About Zebra Finch

The Zebra Finch is probably the second most popular domestic bird, right next to the budgerigar. Easy to maintain and breed, the Zebra Finch is advisable to beginners, but the innumerous color mutations are very attractive to experts.

Native from Australia, especially, in the arid part of the continent, the Zebra Finch is the most common Finch in the country.

Temperament  

The Finches are friendly birds that prefer the company of others of their kind. These curious little birds don´t appreciate the contact with humans. They are active birds that like to fly around in the aviary. Each finch has it´s own song, characterized by the repetition of small beeps. Females don’t have singing ability. 

Zebra Finch - Fertilized Vs. Fertile Eggs

It is very important when breeding zebra finch, to detect the fertile eggs as early as possible
that to prevent the pair from sitting on fertile eggs for a long time and at the end u dont get any babies.

What do u need ?
* a flash light
* and the eggs - it must be at least 5 days old

Try to get a flash light with a long hand

Then gently try to get the flash light inside the nest ( be carefull not to hit the eggs and corrupt them )

so if all the eggs are fertile ..  remove them to give the pair another chance to lay a new set of eggs

Note: zebra finches dont take care of less than 3 eggs
so it is really important to keep at least 3 eggs in the nest even if 1 or 2 of them are fertile

Zebra Finch Care

Zebra finches are fun and easy to have in your home.  They are a pleasure to view and their soft chirping is soothing.  Whether you want only one pair to keep you company or you want to be a breeder with many birds, Zebras are a joy.
Zebra Finches originate from Australia. Zebras live in open grasslands with some bushes and trees.  They live in dry areas over most of Australia.  They live in groups and eat mostly grass seeds.  They build their nests in bushes out of grass, straw, feathers and anything else they can find.  They lay 3-6 eggs and both parents participate in raising the young.  The currently accepted taxonomic nomenclature for the Zebra is "Taeniopygia guttata castanotis".
Zebra finches live to be 4-8 years of age.  I have heard of birds living to 10 and 12 years old, but I think this is rare.

Males: The normal male bird has a gray upper body and wings.  The belly is white.  The beak and legs are a red-orange color.  On each side of the head is a cheek patch.  There is a 'tear drop' mark under the eye.  This is a brown/tan/fawn color commonly called orange.  The flanks/sides of the bird just below the wings, is a chestnut (orange) colored area with white dots.  The chest is black and white stripped like a zebra, hence the name zebra finch.  A truly beautiful bird!
Females: The female also has a gray upper body and wings with a white belly.  The beak and legs are the same red-orange color but not as deep color, lighter.  She has a black 'tear drop' mark under the eye.  The most noticable differences between males and females are the cheek patches and the chest striping.