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First Time Breeding Exhibition Zebra Finches

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mark1e

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Hope you all enjoy as much as i did writing it :D

First ever time with Breeding Exhibition Zebra Finches

First acquired some birds in Oct/Nov 2010 advertising for breeding stock to start of with as a total beginner with Exhibition Zebra finches.

I was very lucky with a top Zebra breeder only living few miles away he replied to my advertisement telling me he had some birds I might be interested in to start of with.

Turned up at there house I was stunned buy the size of these birds never ever seen Zebra finches this size before colours they where out standing shape & type, After being there for 1 1/2 hours talking getting to know few things about breeding different colours together well it was time for me to get home myself with few boxes of birds this is where it all started when I got home I couldn’t wait.

The colours I acquired was 3 pairs Normal, 2 pair CFWs, 2 pair Fawns, Normal Lightback cock, Cream Lightback hen.

February came & it was time to start my first ever Exhibition Zebra finch Breeding program as by now all birds where at breeding age.

There was 7 pairs I had put together to start of with & with in 6/7 days had my first eggs had been laid within the next week I had 5 nest of eggs over the moon, couple of the pairs where very slow at breeding didn’t under stand why so of I went on my computer asking all I could about reason being how this could be with chatting to persons on couple zebra finch websites, Talking to some top breeders I didn’t realize how awkward these zebras can be.

Anyway after couple more weeks went by it was time for Stafford bird show in march on getting there I picked up some Creams I had ordered and some more Fawns over the moon that I had got some Dilute Creams I had been after these for several months, Being at the show I was talking to people on the ZFS stand very under standing persons and I had right good chin wag with some champion breeders there learning & listening & took it all in, it was the best time I had going to the show.

On returning home again these birds where put in separate part of bird room away from others for two weeks isolation.

After the two weeks time came to pair these pairs up also so now in total I had 15 pairs on the go at same time several weeks went buy and there were cage’s full of young birds mostly by now on the sticks,

I kept the young with their parents for 2 weeks some a little longer until I noticed them feeding them self’s properly,

Not realising how much room these young took up there I was building some more inside flights to accommodate them all.

Total number off young for first brood was 53 not bad for first time in the Zebra Finch World.

Now it was time for the Adult pairs to go on down again within days of putting back up nest box’s there was eggs all over the place,

Don’t know why but some had started laying on the floor of the cage very puzzled I was as for last time they laid straight in next box this time here there and every where! Why I ask myself so back on bird forum I went asking away reading lots of things why this could be, reading and taking in all that I had read learning about how lot of birds can alter there breeding behaviour and pattern wanting to nest in different places,

They don’t want same nest place every time funny how these birds realise what they want and if they don’t get it wow don’t I know about it,

Some breeding cage’s had 3 nest box’s up one on floor of the cage and one sat on perch other hung outside cage.

The second round was not quite as good as first one also I had

Only used 13 pair this time and there was a bit off swapping eggs about Reason being some this time where not fertile but there last young they had brought up did well so I had switched some eggs around under them and in the end I got quite confused and forgot where I had the put eggs in from certain pair.

The outcome was how the heck did they produce these colours as I know this couldn't happen realising in the end that I had swapped eggs around from another pairing stupid me this happened on couple pairs swapping about eggs,

Sorted in the end though with me head in bits baffled and the outcome of the second brood in Total was 39 so over all two brood produced 92 Now I think that personally is very good.

Now looking at all I have bred this season with great thought and enthusiasm looking and watching observing all the birds I had bred I come to conclusion that the birds I have bred I have made my mind up on what colours I would like to keep for my next years breeding season.

Fawns,

Normal Grey’s

Creams,

Normal LightBacks,

Cream LightBacks

So all of the rest I Advertised and sold on to other breeders which I must say snapped my hand off after they had seen them at my place they went like Zoom they where gone,

Scratching my head I thought stupid me should of Asked some thoughts of other people from forum first if they where any good in shape or type first put one learns from one’s mistakes!!.

Now the time has come for observing my birds again for training some up for show bench have I made the right move keeping those colours I love to see in my flights and cage’s,

What I did is posted some pictures of my Creams buy the way these are my favourite colours I posted some on the web sites across the net ZFS and zebra finch forum UK.

I have had that many replies saying get those bird on the show bench well now I was confused,

Looking at all of the Creams I did notice that there was a big difference in colours between them this I was confused about trying to match up Creams well this was difficult there are so many variations in shade of colour.

Well in the end I tried putting birds together No way did they match up different shape types well my head was in bits well confused about this pairing up!

I had 20 Odd birds to go though ( Creams ) some where in moult some looking good in size some ok in type and shape,

Well I had 4 weeks left to sort some out thought I may have 4 pair but come the show time I had one pair off Creams and one pair off fawns to take to the show I was bit disheartened really put this was the outcome of my year of breeding Exhibition Zebra finches.

On going to my first ever Zebra Finch Show for the first time wow I was getting nervous, myself and good friend was going to Carlisle the evening before the show staying in B&B as this was good distance to travel in one day there and Back so we enjoyed the night life there well there was a pub right next to B&B sorted me anyway couple drinks I needed it,

We was very lucky that the accommodation we stayed in did allow birds there and catered for loads of bird clubs which we didn't know at the time off booking rooms,

Anyway on the morning of the show the Scottish & Northern Counties ZFS show,

well we got up had our breakfast went into the holding room where our birds had been kept over night well there was feathers all over the place seed every where, Thinking shall we make quick exit No right behind us was well you guessed it What’s up he said sorry about mess in here he said don’t even think about it mate he said I get it all the time with bird clubs staying here hope you enjoyed your stay Well this was going to be good day.

Now is the time to find the show hall only 1 mile away from where we was staying got there well my heart was Beating nerves well soon as we got there on car park I saw someone I knew nerves settled a bit, unloaded the boot of car walking down to the show hall I didn’t want anyone to see what I had in my box’s shy I think,

Anyway this is it time for booking in my birds stewards did their thing and now was time to try and relax we had had 4 hours to kill,

Still quite nervous walking around and talking to other breeders really settled me down and in end settled down after while this being my first show showing.

To my surprise out of the blue came someone and asked am I the person that had put pictures of my birds on the web site not knowing who he was I said it was me well I couldn’t believe it when he said I would like to buy quite a few of your birds next years season as he like’s the birds I bred of what he has seen, Found out he is a champion breeder who wants to start again with Creams and this was not just one person well things started me of again with nerves.

Anyway the judging has finished I walked in the hall wow the first pair of mine I walked up to had Second place Card on them this was my fawns, Next I went to my creams 1st place Card, plus colour award Card Best Novice Creams over the Moon.

Well this was not the end yet I also got few Pounds in prize money plus I got £10 for Novice Breeder travelling Fairest to show, and I won on the raffle.

Best Ever Day And Year For Breeding Zebra Finches

Cheers all mark1e

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I know this is a couple of years old but im fairly new here so just reading through. That's brilliant. I loved reading that. I keep thinking about breeding a few for the bench and I end up talking myself out if it but I think you've given me the push I needed.

Thanks for writing that

Dan

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