FINCHforum

I have an all-white female that may be a true white or an extremely pied zebra. She has absolutely no gray spots. I just purchased a CFW male (regular not continental - his colors are very diluted and hard to see sometimes) and they've already bonded. I'm just curious as to the chicks I will have with these two. I used the zebra finch genetics calculator and was a bit confused by the results, it be nicer if explained by a human-being.

Thanks.

I would love to help out Dominic, but my normals are throwing CFW,s , so go figure.

Congratulations on your new pair of zebras. I'm not real good with the mutations.

By the way, my male is courting my female so hopefully eggs by next week.

Ditto - all I know is the chicks will be... beautiful!

Hey Domenic, we haven't bred our male CFW yet so anything I'd have to say would be pure speculation. The one time we put an all white hen with Frost (our dilute CFW / FF mix with very faint teardrops and side markings) we got 2 stunning solid white males with their daddy's bright red beak, and one white hen with no teardrops but very faint tail bar markings.

Do you have any idea what your couple's background is? Their parentage would help to identify potential splits. I would think that any CFW offspring that might be produced would be rather washed out if the male's markings are slight to begin with and the hen being solid white.

Please do keep us posted, really intrigued by any potential male offspring from that coupling.

Congrats on your new zrbs...pictures please
Not sure what they will produce...what did the calculater say? My guess would be whites and CFW's. but that is just a guess....

Rory,

I have no idea of the pair's genetics. I'm not fortunate enough to have breeders nearby so I usually get my birds from a broker here in town. Perhaps posting a few pics might help you understand what I'm looking at here.




As you can see the male's cheek patches are just barely there and his tail and sides are subtle as well. The female, like I said, is just entirely white.

Well that's not very exciting. I hope they are both split for something so that I might get some interesting birds. I was really hoping for more whites, but since it's recessive that probably isn't going to happen.

My male is slightly CFW, My female is completely white. Their first batch produced 1 all whire chick, 2 fawn chicks and 1 pied chick (see avatar). ..

Hey Domenic

Like the bright red beak on your CFW male. Really stands out against his light background.

As FinchDegg demonstrated (along with Liz and Janine in other posts) you can't always account for hidden splits with Zebras, so while LeWi's calculations most likely are correct, don't be surprised if a an odd ball or two pop up in your clutch. Our buddy Frost has given us all kinds of different offspring depending upon who he's been coupled with. Actually the only way we even knew he was a dilute FF/ CFW mix (rather than just a solid white) is from the birds he's produced, both CFW's (hens) along with single and double factor Florida Fancies. He also gave us some solid white males when he was with a gray pied hen. If I remember correctly one of her parents was a solid white.

Very few of our birds have come from professional breeders as well. Our first two couples, which have provided the bulk of our breeding stock, came from the local pet store, while most of the others came from folks like ourselves who just raise these colorful little critters for the sheer enjoyment of them. Really we're in the same boat as you since we are unsure of the heritage of most of those birds. To us, part of the fun is just letting them go and see what results. If nothing else our experience has taught us that while there are some certain tried and true guidelines, be prepared for almost anything, cause as they are fond of saying here on the forum, "Zebra's are like a box of chocolates..."

Please let us know if and when your couple gives you some young 'uns. Very curious to see what actually arises.

I would bet a pound to a penny ... well a dollar to cent that the outcome won't be what the guidelines say .. keep us updated

Salam

don't be surprised if a an odd ball or two pop up in your clutch

this what makes breeding Zebras that amazing