How DO you do that ?

S. W. Houston · Post by **S. W. Houston** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 5:48 am

I have just taken in several Zebra Finch, a total of five birds. One Hen, and four Cocks.

Got a new cage for them, LOTS bigger than the one they were in, and want to move the female and the original male parent, to the new cage, where they might breed.

However, I don’t know how to tell one male from another, they are all about the same size and coloration, and I need to identify the older male bird, given that the other three males, are offspring of the original pair.

How do I identify him ?

Have a good Day !

TammyS · Post by **TammyS** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:56 am

The easiest way to be able to identify different birds at a quick glance is to band them with different colored plastic split leg bands. I band all chicks from the same parents with the same colored leg band on one leg. If they are a species that cannot be sexed visually, then I will place a second band on the other leg once I have sexed them - blue for cocks and pink for hens.

Post by **Sally** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:47 am

Since the male offspring and the male parent are already mixed together and I'm assuming not banded, there is no way to tell them apart. I do like Tammy and split band mine with family colors--the parents wear say a yellow band on the left leg, and then their offspring can get yellow bands on their right legs. This way I can tell parents from offspring, as well as families. Each set of parents is assigned a different color, if there is more than one pair of breeding birds. The safest thing you can do would be to acquire, or swap for, another male to breed with this female. And put split bands on them right away.

S. W. Houston · Post by **S. W. Houston** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 2:07 pm

TammyS & Sally,

Thank you both for your replies !
I see that even getting close to ID'ing "him" is nearly impossible.

But, there’s one of the Cocks that goes into the Nest frequently, moves the straw around, where the other Cocks have entered the nest, but it's just in and out for them. Would that be an indicator, at least it would ID the Cock which is most interested in the Nest !?

I had thought to just band them all, but thought to do the four Cocks in different colors, where I could positively ID the one who seems more friendly with the Hen, than the others. The way they all move around the Cage, I frequently loose track of the (apparently) dominant Cock.

But, if I missed, and selected one one of the "Juniors", just how bad would that be?

Am I headded in the right direction here ?

Have a good Day !

Post by **Sally** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:13 pm

Sometimes if a pair has bonded, they will sit close together, preen each other, and may even keep others at a little distance. It is just so hard to be sure, as a hen will also bond with one of her sons! The fussing with the nest 'could' be an indicator, but again, it could be a son who is getting interested in housekeeping. It isn't desirable to breed parents to offspring, or brothers to sisters, as it increases the chances of defects and having future problems with the birds. The ratio of 4 cocks to 1 hen is really bad in one cage, but you already said you are putting a pair in a separate cage. I would still prefer to get another male for the hen (I know, more birds!) to be positive that she doesn't mate with one of her sons. You could try a posting on craigslist, see if anyone would like to swap a male.

Welcome to the world of finches, where one finch leads to another, and another, and another...

Rae2 · Post by **Rae2** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:02 pm

Would it be possible to tell which one is the older by its legs/feet? The younger birds have light flesh coloring on legs, with pretty smooth surface. As they get older, thier legs get darker. I have young birds, 2 society, which I know to be under a year, and 2 star finches, that are within 1 1/2 years. Light legs on all.
I have noticed in certain local pet shop, that the finches they sell for the most part had darker legs. I assumed they were older birds, because I had a pair of doves for 25 years, and their legs also aged with time.

Good luck!

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:56 am

Personally I don't think I'd take any chances on in-breeding and seperate the hen from all of the males you currently have. I'd find her a new mate that has no chance of being one of her off spring. As inexpensive as zebras are you could get new hens for all of your males for that matter.

You asked what could be the worst that could happen and that would be infertal eggs, or worse yet young with serious deformaties. I just don't think it's worth chancing pairing with males you already have on hand.

Sean

S. W. Houston · Post by **S. W. Houston** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:55 pm

Sorry for not getting back to you guys sooner, I been washing Cages and cutting new Perches today !

Rae2,
I looked at the Cocks legs, and they weren't all that different, given that I don't know when the Juveniles were born, it's apparent that they have matured sufficicently, where there is little difference. I'm so appreciative that you shared your personal experience toward my problem.
Thank you very much.

fairestfinches,
YUK, deformed !, don’t want that, or infertile either !

My eyes are sore, trying to watch those birds, in attempt to see which Cock the Hen seems closer to. USELESS, she likes them ALL! Umm, that’s sounds familiar !

Since I’m NOT giving these birds away, like I thought I might when I first got them, I have a spare Cage now, and will probably isolate her in the smaller Cage, and try to find a good Cock. It’s 1.15 C Ft, that should be ok for her, right?

As little as I know about Finching, or anything else like that, I can’t believe how long they kept five birds in that little Cage, it must have been really hard on them. The new “Breeding Cage” I just got, is 3.2 C Ft., and pretty nice too ! It looks like the Tage Mahal, compared to the little one !

Thank you for your advice.

Have a good Day !