Zebra finches are possibly the most kept of the small finches the reason for this is they are easy to sex and willing breeders for the novice to start with.
Is the most colourful sporting a black breast bar brown flanking along their sides with infamous orange cheek patches with a black teardrop and usually red beak.
Is clear of any chest bars and no cheek patches but most do have the tear drop markings and orange beaks.
Zebra finches are peaceful delightful little birds which can be housed as a pair in a medium size pet bird cage or a breeding type box cage with wire front up to a colony in an outside aviary with dry draft proof shelter for them to get away from the inclement English weather.
A good quality foreign finch mix, a slice of apple and greens given intermittently as a treat. Mineral grit fine oyster shell and cuttlefish should always be available, as should fresh water supplied daily for drinking and in a shallow dish for bathing.
There are several types of nest receptacle for these birds to use the most common being the half fronted cube type nest box being favoured by serious breeders as checking the contents is easier, nesting material can be coconut fibres short lengths of sisal and their own feathers to line it.
Once they have chosen there favoured site they will build a nest from the material supplied and once the nest is finished they will perform the courtship routine. The hen will start laying eggs at one each day the clutch usually consists of four to eight eggs and the hen usually starts sitting after the third egg is laid, it is at this point any surplus nesting material should be removed as these birds are perpetual nest builders and could go on building nests on top of the previous one.
Hatching should take place about twelve days after the third egg is laid. The chicks will usually hatch at one a day the parents then start feeding the fledglings each pair rear their young differently, closed ringing should take place at three to five days depending on size of chicks.
Usually eighteen to twenty one days after hatching they will usually fledge which means leaving the nest for the first time finches are born knowing how to fly but not land so tend to miss the perches in the beginning but soon catch on. As the parents are still feeding the youngsters its at this time you should start introducing soaked / sprouted seed to the youngsters in the cage to help them to get used to eating seeds at about four to six weeks they will be self sufficient and ready to be removed from the parents. Then after eight weeks they should be moulting into adult plumage don’t attempt to breed with them until they are ten to twelve months old.
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