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I bought a pair of zebra finches just about a month ago and had them quarantined in the living room. They went to nest during the 30 days and initially hatched 3 kids on May 2nd. Unfortunately this coincided with the time in which we were putting new windows into the room, and I think all the unusual activity and noise may have messed them up. I tried moving them to another room and they immediately stopped tending the nest and kids, so I reluctantly moved them back. They fed the kids a bit - enough to keep them alive but that was about all. Several days later on the 5th, they hatched a fourth baby, and stopped sitting and feeding completely. I took the kids and warmed them up and put them back. That night, the dad stayed in the nest so they were kept warm. I gave them a bit of food and warmed them again the next morning, and when they still were not being fed or brooded I decided to pull them and put them in the brooder. That was on the 6th. I fed them every two hours, even through the night. One of the oldest had been very weak and was dead the next morning. That left two older kids and the one really young one.
We've now settled into a bit of a rhythm, with me feeding them (using a toothpick) every 3 hours at this point. I know they could be dead any time I go into the birdroom, but they had such a will to live throughout their first few days that I just can't let them die. It's also good practice for me, since finches are just so hard to handfeed. Things are beginning to look promising, but I try not to let myself go there lest I jinx them!
One of the older two is a fawn judging from the skin color (like the mom) and the other two are probably normal.
For food, I am using Zupreem Plus handfeeding formula, which I mix in a spoon that came with some bird vitamins. In addition to the Zupreem, I add a bit of Gerbers rice cereal (the boxed type). As I mentioned, I use a toothpick to feed them. The flat end for the two bigger kids and the smaller end for the little one.
![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bY4PFUG17ZU/mqdefault.jpg)