My zebra finch is 10 years old

[Brette]

I just realized how old this bird is from looking at his leg band. I got him ages ago but i didn't realize just how long. Unfortunately he's the noisiest one of the crew. I won't miss the racket when he goes, but he has been a really great little finch, active and funny to watch. And nowhere near kicking the bucket by the looks of things.

How old is your oldest finch?

[Nagdabit]

Wow that's impressive. We still have our very first Zebra male (Rhett) that we got over five years ago. Probably only a couple of months old when we got him so figure he's about 5 and a half.

[Sally]

Many of my birds are unknown age, and I haven't had finches that long, but I have a pair of Goldbreasted waxbills and a pair of Strawberries that were given to me this year, and the woman who gave them to me had them for eight years, and she didn't know how old they were when she got them. I figure they have to be at least 9+ then.

The Goldbreast pair look pretty good still, but the Strawberry pair are really showing their age. They are so tiny anyway, and now their plumage doesn't look as good. They spend a lot of time on the perch cuddled up together, sort of leaning on each other--remind me of when you see these little old 90+ couples. But they still love their eggfood, and their baths.

[L in Ontario]

But they still love their eggfood, and their baths.

Just trying to understand... are you referring to the little old 90+ years old couple, or the little old Berry couple

[nixity]

The oldest bird I have is Romeo, a BH/OH, Lilac/White DF Yellow/Blue male who was the first yellow I got (from Rhonda Olson) and the first /Blue I got
He is the "oldest" at almost 3 years
So not old at all

Well - really, I have no idea how old my BH PB Normal hen Tabitha is. I was told when I bought her that she was from that year (08) but she isn't banded and was fully colored when I bought her so who knows

I sold my first pair last year - they would have been the oldest at about 6? 7? years..

[Ria]

Congrats on your finch! That's quite the elderly little guy. Mine are all still young, from about 6mos to 2 years. Gotta a ways to go...

[lovemyfinch]

My oldest finch was given to me a couple of months ago. A sweet little green singing whom unfortunately I never had a chance to hear sing. I just found out yesterday that he was 8 years old, and unfortunately this morning he took his last breaths while being held in my hand. It was very quick, one minute he was eating his soaked seeds and egg food and the next I noticed that he was almost laying on his side. I knew this was coming though, as a few weeks ago I noticed that he was no longer able to fly up to a perch....so I made his home as comfortable as possible(as advised by Liz) everything was place on the floor, and well as a little bed that he woulod curl up in to sleep. Fly high Sunshine and Free.

[L in Ontario]

Oh that's so sad about Sunshine, Janine. I'm sure he's flying with Swee high over the Rainbow Bridge.

[lovemyfinch]

Thanks Liz, if it wasn't for the fact that I knew this was coming I would be panicking right now about all of the rest of my birds.

[cindy]

Janine, I am sorry for you you loss. I am sure Sunshine loved everything you provided for him in his last few weeks. Thoughts are with you.