zebra beak colour

[mohum]

My last zebra fledglings had grey beaks which then changed to red. I have noticed a new baby in the nest with a white beak. My question is-Do they all hatch white then go through grey to red? It appears to have white plumage too so I am hoping for a white baby. I have a grey female and a white faced one. The previous parent was the grey one so perhaps this time it is the white. I have only seen a male feeding so I can't be sure.

[lovezebs]

mohum

Seems to me, like the babies that turned out white, had pink beaks....

So I'll be curious to know, what these kids with the white beaks turn out to be.

Any pictures?

[mohum]

They,re in an outdoor aviary so I will wait for them to fledge before taking pictures. I would like something different because my last lot were all identical grey boys.

[lovezebs]

mohum

Oh ok.

Good luck.

[xz_zebs]

Baby zebra beaks are different colors based on their adult plumage. Most grey based mutations have black beaks as fledglings. Lightbacks have dark horn color beaks. Fawn, Dominant silver and Fawn Cheek zebras fledglings will have horn colored beaks. Continental CFW and White zebra fledglings have white/pink beaks.

This site has a section on fledglings for most varieties and beak color is usually discussed in that section:
http://www.efinch.com/varieties.htm

[mohum]

Thanks. So there is at least one white and I spotted a grey today. Judging by the racket there is a full clutch hatched. I never heard them last time. Still can't work out who is mum though.

[mohum]

So the fledglings are all out today and there are 4 grey and 2 white,all being looked after by mum and dad. My two original whites are both females and I was wondering if any of the white babies could be male. How would this show in the adult plumage? No pictures yet as it's too risky with the outdoor aviary.

[lnlovesorange]

mohum What kind of "white" are they? Are your females CFW whites? If the female is CFW, the only way you could have CFW baby boys, is if the father was CFW or split to CFW. It is sex linked so if a girl gets the gene she is CFW (Chestnut Flanked White) but the boy needs it from both parents.... So if your father is not white or not split for white, then your babies that are white are girls.. Again this is if they are CFW's. Not sure if they are another "white" Also, if your father bird was split for LB, then the babies could be males, and they will turn out VERY similar to CFW's just thier backs will not be white they will be a VERY very light brown... beige color. Because Lightback shows on the same Allele as CFW, so they can work together as if they are the same trait... Hope this helps... Pictures... PLEASE!!!! We love babies!!!

[mohum]

Here are two of the six babies. I was about to get a picture of them all when someone fired up a chainsaw and caused mayhem. They are at their cutest when all cuddled up on the floor. They still go back to the nest at night.