Fawn zebra chick has red spots on face

[Domenic]

My fawn zebra chick has two small red spots on the sides of his face, about where cheek patches would go. Does this mean he will be a male or do zebra chicks not have cheek patches on their face when they are young? He is about two weeks old. I'll post a picture later.

[L in Ontario]

Yes he is most likely a male. I had a pair of Zebs (fawn hen and pure white male) give me 4 fawn females and 1 normal male complete with chest bars and cheek patches when coloured up.

Congrats on the babies!!

[cindy]

Sounds like a male to me. The interesting thing I think about Zebra finches are the females don't have cheek patches, one of the exceptions is the Black Cheek. The Black cheek female has the black cheek patches but no chest bar. Cool

[Nagdabit]

Black cheeks certainly are cool looking., but there are some other Zebra hens that do display cheek patches as well, such as fawn / gray cheeks. Efinch has a nice write up on this interesting mutation. http://www.efinch.com/species/fczeb.htm

There are also some normal gray hens that have faint fawnish / apricot colored cheek patches that are commonly referred to as "ghost" cheek patches. While we think they are pretty as well, (almost bought one the other month) such hens are not considered desirable by Zebra purists. Much like the pied mutation, breeders will attempt to eliminate this trait from breeding lines.

Domenic are these chicks from your fawn male / normal gray hen? What does the other chick look like? Boy are you in for some fun now. Young male Zebras practicing their songs are one of the most hysterically enjoyable things about raising Zebra finches. Those scratchy warbles never fail to raise a chuckle.

Rory and Sherry

[Domenic]

Well the chicks are very young, they haven't even fledged yet. The one with the red spots has them on his skin and the feathers haven't grown out there yet. Two little red spots on his cheeks like Pikachu almost. Yes this is the fawn/gray pair.

[cindy]

'Black cheeks certainly are cool looking., but there are some other Zebra hens that do display cheek patches as well, such as fawn / gray cheeks. Efinch has a nice write up on this interesting mutation. http://www.efinch.com/species/fczeb.htm'

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This is what is great about this forum, you learn something new everyday!!!!!! I re-phrased it.

[Nagdabit]

The one with the red spots has them on his skin and the feathers haven't grown out there yet. Two little red spots on his cheeks like Pikachu almost. .

If they are on his skin, are you sure those aren't his ear holes you're seeing?

And pardon my age, but who the heck is Pikachu?

[Domenic]

The one with the red spots has them on his skin and the feathers haven't grown out there yet. Two little red spots on his cheeks like Pikachu almost. .

If they are on his skin, are you sure those aren't his ear holes you're seeing?

And pardon my age, but who the heck is Pikachu?

Red ear holes? At first I thought they were cuts on his face, but they are exactly the same on both sides.

[Nagdabit]

Made that same mistake a time or two myself. Our fawn CCFW hens are so light that the ear openings can show through their feathers, especially when they go through their initial molt and the feathering can get a little thin. Had myself convinced more than once we had a male, but alas, only hens thus far. I bet they'd be really cool to see with that light cream / fawn color and bright orange cheek patches and belly feathers.

I take it that yellow spiky eared thing is supposed to be Pikachu. He one of them there Pokemon things? Cause he sure don't look like no finch that I've ever seen.

[Domenic]

I take it that yellow spiky eared thing is supposed to be Pikachu. He one of them there Pokemon things? Cause he sure don't look like no finch that I've ever seen.

LOL I thought EVERYBODY knew what Pikachu was. I mean he was on every lunchbox in the world years ago. Yes he is a Pokemon. And I was only trying to give an example of the cheeks, I would be worried if my fawn looked like a fat yellow mouse!

[Nagdabit]

I mean he was on every lunchbox in the world years ago.

Key phrase there would be "years ago". Sorry, but it's been a long time since I was carrying a lunch box.

[Domenic]

I mean he was on every lunchbox in the world years ago.

Key phrase there would be "years ago". Sorry, but it's been a long time since I was carrying a lunch box.

Ofcourse you haven't had a lunchbox in a while, but what about kids or grandkids? No?

[Nagdabit]

Again sorry no offspring, well none that doesn't have fur or feathers.

[CandoAviary]

LOL.... I am great with faces but terrible with names......
so it's Pikachu....... I would know that face anywhere

[Domenic]

Again sorry no offspring, well none that doesn't have fur or feathers.

Well there you go, that would explain it!