Molting? Zebra Finch

[maximuswell]

My little zeb is a few weeks old now, eating on its own, pretty agile flyer. Pops has been chasing it out of the nest everytime it tries to come back, hen has already laid 6 new eggs. However I can't tell if its loss of feathers is due to dad plucking at the chick, or just adult plumage coming in. The feather loss seems to be starting under the wings. I tried to separate the chick to its own cage, but the dad started making a sound I haven't heard from him before, the chick too... it's like they where calling out for each other, so I put him back. I just want to know if everything is progressing normally

[lovezebs]

maximuswell

Is the baby eating 'and' drinking on it's own? Are the parents still feeding him at all?

You say he's several weeks old.... how many weeks exactly? How long since he's fledged?

Once they are completely self sufficient, eating , drinking, flying , etc., (and the parents are becoming somewhat aggressive) it'time to move the youngsters into a flight with other juveniles.

[maximuswell]

this is the first clutch I've dealt with, I made the mistake of not documenting the progress. I know for sure he was being fed by his parents 2 days ago, but I haven't heard him beg since. I've seen him eat seed on his own and drink.
He's been put of the nest about 2 weeks

edit: I say him, but I guess I don't know for sure

[Sally]

If he was fed by the parents 2 days ago, yet you've seen him eat and drink on his own, he is now going through the weaning process. I don't like to pull them from the parents quite this early, but you will have to watch. Often the parents will get aggressive/pluck babies once they have started a new clutch.

[lovezebs]

maximuswell

Once he's completely weaned, do you have any other birds to put him with?

If not, then I would leave him with the parents for a while, unless you see some major aggression from the parents towards him.. If dad is just chasing him away from the nest, I wouldn't worry too much.

An only Zebbie baby all on his own, is a sad little baby .

Do you have a home lined up for him, or the next clutch once they're ready to go?

[maximuswell]

I have a new cage coming Monday, it's much larger. I hope the new space will ease any tension. I plan on removing all offspring when the second clutch is fully weaned, the first was only the one chick. My local pet shop has offered to purchase the young.