Parakeets - Guinea Pigs - Parrots - Cockatoos - Zebra Finches - Pet Questions - Home
Zebra Finch 

Color Variations
The colors of these birds are extraordinary with males sporting a bright red beak,  chestnut flanks, chestnut ear patches and black stripes on the chest.  There are several white mutations from solid white to gray to chestnut flanked to pencil-lined.  These colors can occur with or without chestnut ear patches.  There are also silvers which are pale silvery gray and fawns which are light milk chocolate.  Add pied markings to all of these mutations and a rainbow of colors emerge.  The females color is a duller version of the males lacking the chestnut ear patches, chestnut flanks and black chest striping.  With some color mutations males and females may look very similar.  They are easy to sex however when you remember that all males have bright red beaks while the females beak is always orange.

Zebras also occur in a crested variety.  The ideal crested will have a perfect circular swirl of feathers on its crown.  The crested zebra can be found in all color varieties.  For best results when raising cresteds, do not breed two crested together.  The crested mutation is dominant and only one crested parent is required to produce crested chicks.
back to index

Selecting Healthy Finches
A healthy zebra finch will be active, bright and alert.  A healthy zebra should sit up tall on the perch with tight feathering.  When zebras feel their personal space has been invaded they may pull feathers out of one another.  These pulled feathers are not a sign of illness and the feathers will regrow when the birds are separated.  You will notice that all compatible pairs of finches pick at and gently preen each others feathers.  If a pair does not go near each other, pulls feathers out or attacks and chases each other; then the pair is probably not compatible and should be paired with new birds.  Birds do not have to be the same color to be paired.
back to index

Selecting a Cage
After you've decided to get a pair of zebra finches your next decision will be which cage to buy.  The minimum size for a single pair of zebra finches is about 18" square, but the bigger the better.  There are many different styles of cages available that will suit a zebra finches needs.  Zebras, like most finches, rely on flight for exercise so try to pick out a cage that will provide some flying space.  Having a swing inside your cage will also provide exercise.  Your cage should be large enough to accommodate one or two nests and at least two perches which should be of different diameters in order to exercise the feet.  Concrete perches are available to help keep your zebra finches nails trimmed, but this must not be the only perch provided as continuous perching on rough surfaces can make your birds feet sore.
back to index

To nest or not to nest. . .
Zebra finches do not need to have a nest in their cage, but they enjoy sleeping in one at night and will miss it if not available.  Zebra finches will accept almost any nest provided and some hens will even use food dishes when nests are unavailable.  The preferred nest is a large covered wicker nest, but they'll also accept open canary style nests and wood nest boxes.  Position the nest up high in the cage to make the birds feel more secure.  The addition of plastic plants to the nest area will increase the parents acceptance to the nest site and may also help to relieve aggression if more than one pair of birds occupies the cage. 

To complete your set-up you'll need nesting material.  Zebras are not fussy and will accept a variety of materials from cotton fiber to goat hair, coconut fiber and straw.  For our convenience we prefer the cotton nesting material available in a small box which clips to the inside of the cage.  Place it far from the nest to encourage "flying" exercise.  Do not use acrylic yarn as the fibers can get wrapped around the birds feet and result in injury.
back to index

Breeding
A compatible pair of zebras will go to nest in almost any environment.  Zebras are good parents and rarely have breeding related problems.  In fact, next to the society finch, the zebra is the most commonly used "foster parent", used to raise many rare types of Australian grass finches.  After your zebra finches have settled down in their new surroundings it will be only a matter of time before they start to set up housekeeping.  Some zebra finches will even start nest building the same day they move in!

The male zebra finch weaves the nest and is very careful as to where each piece of nesting material is placed.  He will build a thickly padded nest often coming close to filling the entire nest with nesting material.  While the male is building his nest an endless supply of nesting material should be offered.  As soon as the hen lays eggs, remove any excess material to prevent the male from covering up the eggs in his enthusiasm to improve the home.  Zebras will lay one egg every other day until their clutch is completed.  The average clutch size is 4 to 5 eggs. 

After the eggs are laid the pair will sit tightly until hatching.  The hen will spend most of her time on the nest with the male often accompanying her or relieving her for a much needed food and exercise breaks.  The eggs will begin to hatch between 12 and 18 days after the day the last egg was laid.

Parent birds share responsibility for raising the young.  High protein foods (Petamine or nestling food) must be available for the parents when chicks are in the nest.  Parents also need unlimited access to calcium which may be supplied by cuttlebone.  The chicks feather out and start to leave the nest at about 18 days old.  By the time the chicks are a month old they will be eating completely on their own and can be separated from their parents. 

If Mom and Dad go back to nest before the chicks are completely weaned, you may place Dad and the chicks in a separate cage.  Dad will finish feeding the them and can rejoin his mate when the chicks are weaned.  Some parent birds may on rare occasion get aggressive with their young, pulling their feathers.  This is usually due to overcrowding and the parents desire to encourage the chicks to move out on their own.  Although they may try to drive the chicks from the cage, rarely would they actually hurt them.
back to index

Feeding
Zebras should be fed a fresh quality seed mix that contains as wide a variety of seeds as possible.  Abba is the ideal brand.  Pellets may be added to round out the diet.  Spray millet is a natural and nutritious low fat food that offers variety and exercise.  Greens should be added to a finches diet in either dry or fresh form.  If your birds refuse to eat fresh greens, there are many canned finch seed treats which contain dried greens. 

Petamine or "nestling foods" must be available while your finches are feeding chicks and are an excellent high protein supplement when finches are molting or under stress.  It may be used as a treat at other times but do not use it as your only treat food since it can make your finches overweight.

In the wild your finches would feast on bugs and fresh foods.  In captivity with only dried foods to eat, a vitamin / mineral supplement must be used to insure good health and long life.  Nekton S is ideal and should be added to the water every day.  A cuttlebone or mineral block is needed to supply extra calcium and is especially important for the hen when laying eggs and when growing babies are being by Mom & Dad.  If your finches don't use cuttlebone, you can scrape it over their seed or add a liquid mineral supplement to their water.
back to index

Toys
Zebras don't generally play with most toys the way parakeets do, but there are a few which they enjoy.  They like small bird toys which have brightly colored beads and also appreciate treat dishes with mirrors and beads.  

All zebra finch cages should have bird pacifiers.  The pacifier helps keep the finches "busy" during the day.  Zebras will even pick at and pull out the straws of their pacifiers to use as nesting material.
back to index

More info?
Zebras cheer up any room, offer fascinating lessons in genetics and inspire us with their devotion to work and family.  You'll find more books written on zebra finches than any other soft billed bird.  You'll find more here http://www.finchworld.com/Zebra.html

  Have Fun! 
back to index