FINCHforum

How old does a zebra finch start to get their zebra stripes and cheeks?? i want to know so i can tell how long before i can give the babies away. i need to know if they are male or female. about what age do they start to get their adult coloring?
Their beaks are still black and their legs are slowly changing the oldest is 20 days old tomorrow

I would like to know the same. The little black cheek I'm handfeeding has his black cheeks, and breast bars already. His beak is changing and he is about maybe 2 and a half weeks since he fledged

how old was he when he got his cheeks and stripes? which came first??

He fledged with both his cheeks and stripes.

Most fledging with an exception to few mutations come out without flanks, cheek patches and breast bars, some come out with smudges theat are soon to become breast bars, others like BC come out of the nest with black cheek patches (both sexes). It depends on the mutations...all should go through a molt to shed baby feathers to reveal the adult colors. The beak will change and be adult color by the 3 month mark or sooner. They should be in full color by the age of 2 and a half months to 3 months of age, they are mature enough for breeding at 3 months but it is advisable to wait a few more months closer to 6 months or older to breed them.

i just want to know when they start to get their feathers. i don't plan on breeding them or anything. i just want to know the sex of the birds so i can give them away.

They should be feathered at fledging, molt and by three month fully colored out. Once weaned and eating on their own for a couple of weeks you can find them a home. If you want to sex them you'll need the colors to come in.

oh yes i know they have to be weaned! they are fully feathered. i meant colors *silly me* and Tahny finally fledged on his own while i was gone. i came back to see all three sitting on top of the nest box begging for food what a sweet!! anyway, thanks for the help!

As I mentioned above, the babies will go through a molt loosing their baby colors and as the new feathers come in you will see hints of color like in the chest, cheeks and flanks. By the time they are 3 months they should be in full adult color.

yes yes, thank you so much!!