life span of zebra finches

[hilljack13]

Just my .02, but when my zebs got older I noticed their claws and bills would grow much longer than normal. Extra cuttle-bone and sandpaper helped a little but I had to do some trimming for them.

[dutch]

hilljack13.....overgrown beaks and nails aren't caused by old age...it's from liver disease or lack of sunlight

[finchmix22]

The two may go together. As they grow older, their liver does not function as well as when they were younger. I noticed longer nails on older finches too.

[Corkysgirl]

Interesting! My 10 year old female's nails could win a contest...almost wrapping around a perch if I don't watch them. Her beak is fine. Her brother, also 10 is fine with both nails and beak...no changes. In fact it's only in the last two months that his feathers are lightening up a little. He's a black face and very dark normally. She is fawn colored and has many white feathers in the last couple years, as if she's going grey. It is very weird that they are brother and sister as they are so different but I knew the breeder well.