FINCHforum

I have 3 juvenile zebras that hatched 3-1-12 give or take couple days. One is split to pied and overnight this bird has drastically changed appearance. It is very ragged in the head and lost tear. I had to do a double take when I turned on lights and was putting in their soft foods. It did not look like this yesterday. Here are some pics. I will label them. Is this just typical molt or a health issue. These babies are in their own enclosure away from mom and dad and have been on their own for over a week. Eating like piggies and bath everyday.

Awww poor little guy. Looks like he's getting his big boy feathers, just faster than they usually do. As in usually we do not even notice that they are molting.

Poor little guy... that is a pretty drastic change from the night before. Maybe some over zealous preening? Or maybe it is just the molt?

He may be in molt, does not look too bad if he is getting plucked

Actually, it does look a bit like plucking.. Minor plucking of course! My little girls were plucked on the shoulder when they came out. All three of them... But it was so minor, i was not worried and the parents stopped.

How old is he? What a beautiful dark baby, my girls from my last clutch, and the clutch i had before that were not that dark. What are the parents?*sorry to change topic*

They are 40 days old roughly. I am thinking that this one was plucked during the night by siblings. Hopefully that will stop. I dont see any hint of them plucking during the day. The parents are posted in another thread... I am not quite sure how to place the link, but I will give it a try:
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=18796