Zebra feet and toenail colors

[thegatorgal]

I'm not sure if it is similar in Zebra finches, but the breeder my friend bought a pair of parrotlets from said to keep an eye on the toenail color to see if they carry pied. The ones with clear (pink) nails carry pied, even if you don't notice pied markings. Sure enough a young blue hen she bought that had the clear nails molted with some white feathers after her first adult molt, and has since had pied chicks.

Also, less related to finches, but I'm sure the genetics are similar, I used to breed show rabbits. Most dark color rabbit nails are black (think normals/greys in zebras). Dilute colored rabbit nails were 'horn' colored, a tan color (think penguins). Spotted rabbits often had one or more clear nails present (think pieds).

Maybe it is the same for finches?

[MiaCarter]

Hmm....that's curious.

Looking at my guys, they're all the same. Orange legs and orange nails, even the older ones.

When they were babies, the CFWs had pink legs with clear nails, while the normal greys had a greyish tone to the legs and nails. The differential started to become evident at around 5-6 days of age.

They all grew out of that and everything turned orange as adults.

[aefaubl]

I noticed that on my five zebra finch fledgling, two have darker feet and three have lighter feet. It is not just the nail color, but the whole foot. Also curious if this meant something.

[aefaubl]

The dad is slightly pied, white on edges of wings and top of head. The mom is a penguin.

[aefaubl]

Picture of dad and some of the babies. All the babies are mostly grey.

[Chinese boy]

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!