My zebra male and my Common Waxbill female

PT1334 · Post by **PT1334** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:16 pm

Well, I walked into the aviary today and I saw two new babies flying around. I sat there and waited to see who the parents were. Guess what, mom is a common Waxbill and the Dad is a zebra. In my entire aviary I have one zebra. Don't want a pair cause they reproduce toooooo much. This zebra has been hanging around with the waxbill for about 6 months now. I knew they were a couple cause they would take turn incubating the eggs, but i didn't know that the eggs could be fertile. Has anyone experience this before? Is it posible for a zebrabill? Oh by the way, my Orange weavers are going crazy this year building nest and having babies. So far, 8 nest and 5 babies. They only laid 2 blue eggs per nest. Very territorial birds.

Gunnar · Post by **Gunnar** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:39 pm

Do you have any pictures? What kind of waxbill is it? Zebras will occasionally hybridize with owl finches and I've even heard of them crossing with stars. most hybids are sterile but occasionally you'll find one that is not.
I accually bellieve that this is how we got the black breasted zebra mutation, from a fertile zebra owl cross.
I wouldn't encourage anyone to do this on pupose, but I'd be curious to see the parents and the babies. Are there any other, or whrere there any other waxbills in the flight? Up to about 3 weeks before the eggs whrere laid? If so what kinds?

Thanks Gunnar

PT1334 · Post by **PT1334** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:24 pm

Looking at the picture in the forum, I have a Black Rumped Waxbill. She is the only one. I have about 6 Orange cheeks. And 3 pairs of strawberry finch. First, I thought they were orange cheeks babies. Second, I know they are not strawberry babies because I have had strawberry babies before and the body movements are not the same. But after watching them for a while, I was able to see the Waxbill and the Zebra feedinng them. Besides, the orange cheeks are in their own little group. And so are the strawberies. But the Waxbill has always hangout with the male zebra. The babies have the same tail and body movement as the mother. I will take some pictures and post it. Right now they just grey with dark tail. Can't wait to see what color they will have once they become older.

PT1334 · Post by **PT1334** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 2:26 pm

I posted some pictures in the baby/juvinile gallery. I need to learn how to post picture in the forum section.

tursiopschic · Post by **tursiopschic** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:56 am

Hmm, i didn't see the photo