of the eggs (probably dead) and the others she left. Two nights ago she got in my house and flew into my ceiling fan, which killed her. I am now incubating the three eggs. With almost two months of development, and no sign of termination within the egg (for example, blood rings) how can I be sure the eggs aren't dead? Obviously, if the mother was still taking care of them they aren't dead, but how much longer will it take for them to hatch? Or should I just throw them out?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

In most species of Finch it takes 14 -16 days for the eggs to hatch.

They are probably dead!

But in any case you are giving yourself a dauntless task as House Finches require lots of Insects in the first 8-10 days of their lives

I know this will sound cruel but it is better to give up now than have the disappointment later..

Sorry can't help.

Source(s):

Ex breeder

Answer 2

a detailed answer:
if you just want the exact answer skip all the way to step 5

Things You’ll Need:
One male and one female finch, unrelated
A woven grass nesting basket
Nest liner material
Lamp with full-spectrum lightbulb
A small flashlight for nest inspection
Fortified seed or pellets, cuttlebone

How to Set Up Finches for Mating

Step1
Finches are best for breeding when they are 6 months to 1 year old. Zebra finches are sexually dimorphic, meaning it's easy to tell the males from the females by their coloring, so they're a good choice. Society finches are prolific breeders, but it's harder to determine gender; if you want to breed societies, start with four birds in a larger cage and watch to see which birds pair off. Lady Gouldian finches are gorgeous, but not always good parents, so wait until you have more experience before trying these exotic birds.
Step2
Hang the nest basket high in the finches' cage. A roomy cage (16 X 16 X 20 inches) is best, because it will allow enough space for the hatchlings. The birds will breed best if they're getting 14-16 hours a day of sunlight; use the lamp to supplement lighting, if needed.
Step3Place a small amount of nest lining material (available at pet stores) in the nest and additional material on the floor of the cage. The male birds sometimes like to add and arrange the lining themselves. Short lengths of clean, shredded burlap can be used as nesting material.
Step4
When you see both parent birds coming and going from the nest basket, use the flashlight to check daily for eggs. Note when you see the first egg. The female will lay one egg a day, creating a clutch of 3 to 8 eggs. When she's laid the last one, she will start brooding them, with the male babysitting occasionally while the female leaves the nest to eat.
Step5
The eggs will hatch about 14 days after the parents begin brooding them in earnest; any egg that has not hatched after 21 days is likely infertile and can be removed. The adults will feed the babies for the next four weeks, and near the end of that time, the young will fledge -- leaving the nest to hop about the cage. By that time, they'll be very close to adult size. The parents will continue to feed them, even outside the nest, until they're able to perch on the food cups and eat on their own.

Answer 3

Most finch eggs hatch within 14-18 days. If it has been two months I would say that they are probably dead.

Answer 4

This varies somewhat depending on the type of finch. Usually around 14 days of incubation, but a general range can span 12-18 days. Note that incubation does not begin until the parents start sitting, which frequently will not happen until the 3rd or 4th egg is laid, or sometimes the entire clutch.

Answer 5

I would throw them away the incubation period is 13 to 14 days its been to long.

Source(s):

www.birds.cornell.edu