Baby Zebs, How long before they fledge?

cntrymeadow · Post by **cntrymeadow** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:38 pm

Here's the story.
We have two zebs, they laid and hatched five eggs.
I think the babies are approx. 2 weeks old.
They have pin feathers(?) sticking up on the tops of their heads but doesnt appear to have other feathers?

They are all obviously in one nest.
They like to hang their heads outside of the nest.
Sometimes when the parents fly out of the nest they will accidentally knock a chick out and we have to put it back in the nest.
I tell ya it was a little creepy picking up that little tiny featherless thing and plop it back in the nest!

There is a time frame of 3 1/2hrs that no one is home.
Im scared that if a baby falls out of the nest it will be doomed by the time I arrive home.

I guess my questions are:

How long can a baby that is 2-3 weeks old be out of the nest without harm?
How much longer before they can stand and be ok if they fall out?

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:12 pm

I guess it depends on how warm the cage area is. If it's cold and they are not feathered up - they could get too cold. But typically they 'should' be okay for a little while... if the parents keep feeding them. So many variables. Finch chicks usually fledge at 3 weeks of age then are weaned around 6 weeks of age.

Does that help any?

cntrymeadow · Post by **cntrymeadow** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:48 pm

Yea...kinda!
So hard to believe these little things will be on their own soon.
They just dont look like it!

Parents are doing a very very good job so Im assuming they will be fine.

Post by **Hilary** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 1:56 am

It sounds like the parents don't mind you messing with the nest (putting chicks back in). If that is the case and the nest is overstuffed (which could be why they knock out so easily) I would take some of the nesting material out so the chicks are more secure in the nest.

cntrymeadow · Post by **cntrymeadow** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 12:43 pm

I feel wayyyy better this morning.
Finally saw one of the bigger chicks and that one is near ready to fly the coop!
All covered with brown feathers and I could swear he/she is half the size of the parents! Im actually surprised he/she is not already out.

Funny how much difference there is between the first chick hatched and the last.

Can hardly wait til they are all that big!