Orange Breasted pair?

[Nagdabit]

Tony

Sorry, finally just getting a chance to sit down and look at your pics properly. Copied them and tried to look at them on a larger scale. Thinking I'm gonna have to agree with John on this one, looks like the one with a lighter beak very well could be a fawn cheek hen. http://www.efinch.com/birdpix/fchen.jpg
As for your male, the one thing I can say for sure is that the white on his head makes him a pied.. Appears to have a fawnish coloring as well, which actually could be a variety of mutations at work there. Fawn, Single factor Florida Fancy (also known as Florida Silvers), but given your hen I'd tend to think Fawn cheek as well. Check out the similarities in this pic... http://www.efinch.com/birdpix/fcmale.jpg
Main thing throwing a monkey wrench into it all is a the lack of a prominent breast bar. That is more commonly attributed to the Florida Fancy mutation, so he very well could be a Florida Silver... http://www.efinch.com/birdpix4/sfff.jpg
Or a combination of the two (with possibly something else thrown into the mix)

One thing to note if they are Fawn Cheeks, when pairing 2 fawn cheeks together, there is a genetic weakness towards blind chicks. Check out the link for Fawn Cheeks on this site. http://www.efinch.com/species/fczeb.htm If both birds are of the FC mutation, you might want to get another couple to switch partners with them just in case.

[tonysr09]

I was able to contact the breeder from whence the birds came, and have emailed a few photos for him to identify. But in talking with him he informed me that he had Silvers, Florida Fancy, and Orange Breasted in the cage from which I picked the birds from. So I hope to have an answer shortly. Whatever they are I enjoy them very much, and if they mate I have a granddaughter eager for a new pet, that's if I let any go! Ha Ha.
I appreciate everyones comments and suggestions and look forward to future discussions. Will keep you updated.


Tony

[tonysr09]

Doing some reading on the internet and came across this picture. Looks very close to the male I have. And since the breeder I talked to mentioned Florida Fancy. He didn't make any mention to his selling Fawns although the other bird looks like a Fawn hen.

[CandoAviary]

Yes there are some females that will have the cheek patches , also I find in the light colored females the beaks can be quite red. But you will never ever see a female with the chestnut feathers at the wings. It does look like the fawn cheeked hen pictured.... hmmmm. Not sure about that one
I think your other is a florida fancy... I have bred many of these. they are a very pretty mutation I think

[Nagdabit]

I've heard of some breeders getting the Fawn Cheeked confused with orange breasted and the various Florida Fancy mutations in the past. Especially when it comes to hens, so it wouldn't be a surprise that he didn't even realize your hen was in the cage with the other mutations. Florida Silver or the Single Factor Florida Fancy makes sense as well. The lack of clearly defined breast bars is one of their tell tale signs. Our flock has produce a number of males that look exactly like the pic that you posted. Have found them to be very stunning birds.

[tonysr09]

Has anyone seen fawn cheek markings on the cheek of a florida fancy hen. Or are the basically whitish color?



Tony

[tonysr09]

I would like to learn a bit more of the genetics of zebra finches. Have read the info in the information section. Can you point me to some resources that are easy on the brain cells.



Tony

[CandoAviary]

This site is excellent Happy reading.

http://zebrafinch.info/colours/pictureindex.asp

[tonysr09]

CandoAviary, thank you.


Tony

[tonysr09]

I just heard from the breeder. Below are the emails. I will follow up with a question concerning the hen cheek coloration.


Fred Eggert to me
show details 1:51 PM (13 minutes ago)
Tony they are florida fancies. FRED

From: Tony Paul Sienkowski Sr <tonypaulsr@gmail.com>
To: fritz.finch@att.net
Sent: Wed, December 2, 2009 5:36:02 PM
Subject: finches

Hello, my name is Tony I spoke with you by phone about the finches I bought at the DuPage Fair.
Here are a few pictures so you could identify them for me. Thank you very much for your help. I really like the birds and hope to enjoy them for many years.


--
Tony Paul Sienkowski Sr.
Reply
Forward

[CandoAviary]

I think the breeder may be surprized at that picture. It will be interesting to see what he says it is Keep us posted... it's got my curiosity up for sure.

[Nagdabit]

Tony

We have a hen that looks very similar to yours, except, she doesn't have the cheek patches. We were told that she was a Florida Fancy as well. I think if you go to this site... http://www.efinch.com/species/ffzeb.htm and read the section about half way down the page under the subheading "Combinations", it might shine some light on the birds you have.

If you'd like to explore the issue further, take some good quality pictures that show your birds various markings in detail and post them on this forum... http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/zebrafinch/

There are a number of genetic experts over there, who probably have forgotten more than I'll ever know. Both Garrie Landry (moderator) and Roy Beckham (efinch) are regular contributors and between them and the others they should be able to sort out exactly what it is that you have. Make sure you try and show as much of the birds as possible, the more pics the better. Don't forget to post here with the results then.

[tonysr09]

I just got off the phone with the breeder of the pair I have and he has told me that they are indeed FF and are male and female. His daughter was the one who sold them to me while he was show 5 other FF 3 of which came in first the other 2 third. He also told me that his daughter gave me a very good deal, and said to ask the people here on the forum what these birds are worth. He's been breeding finches for 50 years seems like a very nice fellow. He has invited me to see all his birds and will let me know when he is showing again. As I had mentioned in an earlier post I have put a nest into their cage. I'm not familiar with finch habits but they do seem to be taking to it. I have not seen any mating but they both visit the nest. So can a FF hen have cheek coloration according to Fred, yes. Will keep you posted as to any breeding activity. All in all I'm very happy with the birds and hope to learn more as time goes by in this new hobby.


Tony

[tonysr09]

I ran across this article in my researching finches.
http://www.zebrafinch.com/NewZebra/FloridaFancy.html
Note the last paragraph.

Tony

[CandoAviary]

FF with cheek patches....
I guess anything is possible...I just have never seen one. If he is a long time breeder and show exhibitor I would think he knows what he is doing. I would also think he would know what the birds are worth
Read up on their breeding and furnish nesting material. I can tell you are tickled with your new hobby..... caution...it is addicting