How Young Can The Finches Be?

[Art3mie]

I want to get my finches as young as possible, and would like to know at what age its best to separate the baby finches from their parents?

[delray]

I got my finches when they we 3 months old, I would say the youngest would be three months. Not all juveniles grow at the completely same pace. So it depends. Good luck art3mie

[MiaCarter]

Indeed, it does vary among species quite significantly.

Gouldians don't color up until anywhere from 4-6 months of age and that initial molt can be very stressful, so I wouldn't separate until they were finished molting into their adult colors (plus, you wouldn't have a firm idea on gender until they're colored up.)

With zebras, they tend to mature and color up much faster -- around 6-8 weeks.

I prefer to keep juveniles with their parents at least a couple weeks after weaning (the longer, the better) as they learn lots of social behaviors in this time.
So I feel like it makes more well-rounded, better socialized birds if you get them around 3 months, perhaps a tad older.

[MAB1947]

I keep my juveniles with the parents until they are ready for sale after they are fully colored up. My one pair has a set of juveniles who are just over 2 mo. old. The hen is sitting on eggs and I'm concerned that the youngsters will try and harm the chicks when they hatch. Does anyone have any advice as to whether I should separate them from the parents or leave them alone?

Thanks!
Mary Ann

[Sally]

MAB1947 It depends on the species. I have waxbills, and though I'm not breeding now, I don't remember problems in the past with juveniles picking on new babies. Now parents may be another matter, some parents will try to drive away the juveniles.

[MAB1947]

I should have mentioned they are Gouldians - great parents, but I am concerned about the older siblings.

[lovezebs]

MAB1947

I have never come across Gouldian juvies harming chicks.

If anything parents will often use juvies to sit on the eggs and the babies.

If it gets too crowded in the nest, the parents will simply kick the juvies out and that's that.

I have found that juvies that spend more time with the parents and younger sibs, tend to become better parents later on.

[Sally]

MAB1947 I haven't had Gouldians in a long time, and I didn't keep them for very long, but I don't remember having any problems with the juvies staying in the same cage with the parents and newest babies. They are usually pretty laid back, and the youngsters can learn from their parents.