Zebra fledglings - wonder what that one is

[L in Ontario]

Here's pics of my four that fledged over the weekend - yay for tossing out disposable dirty nestboxes!

The one with the grey head and white cheeks - anyone know what variety it might be? I wish it were a male that kept those white cheeks!! How cool would that be?!?!

[cindy]

White cheeks...that would be something! Very pretty little ones!

[lovemyfinch]

They are adorable Liz. I wouldlove to be able to answer your question, but as you know I just can't get a grasp on the zebbie genetics thingy. Box of chocolates is all I know

[L in Ontario]

I can't grasp the Zeb's genetics either. All I know is male cheeks are always orange (or black). So white would be sooo cool!

Thanks!

[cindy]

Liz, look at this site, scroll down to the 4th paragraph under the white zeba picture. It describes a mutation called Dominant Silver the male's cheek patches are dilute and can be from pale orange or cream to silver white. Or maybe you will have a grey cheek.

It also talks about how to get mutaions and describes what they are.

http://www.zebrafinch.co.uk/varieties.htm

[L in Ontario]

Thanks Cindy - that would be sooooo cool! I can only wish!

[JezeKat]

i love that one at the bottom

[CandoAviary]

Liz, what cutie pies. Do you know what the parents are?
I have several hens that have a lighter marking (light grey) on them.
These light cheek patches are found in the recessive silver females One of my favotite mutations... that's what it looks like to me anyways
Here is a link to the recessive silvers
http://www.efinch.com/species/rszeb.htm

[cindy]

This page has white cheeks...

http://zebracrazy.byethost13.com/Photos/Collection5.htm

Look at some of the pictures on this site


http://www.efinch.com/species/dszeb.htm

http://www.efinch.com/species/fawnzeb.htm

[L in Ontario]

Thanks for the links Cindy - I never knew white cheeks were a possibility!

Candace - the parents of all my baby Zebs are the same colour combination (through 4 different birds). Males are regular sized pure white and females are fawns - either large English size or regular size as I have both. So much going on in the background!

[Ameza]

They are so adorable

But wow I didnt know zebras could have white cheeks, that is so beautiful. I am just hoping for black cheek chicks from my eggs, but now I kind of want a white one lol. Need to have my eyes open for zebras like that ;)

[LeWi]

Salam

the cheeks wont remain "white"
they may be light color but never White
i prefer to wait until he/she ends the molting period and get the final coloration.

[L in Ontario]

Thanks LeWi - I know it's early to try and surmise what that one will end up like; but it's fun to guess and dream!

[Nagdabit]

I'd tend to agree with Lewi on this. We've had young ones that looked like they had light cheek patches like that, but they basically disappeared after their molt.

Another possibility is ghost cheek patches. Occasionally visible on some normal hens. They are of a light coloration and while Sher and I think they are pretty cool looking, not well regarded among serious breeders. Considered a show fault and not really something that is actively bred for.

[L in Ontario]

I'd tend to agree with Lewi on this. We've had young ones that looked like they had light cheek patches like that, but they basically disappeared after their molt.

Did they end up with orange coloured cheeks or nothing at all?

Another possibility is ghost cheek patches. Occasionally visible on some normal hens. They are of a light coloration and while Sher and I think they are pretty cool looking, not well regarded among serious breeders. Considered a show fault and not really something that is actively bred for.

I'll just have to wait and see how this one ends up after the moult. I'll post updated pics then!

Thanks!