Also new to the forum...

[Jaibai]

Hello all,
I am also new to the forum, I have had my zebra finch for about 7 weeks. About 3 weeks after getting our cute little couple, they blessed us with 5 babies. I wasn't totally prepared for them to mate so fast, but we are figuring it out together

The babies are 4 weeks old, when do their beaks start change colors and I can distinguish male from female?

Thank you for y'alls help

[Sally]

Welcome to the forum! Your Zebras are acting like typical Zebras, mating and having babies right away! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on breeding and especially the Zebra finch. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier to answer locale-specific questions later on.

We'd love to see photos of your new birds and babies!

[Babs _Owner]

Sally

Welcome to the wonderful world of zebra finch insanity! Welcome to the forum. !

[delray]

Jaibai welcome to the FINCHforum! I am the social media manager here, and have a Facebook and Instagram account, we hope to gain your support! It would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you have any technology questions here!

[Jaibai]

Thank you all, I am very excited that found this forum, I see myself turning into the crazy bird lady, but at least I will have people to share my excitement with

I will stumble through all the info on this site.

I did add my location, I am in McKinney, Texas.

I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow, the babies are already in bed for the night.

Thank you!!

[dunker817]

Welcome, Jaibia. You will enjoy the forum its very helpful and the peopel are outstanding. There are a few of from the DFW area. Glad you joined the group.

[Sally]

Jaibai McKinney, huh? We know where that is, I'm from Joshua, which is south of Fort Worth. You might think about coming to our bird mart this coming Saturday, Oct. 17. It will be at the Cleburne Conference Center, Cleburne TX from 9:30 am to 4pm, and there will be quite a few finch breeders there.

If you come, be sure and stop by and say hello. I probably won't be at my table, as I'll be volunteering in other areas, but you can ask around, someone will know where I am.

[lovezebs]

Jaibai

Welcome to the Forum.

There are lot's of finch crazy people on here, so you should fit right in and feel right at home, lol.

Regarding being gifted with some cute Zebra babies , congratulations! However, you might find yourself blessed with more than you care to be blessed with, if you don't remove the nest very shortly.

Zebra finches, are the rabbits of the finch world, and you may find new eggs in the nest even before your present babies fledge.

Just something to be aware of

[debbie276]

Welcome to the forum Jaibai

[Jaibai]

lovezebs

I am doing some redesigning of the cage this weekend, as I walked out of the house for work this morning, I heard the male singing his mating call . I feel bad taking the nest away, the male is a little OCD when it comes to nesting, I am afraid it might stress him out if I take the nest. But I want to be a responsible owner and not have babies every other month, so I will step up and be a good bird parent, parenting is tough, even with birds, lol.

[slwatson]

Jaibai

Welcome to the forum! This is a wonderful place to get great information and support from finch experts They've helped me tremendously! I'm not far from McKinney myself...a little over two hours.

[lnlovesorange]

Welcome!!! Congrats on the babes. Their beaks should start changing pretty soon. If they are 4 weeks. I've seen some start changing as early as 3-4 weeks. Mine didn't change until....like 6-8 weeks. And knowing the sex... sometimes you can tell because young males will try singing, and in Zebras... (don't get me wrong I have 6 I LOVE THEM) but it's not very pretty, it kind of sounds like they are in pain... or something, cuz it's quiet and there is no song like quality to it yet, it's kind of scratchy... but if you hear this, it's prbably a boy. Other than that, it's just a waiting game. 1 of mine got a big black dot on his chest at like.... 4-5 weeks, and I knew he was a boy... i was right.... but long story short, the sexing game unfortunately with these guys you have to wati until their molt... which could take you through 8-10 weeks of age... but again listen for an attempt at singing... Like i said, you'll know it when you hear it! Good luck and keep us posted!