<P> The female lays clutches of eggs from February through August , two or more broods per year with 2 to 6 eggs per brood , most commonly 4 or 5 . The egg laying usually takes place in the morning , at the rate of one egg per day . The eggs are a pale bluish green with few black spots and a smooth , somewhat glossy surface . In response to mite infestation , which has a more deleterious effect on male chicks than on females , the mother finch may lay eggs containing females first , in order to reduce the length of time male chicks are exposed to mites . This strategy increases the liklihood that representative numbers of both sexes will survive . The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days . Shortly after hatching , she removes the empty eggshells from the nest . The hatchlings are pink with closed eyes and tufts of fluffy down . The female always feeds the young , and the male usually joins in . The young are silent for the first seven or eight days , and subsequently start peeping during feedings . Initially , the mother carries fecal sacs out of the nest , but when the young become older , she no longer carries them all away , allowing droppings to accumulate around the edge of the nest . Before flying , the young often climb into adjacent plants , and usually fledge at about 11 to 19 days after hatching . Dandelion seeds are among the preferred seeds fed to the young . Most birds , even ones with herbivorous leanings as adults , tend to feed their nestlings animal matter in order to give them the protein necessary to grow . House finches are one of the few birds who feed their young only plant matter . </P>
<P> The female lays clutches of eggs from February through August , two or more broods per year with 2 to 6 eggs per brood , most commonly 4 or 5 . The egg laying usually takes place in the morning , at the rate of one egg per day . The eggs are a pale bluish green with few black spots and a smooth , somewhat glossy surface . In response to mite infestation , which has a more deleterious effect on male chicks than on females , the mother finch may lay eggs containing females first , in order to reduce the length of time male chicks are exposed to mites . This strategy increases the liklihood that representative numbers of both sexes will survive . The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days . Shortly after hatching , she removes the empty eggshells from the nest . The hatchlings are pink with closed eyes and tufts of fluffy down . The female always feeds the young , and the male usually joins in . The young are silent for the first seven or eight days , and subsequently start peeping during feedings . Initially , the mother carries fecal sacs out of the nest , but when the young become older , she no longer carries them all away , allowing droppings to accumulate around the edge of the nest . Before flying , the young often climb into adjacent plants , and usually fledge at about 11 to 19 days after hatching . Dandelion seeds are among the preferred seeds fed to the young . Most birds , even ones with herbivorous leanings as adults , tend to feed their nestlings animal matter in order to give them the protein necessary to grow . House finches are one of the few birds who feed their young only plant matter . </P>
how long do finch eggs take to hatch
how long do finch eggs take to hatch
12 to 14 days
12 to 14 days