Zebra finch

The beautiful plumage, quirky song and antics of the zebra finch have earned these
delightful birds the status of being among the worlds most popular pet birds. Zebra
finches are admired and kept throughout the world. They are easy to keep, hardy and
well suited to any home environment. They require little space, however as with any bird
they enjoy having space to fly.
Zebra finches are good pet birds for all ages but are especially appealing to older people
as they provide lively color and song to the home. They are an excellent starter bird for
children and especially young aviculturists who want to learn first hand about breeding
birds. They are constantly active hopping and flitting around the cage making a very
pleasant squeaking call sounding much like a toy trumpet.
They can be kept in groups in aviaries and even get along well with other species of
similar sized birds. They are especially attractive when housed in planted aviaries. When
nesting however they may become aggressive to other weaker finch species. Zebra
finches are pets for people who will admire them in their cage. Although they are highly
domesticated they are not typically hand tamed and do not like handling.
The wild type zebra finch is a beautiful little bird and clearly dimorphic so sexing is not a
problem. Both sexes have slate gray upper parts with a white belly. A black stripe
extends down the cheek from the eye with a white bar between the stripe and the beak.
The beak and feet are red. The tail is black with white bars. The male is distinguished by
several other distinctive markings that are absent in the female. From the throat to the
upper chest he is gray with distinct black bars ending with a strong black band across the
upper chest. He also has large round chestnut ear patches and chestnut patches on the
flanks with white spots.
Numerous color mutations have been developed over the years. Most of these mutations
are dilution of the wild type coloration. They include silver, fawn, white, chestnut
flanked white, cream, penguin and pied. Birds showing multiple mutations are also
available. Crested birds are available in several colors. Pure white zebra finches can still
be sexed by the intensity of beak color. The beak of the male is a deeper red than the
female. They can also be sexed by behavior, as the male is most likely to sing. Young
birds resemble females until they undergo their first molt at about 3 months of age.
Poephila guttata is the zebra finchs more modern scientific name updated from
Taeniopygia guttata castanotis Two subspecies of Zebra finches have been described.
The very common subspecies (T.g. castanotis) is found throughout most of Australia
especially the interior. The less common subspecies (T.g. guttata) is found on some
Indonesian Islands including Sumba, Flores and Timor. This male of this subspecies
differs from castanotis in being more silver gray and having less distinct throat and chest
barring.

Wild zebra finches inhabit open grassland with trees and low bushes, or near human
settlements. They need to be close to water so they re usually found near small rivers,
ponds and streams as well as sheep and cattle water troughs. They are highly social and
stay in flocks, even when breeding. They prefer dense thorn bushes for nesting; often
building several nests close together or adjacent to each other. They build a rather untidy
nest of dry grasses. If climatic conditions are favorable they will nest almost year round
but do not breed in a drought.
Earliest records of Zebra finches in captivity date to a German scientist who studied them
in the wild in Australia for a year them brought them home to Germany in 1805. By
1872 they were bred routinely in Europe. The earliest documented color mutation is the
white zebra finch bred in Australia in the early 1920s.
When buying a zebra finch look for a bird which is active and lively. Zebra finches are
usually sold in pairs and should be kept as pairs for their social well-being. Catch the
zebra finch and cup it in your hand to feel its chest. If the keel bone is prominent it may
be too thin. Hold the bird to your ear and listen for clicking respiratory sounds that may
indicate respiratory disease.
Weighing in at only 10-16 gm the 4 inches (10 cm) long zebra finch is the smallest of the
highly domesticated pet bird species.

Diet and Feeding

Zebra finches are granivorous by nature feeding primarily on grass seeds. Classical zebra
finch diets have been seed diets consisting of a mixture of mixed millet seeds, and canary
seed but they can also be offered rapeseed, dehusked oats, niger, linseed, hemp, lettuce
and other small seeds. Rape is high in protein and beneficial oils. Canary seed and
millets are high in carbohydrates.
Kaytee manufactures small pelleted (extruded) diets for canaries and finches which
provide balanced nutrition in every bite. These can be substituted for seeds and seeds can
be given as treats.
Zebra finches should also be offered small mounts of fresh dark green leafy vegetables
such as romaine, endive, spinach, watercress and dandelion greens. They also enjoy tiny
slices of apple, grapes, melons, or sprouts. These fresh foods are relished by zebra
finches, which have been introduced to them especially at a young age. Boiled eggs or
commercial egg food are excellent for young and breeding zebra finches but care must be
taken in avoiding contamination, leaving moist foods in the cage too long.
If your zebra finch is fed a seed diet vitamin supplementation is needed. Ideally vitamins
should be added to soft foods such as egg food and a soft bread mix. Vitamins can be
provided in the water but the bowl or water bottle must be washed daily to prevent

bacterial over-growth. Vitamin supplementation is not necessary if the bird eats a

pelleted diet.
Zebra finches have historically been given grit however contrary to popular belief zebra
finches do not require grit. They will consume it and if they are in good health it will not
harm them but if they dont feel well them may eat too much resulting in an impaction.
A recent scientific study demonstrated that grit consumption in canaries is not essential or
even clearly beneficial. Mineral grit which contains digestible minerals may however but
an important source of minerals if the birds otherwise do not receive adequate minerals in
the diet.
Zebra finches must have fresh water daily and can die if water is withheld for 24 hours.
Housing
Zebra finches are small but they are very active and should be given plenty of room to
move around their cage. They should have at least 2 perches far enough apart to jump or
fly between. Cage size for a pair should be at least 14 inches square. Bars are often
vertical for zebra finch cages.
The floor of the cage should ideally be lined with paper, newspaper or craft paper. Sheets
of paper cut to the size of the cage floor make daily paper changing easy. Make it a habit
to look at the stools of your bird every day when changing the paper. This is an excellent
way to monitor its health. If your zebra finch is eating seeds the feces should look like a
small dark round dot or string (the feces) with a smaller white spot (the urates or solid
urine) on top. If he is eating pellets the feces will be slightly more bulky and may contain
colors from the pellets, which pass harmlessly through the digestive tract. Some colors
may also show up in the urates. If you feed fruits, greens or vegetables they can also
make the stools more bulky and liquid. Stop feeding these food and the feces should
return to the more typical appearance.
The cage should be placed so it is not directly below an air conditioning vent, or in a
direct sunlight fro a window, but should be in an area of the home where there is much
activity. Zebra finches are very susceptible to air-borne toxins. If you keep your zebra
finch in the kitchen, always be aware of the dangers of Teflon poisoning, cleaning
chemicals, oven cleaners. (Teflon poisoning occurs when a Teflon pot or pan is
overheated, not during normal cooking temperatures).
Grooming - Zebra finches love baths and small bird baths can be purchased that will fit
into the door of a standard zebra finch cage. This can be filled with luke warm water.
Allow the bird to enter as he chooses. Zebra finches can also be offered a shallow bowl
of water in the floor of the cage. They should be allowed to bathe twice weekly to
maintain excellent plumage.
Wing clipping is uncommon for zebra finches as they are not usually handled. If you do
choose to let your bird fly in the house however there are safely concerns. Accidents are

often associated with ceiling fans, birds falling into open toilets, swimming pools, pots on
the stove, etc. Escapes can also happen very quickly when a door is suddenly opened and
the bird becomes startled and flies out.
Nails should be kept an appropriate length, as overgrown nails can be a hazard as well.
They can be clipped with fingernail clippers watching for the quick (vein) inside the nail.
Since a zebra finch's nails are white the vein can be seen easily and the nail should be
clipped a little bit past the vein. In case a nail bleeds after it is cut, you can stop the
bleeding by application of quick stop. If no such product is available you can stick the
nail into a bar of soap, apply flour or cornstarch or you can light a match, blow it out and
cauterize the nail on the hot head of the match. Because of their small size control of
bleeding is important.
Zebra finches are often identified by a leg band by the breeder. These bands often show
the hatch year and code of the breeder. They may also indicate the family of the zebra
finch. If well fitted they represent negligible risk but may help you to retrieve your bird
if it is lost.
Breeding
Zebra finches are typically easy to bred and a pair will breed and raise their babies in the
home. Breeding season is usually in the spring (March to July) in North America. They
are usually reliable breeders, however some individual pairs will not be and may burry
eggs, throw eggs from the nest or not care for chicks properly.
Breeding zebra finches in pair cages is ideal however they can be bred in aviaries.
Breeding in cages gives better production and control of pairings. If you are breeding for
specific colors pair breeding is required. Breeding is a large aviary housing several pairs
requires less work, however the results are usually not as good.
The breeding cage should be larger than a single pet cage. The classic breeding cage size
is approximately 24 inches long, 14 inches tall and 10 inches wide. The standard canary
breeding cage is a good choice. They are usually constructed so a partition can be slid
into the cage to separate the male from the female. Zebra finch pairs are not usually
separated as the male helps the female raise the chicks. Zebra finches build a nest in a
half-open basket hung on the side of the breeding cage. Baskets can be purchased in pet
shops and are usually about 4 - 6 inches long. Small wooden finch boxes could also be
used. If breeding in an aviary scatter the boxes or baskets and provide approx 2 boxes
per pair to prevent quarreling over nest sites. Nests should be placed so they can be
inspected without too much disturbance. Provide building materials such as dry grasses,
moss, cow hair, or unraveled cut hemp rope, which should be placed on the floor of the
cage or aviary. Pet shops often sell boxes of short strings, which can be given to zebra
finches for nest building. Make sure strings are short so the birds and chicks wont
become entangled in the string.

A few days after mating the hen begins to lay and will lay 4-6 eggs. Most eggs are 1day
apart usually laid in the morning. She usually starts to incubate with the first or second
eggs. There can be quite a size difference between the oldest and youngest chicks in the
clutch. For that reason some chicks may be lost if they are too small to compete with
their siblings. For this reason some breeders foster of move eggs or chicks among pairs
to give each hen a reasonable number of chicks or roughly the same age. The incubation
period is 12-13 days.
Provide plenty of food for the pair to feed their young, especially egg foods and some
fresh greens. Sprouted or germinated seeds are also relished. Both parents share in caring
for the young. The chicks can be banded at 8-10 days of age. Serious breeders use these
leg bands to maintain genealogical records to assist in breeding for desired traits. The
chicks usually leave the nest when about 3 weeks old but are still fed by their parents for
a few more weeks. During this time the hen may start preparing for the next brood. It is
generally recommended that the pair be limited to 2-3 broods in a season to prevent
exhaustion. The adults can then be placed in large flock flights, separated by sex, to
regain condition for the next season. Reducing the photoperiod (reduce to around 10
hours of light daily) will also help to shut them down.
When the young birds are independent they should be removed to a large flight cage with
other young birds until they undergo their first molt at about 6 months of age. The molt
lasts about 6 weeks and during this time the birds will be less active and usually wont
sing. They require excellent nutrition and extra vitamins to enhance feather regeneration.
After molting the young birds should be sexed and separated into aviaries by sex.
Diseases
Bacterial infections, especially Campylobacter- can cause intestinal disease.
Yeast infection in the intestines can cause weight loss and poor digestion.
Cochlosoma is a flagellated protozoon, which is often carried by society finches. If zebra
finch chicks are raised by or with Society finches they may become infected.
Atoxoplasmosis A common disease of canaries, this disease is occasionally found in
zebra finches. Caused by a coccidian (protozoa) called Isospora serini, this parasitic
disease of young birds (2-9 months) affects the intestines and liver and can result in high
mortality. It is diagnosed by fecal examination.
Coccidiosis A similar organism (Isospora canaria), which also produces intestinal
disease and diarrhea.
Trichomonas flagellated protozoa that infests the crop causing regurgitation, respiratory
symptoms and emaciation.

Liver disease Probably associated most often with poor nutrition or bacterial infections,
however can also be associated with many other disease processes.
Lice and mites Uncommon on pet zebra finches but may be a problem in breeding
aviaries.
Dont allow your zebra finch to have un-supervised freedom in the home. Other family
pets such as cats & dogs often kill pet zebra finches. They also often succumb to
household hazards and toxins and are particularly sensitive to air-borne toxins. Beware
of carpet cleaners, scented candles and Teflon poisoning.
Ideally your pet zebra finch should have a yearly examination by a veterinarian to help it
live to its potential. Zebra finches can live up to 8-10 years with good nutrition and care.