English Zebras

[Celeris]

Someone is "rehoming" a pair of English Zebra Finches in my area on Craigslist. The pair for $40 (may or may not include the cage.) Not being an expert, I wonder if anyone here can confirm that these guys are English Zebras? I know that the big differences are size and temperament... I'd be kind of interested in taking them on, but don't particularly want to pay that much, only to find out I've been duped into a rather expensive pair of wild coloration finches!

https://cosprings.craigslist.org/pet/6090991619.html

Whatcha guys think?

[Sheather]

The term "English" just usually means larger birds, it's not a specific breed. These don't look very large, nor do they have the plump English shape (big body, smaller wings, smaller beak.) I would pass.

It's been my experience that the larger the bird, the gentler its temperament. My most aggressive bird was a tiny wild-type gray male who was a monster. I had a huge English male a few years ago who was a doll. He preened all the other birds and was a wonderful dad. I bred him to a normal zebra hen, though, and their babies were all more cantankerous like her.

[Ricardo Ronsini]

The female seems slightly larger than usual, but just it, the male is a regular one.

[lovezebs]

Celeris

One is crested by the looks of it
One is a yellow beak, which is rather rare if I remember right.

English Zebras, are known to be bigger and sweeter tempered than the regular Zebras.

You would probably have to look at them .
Looking doesn't mean buying, and the price asked for them is not written in stone

[Celeris]

Thank you all so much for the input! I was also thinking the female looked like it fit the "English Zebra" description, but not the male. And Elana, I'm glad it's not just me thinking he looks crested! I wondered if I was imagining his little 'do there. Oh, and shush, you! You know very well that looking absolutely means buying!

[lovezebs]

Celeris


Nope, no, not me...uhh-uhhhh, don't know what your talking about, not a clue... must be someone else....

[w.l.]

If they are only 5 months old, how can the seller know they are not fertile?
Surely no one should expect birds of that age to have bred???

[Celeris]

Well, talking to the seller, they don't know up from down with waxbills. They were apparently a hookbill breeder, but are not knowledgeable where finches are concerned. I am inclined to believe that saying "they aren't fertile" is the seller's way of deterring people from buying exclusively to breed, though I could be wrong. For someone that used to be a breeder, they seem to be placing much emphasis on the over abundance of finches for sale online.

[w.l.]

If the seller doesn't want the birds to be bred, why give them a nest to start with?
I'd never give a nest to birds of that age kept as a pair.

[lovezebs]

Celeris

Found this about Yellow beaks...

http://www.efinch.com/species/ybzeb.htm

Thought you might enjoy reading it.

Have you picked out names yet ?

[Dek]

The female looks like a fawn, nice shape for English type, the male is a poor specimen for an English type, while it looks to have some sort of crest its a normal. I don't know what price you pay foe Zebs over there but sounds way expensive. Lucky to get £8 over here. I would stay clear.

[Celeris]

Dek

Thanks for the pricing info! I've seen zebras being sold for $15 at pet stores in my neck of the woods, which I think is a little high, given how common zebra finches are. The seller is including the cage... not that a cage that size (and that cluttered) has any value to me, but to some people, I guess...

I can't say what English type zebs go for here, though. I have made a point of staying away from bird shows (no self control), so they could be a dime a dozen in my area and I'd have no clue.

[Sheather]

A little off topic but I've never seen zebras sold for under $19 and the normal asking price in my area is $25 - $30, whether breeder or pet shop.

[lovezebs]

Sheather

We have Zebras offered on kijiji for $10, sometimes $5, and at times free to a good home.

At the Pet Shops, they range usually from $25 and up to $30, depending on the Shop.

[Celeris]

Well, since we're doing a zebra price update, the ones at PetSmart here in Colorado are currently priced at $17.99. I had to stop for bedding yesterday and, well, one does not go into a pet store without perusing the bird selection. (They had some cuties, too! Wild coloration, but with splotches of white all over--is that what they call pied?)

Jury's still out on the English Zebs. I concluded that time to make the 40ish minute drive is just not happening for me this week. Plus, my quarantine room is my brooder room for when the quail hatch next week, so a bit hesitant to bring new birdies in and set them up so near the babies...