Please sex my white Zeb!

Missi · Post by **Missi** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:24 pm

At first I thought it was a female because it and a 'definite male' have been housed together for over 3 months and they would NEVER argue or bicker or fight and always preened each other and nested together. They always went to bed together at the same time every night. If the definite male would not be in the nest at the same time as the white one...the white one would "beep" at him until he flew into the nest! *SO* cute!

However, I was then told it must be a male since, in the 3 months I have had them, no eggs were ever present...eventhough they were nesting together.

I'll post some links to photos of the male and perhaps you can tell me for certain: MALE OR FEMALE?!

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 6:30 pm

It looks like a CFW (chestnut flanked white) hen to me.

Missi · Post by **Missi** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:44 pm

You're right! It is a CFW.

So that's one check for female...anyone else want to give it a go?

If it is indeed female, why has it not yet laid eggs?

KNG5 · Post by **KNG5** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:39 pm

I think I'm gonna say female. I'm not sure about the egg part though. Maybe she's still young..?

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:12 am

It's a female. I have one exactly like it! She's probably either young or doesn't want to lay yet??

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:31 am

Does she sing?

Missi · Post by **Missi** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:04 am

Well I have not noticed it sing, however...I have not noticed my definite male sing either...however...I am not certain what the male Zeb song sounds like.

I know their constant "beep beep beep and so forth" they do when we walk in the room and at random times. I know their warning call when the vultures, crows, grackles, and egrets fly past our window. And I know their soft beeping.

I have searched for a video or sound clip of a male Zeb singing but have yet to find one.

Anyone?

Could the fact that I keep them across from my parrot keep them from laying? I originally purchased them to keep my parrot company while I was gone at work during the day...but have since fallen in love with the little birds. I have never let my parrot go on the finch's cage and I am sure to not bring he too near to the cage as I do not want to stress them out too much. I just assumed that they would get used to seeing each other and know that no one is going to hurt them.

The male and the white one are VERY skittish, though. Always have been since I brought them home. They will panic and flutter around any time we walk in the room or near the cage at all. My newer females will not be as panicky.

Athanasia · Post by **Athanasia** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:56 am

She looks identical to my CFW hen, I don't really know about the egg thing, maybe she is afraid, maybe too young. Your couple is absolutely adorable, though, nice additon to your family

Missi · Post by **Missi** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:28 pm

Looks like I'll be needing to change her name in my signiture then! First Sophie...then Capt'n Jack...now Sophie again

Thank you for the compliment, as well

A finch breeder acquaintance in Turkey told me that they will not breed if it's one male with 3 females. That's fine with me, either way. Is it safe to house them this way?

StevePax · Post by **StevePax** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:49 pm

http://www.insightmatters.com/zebrasinging2.mp3

Here's a zebra male song, pretty typical.

Missi · Post by **Missi** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 2:09 pm

Wow...thanks Steve

Hmm...it seems I have heard that before. Perhaps. However I don't know which one was doing it because I didn't look up at them.

My silver male is the one that makes the most noise, so it was probably him.

Now that we have decided that I have 3 girls with 1 boy, my boyfriend wants to get 2 more males so it's "fair" to the other girls.

Please advise.

StevePax · Post by **StevePax** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:30 pm

I predict that you will have a fighting aviary. Zebras are tricky - if they pair off, they will fight. Really, the best thing to do is keep one pair per cage, and the end. Alternatively, you can keep a same-sex aviary - lots of males with no females will probably be fine, or lots of females with no males. With 3 pair of each, you really should make sure to have no nests or nest-like places in there, and make sure there is really plenty of room for them to get around - zebras will pick on each other if they are in tight quarters - I know mine did.

KNG5 · Post by **KNG5** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:29 pm

When I first started getting into finches, I had a pair of zebras. I bought this nice big cage when they had babies, hoping that they would all live happily together. Yeah, that didn't happen. Now I've moved on to Gouldians. Also, I've found that female pairs get along better than male pairs. But that's just from personal experience.

Post by **Hilary** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:44 pm

I keep five zebra hens together, and while there is squabbling and occasional feather plucking, for the most part they live together peacefully.