We started with just a few, three or four. In about four days there were 50. We were spending more on their food bill than our own. Brings back a lot of good memories - our cage looked exactly like yours. Fortunately my Wife was an electrician. Good with drills/construction.
I only keep Zebras, never had any problems with them. I think the best for success is space between next boxes, large flight and plenty of food and nesting materials. I live in the UK, my birds have a had a good year with plenty of new colors from pied fawn to pure white. Nice to watch your videos.
Hi Chris,good to see you back on your videos👍 i got 14pairs of zebras,i got few show zebz n got the double OBz n double BBz,going for triples this year hopefully,so shows in 1 aviary,Bbz in another aviary n last OBz in last aviary,just to not get mixed bloodlines...gouldians finishing up for me..putting them in all male n female cages just to recover from breeding season. awesome seen u doing well bud
@@zakesanimallover1721 Awesome, Thanks for the update good luck on the zebs, I would love some of those types of zebras. Hopefully the goulds did well for you.
@@birdnerd i didnt really hit numbers with gouldians,although i bred out a lemon head...i believe RSA doest really have them,so im quite chuffed👍 lost alot of gouldians though
@@dianemesa3581 They dont generally breed with out nests, but they (from what I understand) Still have a low chance of breeding. If they do breed, it is possible that the egg could be fertile, so as soon as you see an egg, you should remove it and replace it with a fake egg. Alternatively, you could boil or freeze the egg, but then return it to the nest. And if your problem with them breeding is owning the babies is you could even sell them, once they're old enough. *I'm not speaking with experience on the last option, I don't know if that can be damaging so please dont just take my word for it.*
@@dianemesa3581 If the eggs are fertile within the first 10 days by candling and it is their 1st clutch of eggs, I suggest no because the first clutch they raise usually one or two survives. But even so, you can to make sure the male and female are ready or just need some rest.
Hi Dude! Excellent Video about Zebra Finches. I have raised Zebra Finches for over 25 years, and I took a break of about 10 years from them. My original pair back in 1999 was ‘George & Gracie’ and they had 256 babies in their lifetime and they were AMAZING & SPECTACULAR, and all their fertility raised enough money to feed all of my 36 birds every single month for almost 7 years. G & G were Truly Spectacular! So in March 2020 I was gifted a pair of Zebra Finches that I selected from two different unrelated pet companies (both local), and finally on December of 2021 the egg laying began once again. I have a pair named Peaches & Créme and they are on their third clutch and they are phenomenal parents and so good with their babies. Usually laying 4-6 eggs at a time and hatching them all. And I am in the process of having a second breeding pair to have offspring from two unrelated families thus preventing any genetic issues or abnormalities. I had that happen back in 2001 and the three babies born to a pair of Zebra Finches someone gave me after their Mother died and told me that they were NOT brother and sister, and I believed them and the babies were so badly deformed when born with twisted beaks and missing feathers, and mangled talons, it was so sad. So my question and what I have discovered getting back into this is the amount of food that the Zebra Finches won’t eat or touch and it gets left behind, discarded, or it’s thrown all over the floor is alarming!!! I feed the Zebra Finches ‘ALL LIVING THING: Seed & Pellet Medley for Canary & Finch Diet’ and they do love it. I am searching for a food specifically geared for JUST Zebra Finches. What do you use? What do you recommend? Where do you buy it? I feel like much of the food is going inside my DYSON vacuum and being wasted. I look forward to any insight you can share or give me! Cheers, B My email is: THEHOINKTOINKIAN@gmail.com
I'm in Utah. I only raise zebra finches. Your birds are beautiful! We also raise button quail with ours. Outside we raise quail, Cayuga ducks and chickens. I've never seen finches outside. I love this.
I love the zebra finches, thy so cute, and yes thy can get aggressive when thy want to make a new set of eggs.but then I just take the babies out and them put the dad with the babies for a wile. And then let them breed again. But this winter I am taking all my nest out , so all my birds can rest rom breeding. I sold 5 babies so far . And 7 canneries. But I miss them so much now. Thy all such pleasant birds. I have love birds, budgies, bangalins, zebra finches, but mine is light risen and the male is really gorgeous. I don’t see your make , I want to get a pair of white ones like yours. But not sure how does the male look with the white finches. And I have canneries, lovely birds. My zebra males are beautiful with the stripes and dots.....in a brown background.....so nice. If I was you I would put more tree foliage in there to make it look like a forest....
Another great video, man. I've kept zebras before, but never bred them. They're beautiful for sure, but inside the house they honestly drove me crazy with their constant peeping. I don't mean to be negative. It was just my situation with them. They certainly are beautiful.
Yup. Someone gets up for a midnight snack, turns on the light and we get what we call the finch alarm. Turn up the tv volume to because of them but they sure are cute.
Thank you for the video! Growing u my step dad raised zebra, Goudian and society finches. I am with a rescue and took in a little female white zebra then because everyone said she needed a friend (I still disagree with this, Poppet is very different and socialized well with just myself!) I ended up taking in a white canary who turned out to be a female....they both lay eggs and poor Poppet the zeebie just keeps laying everywhere even without a nest. So not having a male does not seem to matter...I should post video as the two females have bonded, BOTH laying eggs in the same nest -when I had one in there- and they both share the nest together lol...It is Very very cute! Still I need to get her to stop laying ...so many complications can arise from this. Your birds are so cute!!! That pink and white canary is just gorgeous!!
Thank you this was very helpful to me , I’m going to put the females together and males together as we have had three babies one boy and two girls and don’t want anymore as they are in large cages . I also want to say that the aviary you have is lovely x
Hi Chris, I’m having shipped two (male & female) Black Cheeked Finches. Can’t wait to get them. I also love their look! I used to breed Zebra Finches years ago. Just getting back to breeding a few. Love your videos.
Zebra Finches are the funniest birds on the planet - with ours I memorized all of their "Calls." (usually about 7 notes that strangely seemed to fit together). Their ears would perk up. They'd fly over to I.D. me.
thanks for the video. It is cruel to separate them. They mate for lifetime! Imagine one would do that to you. Zebra finches are nest sleepers. So it is also cruel not to provide them with a nest even if you do not want them breeding. Imagine you have to sleep on a kitchen stool....
اسلام علیکم ورحمتہ اللہ وبرکاتہ ماشاءاللہ بہت عمدہ اللہ سبحانہ وتعالیٰ آپ سب کو نظر بد اور حاسدوں کےحسد سے بچاۓ آمین اللہ سبحانہ وتعالیٰ برکت عطا فرمائے الہ آباد،🇮🇳
Even though this video was two years ago, this is a nice and helpful video. I love zebra finches a lot, and I hope that, if you still have zebra finches, they do well!
Me I used to put a "Fruit Parfait" down for our Finches. They like colors. So we'd put down sliced oranges, green grapes, peaches,- watermelon and cherries. They ate better than we did.
I badly need an aviary. I don't believe in breeding anymore where I live because clients will pay to use them as snake food. I have all societies now, except for one psychotic female normal zebra. After her dear white pied female zebra passed recently (9 years old!) she spends all day flying back and forth to the same perches. After a mourning/quarantine period, I gave her one of the male society children. He's very chill, is beige and white and handsome and a beautiful singer. She leaves him alone but snuggles with him at night. My question is: since she is never aggressive toward him and he calm around him, should I keep them together? He has never attempted mating with her and she shows no interest in nest building. I've tried weak chamomile tea and Avi-Calm on her (after separating them) and it seems to help. Thanks.
My zebras put anything they can fit into the nest box including pine needles. I would recommend softer materials such as coco fiber, shredded paper, feathers, or dried grasses.
I'm going to get society finches, but I'm not breeding. But all I found are videos about zebras and breeding. I need to know about the finches in general to make sure I've got the right stuff
My finches are aggressive towards the baby finches, hunting them around the cage and making strange noises at them. What is the reason? They came out of the nest 10 days ago?
Thank you for this video! I’m watching videos to learn more about finches and canaries before I buy some. So canaries and finches can stay outdoors throughout the winter as long as they have covering? Also, I live in CA and it’s gets to be 102 at times in the Summer. Can they still be outdoors in a covered Aviary? That pink/rose colored bird is beautiful! Thanks again!
Yes they can tolerate hotter temps as long as they have shade and fresh water to cool down with. The same goes for the winter if it gets too cold they will need a heat source to keep warm and will also need a place to escape from the bad weather or the wind.
I'm considering getting zebra finches to be able to use their unfertilized eggs for baby egg eating snakes in the future. I want to breed egg eaters, but I of course want to make sure I have plenty of food for them. My question is if I do that, how many unfertilized eggs would a female produce?
If you are looking to feed unfertilized eggs to your snakes. I would suggest looking into king quails or japanese quails who will produce up to 1 egg a day per female over a long period of time. Zebra finches would not lay enough eggs to give a consistent or meaningful supply to your snakes.
Hi just found your channel, we’re starting with finches too, here in California, our first breeding experience was interesting, mama had a stroke so the dad raised 5 babies nicely. Mama survived about a month alone in a smaller cage, so sad. Now can babys, siblings breed or is it best to get new ones and mix? Also, is it possible for a pair we put together in a nice private cage, not to like each other? The female seems ready but the male doesn’t seem interested. They are old enough so not sure what to do! Thank you for your channel, gonna watch more now!🙋🏼♀️🔥
I want to get two zebra finches. I have never had birds before & I heard zebra finches are good for beginners. I’m not interested in breeding them and have read that same sex pairs bond and do well together- but is it cruel? If it is, will not providing a nest really work to keep them from breeding? If it’s not cruel, is it better to get 2 boys or 2 girls? I really appreciate any advice you can give!!!! 🙏
My Finch is looking really bad, feathers look odd and her head is reversed .she's totally not well does any know what the caused cud be ,,,,? Will she die ? Thanks
Hi just researching finches to have in a cage and then maybe an aviary. I have had owl and gouldians in the past. Tried to breed with gouldians but they threw them out each time ! Please could I ask if zebras are the best for beginners ?
After they hatch ... how long after that can you seperate the babies from the parents ... ?? Can i give cucumber, strawberries and lettuce to zebra finches ? How do you telle if an egg IS fertile ?
Really surprised the birds I've got just now I've 2 pairs and a pair of fife's in an aviary setting, it's the fife's that are being aggressive. They calmed down a lot after I gave them a nesting pan. All young birds, young enough the zebras aren't breeding like mice yet lol got about 5 in one nest, the other they've not been successful yet
Yeah canaries can get pushy sometimes during breeding season. Once all your zebs figure breeding out you’re going to triple your population in one summer.
Today my daugther found one in our garden we placed it in a cage but he was already to weak and he died it was 103 outside who knows how long he had been lost and without food. I fell in love with it looking to get one.
I have a mating pair of society finches... they have laid eggs and I remove them because... they're siblings. I dont want genetic issues, so I intend to separate them. However, I want them to breed with other species such as a male Zebra, and Female Spice or Owl finch. Is that cruel? Will they still prefer eachother, or bond and mate with the other opposite-sex finch species being introduced?
Mine fly like hummingbirds, is that normal? They will be flying in 1 spot high or low doesn't matter, next to something or not, just in 1 spot and can go backwards, up, down, left or right, from being in hovering flying mode, and while hovering their body doesn't move, just their wings, and I love it but not sure if it's normal, they look normal and like they aren't mixed with anything, so just wondering, but I can do a video of it's not normal 🤷🏼♀️
Nice birds, let me ask a question if u don't mind, what is the most perfect time for breeding Canaries? by the way very glad to see new videos from you, they r very useful.
Thanks for the comment. If you are not providing artificial light and the birds are going off of the natural sunlight then your spring time would be the best time for your canaries to breed. That is when the sun is gaining strength and the days are getting longer hours of sunlight. That is when your canaries will be breeding the best.
We get cold winters every year and with the proper set up most birds can withstand colder temps. My zebra finches spend most of the day outside during the winter and then they go back into the heated shed to roost.
Hi. I have 2 Zebra finch, a male & a female. They do & have always slept in a nest together. I have only had them for about 5-6 weeks & the lady I got them from supplied everything including the nest. The nest is quite dirty & would like to replace it if I can. Can you give me a little advice on that. Also, the supplier told me they were brother & sister so I am a little worried about them breeding. I would really like your thoughts on this too.
Someone has offered my 10 year old daughter a Zebra Finch . She would be a first time Bird parent lol what do you think ? What is the life expectancy of a Zebra Finch also ? Hate to get one and it dies ! I am considering letting her have it and it would be her only pet . Im hoping if we do this that it could be sort of therapeutic for her . She has anxiety and depression . Would this be a good idea do you think ?
I think that it could be a positive experience for your daughter. I know that animals can bring a natural calmness to life and can be therapeutic for people. Zebras are a great beginning bird. they are not the kind of bird that would tame down very easily so she wouldn't be able to play with it but would possibly enjoy the birds company and sounds. Zebra finches live between 5 -7 years with a good diet.
You have such clean well kept Averie’s & breeding cages so nice to see. How long should I wait before removing the babies from their parents into their own cage? As the parents are quiet aggressive with each other.
I've had zebra finches, they were my first pets. The male and female had 5 eggs and 4 hatched, a month after the male killed one of the babies, plucked out the second pair of eggs, and plucked out every single feather of the female. We let them free so they didn't have to suffer.
Mine once acclimatized can withstand below freezing temperatures and snowy conditions as long as they can get out of the moisture and away from the cold drafts.
Do Zebra Finchs sit on their eggs? If so do they do so when they lay their eggs or when its close to hatching? Btw im a new finch owner and my finch laid two eggs, but sadly one cracked. They won't go back into their house, what should I do?
Yes they do sit on their eggs. It;s important to not disturb them if possible while laying/sitting on their eggs so that they don't abandon the nest. Unfortunately cracked eggs will happen. But they will typically lay one egg a day up to about 5 eggs and after about the 3-4th egg laid they will start to sit regularly and incubate the eggs.
Did say you live in Utah? Do you know anyone who wants some zebra finches I live slc area, my dad passed away last Thursday. He had some zebra finches just with everything going don't much time find them a home and my cat keeps trying eat them. Let me know if you know anyone.
I bought my mother a young gouldian finch for her birthday and he is just starting too get his colors. I long does it takes for him too get its full colors?
The zebra finch is a Australian bird there is no English zebra finch there found inland of Australia just like they call some Gouldian finches as European yellows no such a thing it's another Australian bird found no where else but Australia
It is similar for here too. I try to find zebras that are a little different in color or size so that they are easier to sell. I don't buy normal zebras for that reason.
@@kathyburns3135 What type of finches do you have? Sometimes the living room has i high flow of people traffic and the birds may not feel safe or secure to breed in that area.
My avairy is mainly finches Zebras and Javas, I find that they can be protective of nests but, most wild birds too. I have never seen a Zebra kill of harm another other than a bit of beak fencing. I have protective birds and passive ones too. The Javas don't seem to bother the Zebras and vice versa.
It can all depend on the birds and the set up. I have had zebras that were aggressive towards other finches and even taking over their nests. But in the other hand I have also had zebras and Java’s that have been very calm to all of the birds and have bred without any aggression at all. I think it is better to play it safe to prevent any potential aggression issues if you can just to keep the peace in the aviary.
Hey. I bought 2 males. After they grew they started fighting (one is agressive and the other one is docile). Yesterday I bought a female, which is still a juvenile. The agressive male became more agressive, chasing the new one and attacking her continuosly. They have two waterspots, two food spots and two nests. What do you recommend doing? I'm concerned the agressive male could kill my new younger female...
@@birdnerd I plan to have a 8x1x1.5 feet cage inside the aviary that is 20x4 feet. I'll cover the cage with plastic sheet in winters (with some ventilation of course) with a 3 inch opening for birds to fly out into the cold aviary (35deg F minimum) if they like to. I'll be heating just the cage not the aviary. Do you feel this is going to work?