How to tell sex of fledgling zebras

[Themcleodflock]

I have 2 fledgling zebras, they are 25 and 24 days old, they fly reasonably well, I let them out of the cage yesterday. The youngest was a little reluctant, the older one was more confident, both flew into the ceiling, but they'll learn quickly. I was wondering how to tell if they are male or female. Their beaks are still black. Is it just a case if waiting for them to moult?

[lovezebs]

Themcleodflock

As far as I know, you need to wait, either for tear marks on the girl's cheeks, or spots on the boy's flanks. Also, the boys will start showing a breast bar, and will begin to sing, while the girls will not.

~Elana~

[Themcleodflock]

One fledgling has black cheeks the other has strong tear marks, so I'll have to wait with the black cheek but the one without black cheeks is probably female?

[Sheather]

No males have tearmarks too.

Some male zebras fledge with orange in the cheeks and/or breastbars while others have nothing for a few more weeks. In the latter case you can only wait. Sometimes males will begin to sing before coloring up though.

[lnlovesorange]

If you have a male and he starts to sing (I'm assuming the parents are still around the fledges?) make sure cuz the young male learns from his father how to sing. But my little males try to sing, and it's really quite endearing. It almost sounds like they have a sore throat. It's very scratchy...and not all that pretty yet, but extremely adorable. I have one that is finding his voice, so the singing is still very low and kind of scratchy, but he does this LOUD "SQUEAP!" then tries to sing, and you can tell he gets frustrated cuz the squeap is so loud but then the song is still scratchy, but it gets better everyday!!! My are 6 weeks old this week, and one of them i can see traces of orange coming through on the cheeks, and i can see a little brown and a couple of white spots on the flanks. Another one never makes a sound (a meep or a beep here and there, but doesn't try singing) and I KNOW she's a girl, no changes in her coloring, and no singing. And another one, got a big black spot on his chest, and now is starting to get the white spots and a little bit of the brownish coloring on his flanks, and he is the one that sings away... but this bird genetically HAS to be female... (long story) so we will see!!! But i think time, is the only way to tell, but listen for that quiet little scratchy sound trying to sing, that'll most likely be a boy (btw their mouths dont' move much when they are trying to sing, but their throats do) Good luck, can't wait to see them when they do color up and you know the sexes!! Deffinitely post some pics!!!

[cindy]

with fledglings they can be difficult to sex, depends o the mutation they carry and how long it takes for them to color out.

BF, penguin, BB are a few where you can tell somewhat early on what see they are... most you after wait and see once they molt, mature. Singing usually does not happen until close to about 3 months and not all males will sing right off especially with a dominant male present.

[cindy]

with BC and splits it can get a little confusing, some of the hens will display a smudged breast bar which can lead one to think it will be a male

[Sheather]

My birds start singing before they're fully weaned.

[Themcleodflock]

At the moment neither are singing, Sooty is definitely black cheek and Sweep must be split for it, so I guess I'll just have to wait. The oldest is only 29 days old. Both are sampling food independently, I haven't seen them drink yet, but they have bathed. They are currently being housed with their parents and one other pair of zebras. I know that's not ideal, but I'm waiting for a new cage to come in the post.

[Themcleodflock]

Both juveniles are now 7 weeks old, neither sings, their beaks still have some grey on them. I can't see any male markings yet, but I'm not sure if they are moulting yet or not, how do I tell?

[cindy]

can you post a picture please, depending on what the parents are, and what the young look like I may be able to sex them for you.