Breeding Zebra Finch

Bev · Post by **Bev** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:17 am

I am new to this forum and to owning any sort of birds!

I know if I had a little bit of patience I would get the answer to this question, but patience is not one of my strong points!

I have a charcoal male and a normal grey female who have just hatched 4 or 5 babies. I am wondering if anyone has bred from a charcoal before and knows what the mouth markings are like on a charcoal? I have looked at a site that has pictures of mouth markings for most mutations, but not for charcoals. The mouth markings on my babies are not really like anything on that site except maybe the CFW which doesn't make sense to me. As I said if I had some patience I would find out soon enough, but I don't

I also have another pair of normal greys that have laid 3 eggs, but don't sit on them constantly. Should I get rid of the eggs and hope they lay again???

Thanks

Post by **Hilary** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:17 am

I would think that the mouth markings are the same for all zebra mutations? I could be wrong - haven't had zeb chicks.

How long have your other pair been sitting? If it's been at least 4 days or so you can always candle them. Shine a flashlight at them in the nest, and you'll see little red veins forming if they're still developing. If this is their first clutch, though, you probably don't want to bother them. What's a virtue again?

Bev · Post by **Bev** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:37 am

Here is a link with pictures of the different mouth markings of finches. http://www.efinch.com/gape.htm I found it very interesting to look at.

I went to remove the eggs yesterday because it was less than once I day that I was seeing the pair sitting on the eggs. When picked one of the eggs up it had started hatching, so I very quickly replaced the 3 eggs and left them alone. I have gone out and checked the area under the nest quite often to make sure they didn't toss the chick because I had handled it, but it is still in there and they seem to be taking care of it. So I guess there is my answer. Patience may have paid off after all!

If all 3 eggs hatch, that will make a total of 8 babies in 2 nests over 2 weeks. 2 out of the first nest have opened their eyes in the last few days which is really exciting. I can see 5 in the first nest now. The opening to the nest is so small it is hard to see exactly what is in there, but I definately saw 5 heads today.

Post by **Hilary** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:47 pm

Ack! Congrats on the hatching. Guess the sneaky devils just jumped off the nest every time they saw you coming.