James 5 Report post Posted August 21, 2013 Hi my name is James I am 26 years old and I recently have got into breeding zebra finches. I bought some from my local petshop and now I am hooked. I have since found birdtrader a useful site and my collection has grown. I now have normal grey, fawn, lightback, chestnut flanked white, pied, white, black cheeked, black breasted, penguin, and black breasted isabel (phaeo as I understand it)zebras and a few others some of which I've learnt are split. I acquired most of these birds through breeders of of birdtrader some of them may even be on here so if they are thanks to Derek for the pair of chestnut flanked whites and the 8 other cock birdI bought off you including 2 BC'S,2 G,1 BB,1 FBB, 1 F and 1 LB. To Ann in Basildon for the pair of phaeos.To Ann care of Mick for the trio of phaeos and the pair of penguins.And to Richard for the trio of black breasted's. I am also in the process of purchasing and acquiring a pair of creams and grey cheeked and fawn cheeked cock birds from mr Jon m Pope who I believe is a member of this forum so thanks in advance to him. I am from SW London and have travelled far and wide to get good unrelated birds to start. I am not a member of any zebra finch club or anything and I am joining this forum hoping to get advice about breeding zebras I am not interested in showing or anthing at the moment but would like to be able to breed show quality birds someday. I have been doing my research into the genetics behind breeding zebras and think I understand most things about sex linked recessive and dominant genes, just might need some help with a few things, firstly size and colour. I look forward to talking with you all, thanks for reading and hi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonmpope 52 Report post Posted August 21, 2013 Hi James Welcome to the forum. Cheers Jon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted August 21, 2013 Welcome to the forum James. Just ask anything you want to know and I'm sure you will get an answer very quickly, Lots of experts on this forum. Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zebraman 267 Report post Posted August 21, 2013 Hello James and welcome to the forum. Looks like you've got quite a collection of colours and types and I see you have met a few members already. Good luck with your breeding program. Gary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andyn 534 Report post Posted August 21, 2013 Welcome James, That's quite a collection you have already but expect it will get bigger. Ask away because the most stupid question is the one not asked. Enjoy!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedwaybaz 69 Report post Posted August 21, 2013 hi james,how big a set up do you have you have to many colours you will get overrun baz Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paulm 119 Report post Posted August 22, 2013 Hello and welcome to the forum. Paul. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dannyboy2012 63 Report post Posted August 22, 2013 Hello and welcome to the forum, James hope you find it very interesting and find out everything you want to know. Dan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
casamber 60 Report post Posted August 22, 2013 Hi James and welcome to the forum Kerry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James 5 Report post Posted August 22, 2013 Hi everyone thank you all for your warm welcomes its finally great to have some where I can talk and understand the same language when it comes to zebra finches most of my friends and family when I start talking about them look at me as if I have 2 heads lol. Baz in regards to your quiery as to my set up I am very lucky to have an aunt who has let me build an 8X8X4 foot aviary in her front room dont worry I havent plonked the aviary in a high traffic zone the front room is pretty cut off from the rest of the house and gets loads of light in through the massive windows it has which I also leave open quite a bit so I can get lots of fresh air in the room for them. I am also currently building breeding cages (my first real attempt at DIY) which are 17inches wide 14 high and 22 long but have designed them so there are 3 rows of 3 cages 9 cages in total and I have designed them with partition walls so the row can be turned into 1 big long cage, each cage also has the capability to have either a front or rear nestbox fully accessible, so hoping to finish them off within the next month . I wanted build the aviary outside but my aunt was very worried about cats and foxes because we get a lot in the garden. Any questions,opinions or advice regarding my set up please let me know? Oh and I dont plan to breed all the colours at the same time just a few till I get them where I want them to be then maybe change the mutations around. I just like the look of the different mutations and makes for interesting watching as I can sit and watch my zebs for hours. I plan for it to be a non-breeding aviary and only breed in the cages. May build more (or buy) breeding cages too depending on how well these turn out. Ok so essay over sorry it was so long still getting used to this and have so much to say and so many burning questions I want to ask. But thank you all again for your lovely words of welcome and ill get the hang of this soon and will stop writing essays. James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted August 22, 2013 James your 'Essays' are very interesting- keep them coming lol Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James 5 Report post Posted August 23, 2013 Thanks Emmy I'll try making them shorter in future but cant promise anything lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dannyboy2012 63 Report post Posted August 23, 2013 James, they essays are great, I get the feeling you get exciting writing them. I know what you mean when talking to people about birds I have the same thing with my fiancee's family they dont seam to understand. Any question just ask James loads off people on here too help. Dan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James 5 Report post Posted August 23, 2013 Thanks Dan I have loads but its tricky knowing where to post them not been part of a forum before and some of the questions I have could go in multiple categories lol :/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dannyboy2012 63 Report post Posted August 24, 2013 James just put it in any most people have a look and see what topic there interested in anyways, I know I do. Dan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
casamber 60 Report post Posted August 24, 2013 I can relate completely when it comes to family and friends... Mine all think i'm the crazy bird lady! The thing I hate the most is when they ask me why I have birds. Apparently, saying because I enjoy them is not a good enough answer! Luckily, I found this forum and made lots of friends that are the same Kerry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted August 25, 2013 The thing I hate the most is when they ask me why I have birds. Apparently, saying because I enjoy them is not a good enough answer I have been told by some people I'd be far better off having more 'human beings' for company -now that was some question! and like you Kerry Luckily, I found this forum and made lots of friends that are the same Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
casamber 60 Report post Posted August 28, 2013 I would choose a bird any day over a human! Those people just don't know what they are missing out on Kerry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
