Zebra finches laying eggs in food dish

[Finchbreeder]

He is a Gray normal (the original wild type colour) she looks like a silver or dilute. (they are hard to tell apart in photos) So both of those colours are likely, but he could be carrying a sex linked fawn gene - breeding like this is the only way to tell - so if you get a little fawn she will be a daughter. Can't see an odd white feather or toe so probably no pied genes. But there are still other recessives they could both be carrying.

 

[Kimmycup1]

He is a Gray normal (the original wild type colour) she looks like a silver or dilute. (they are hard to tell apart in photos) So both of those colours are likely, but he could be carrying a sex linked fawn gene - breeding like this is the only way to tell - so if you get a little fawn she will be a daughter. Can't see an odd white feather or toe so probably no pied genes. But there are still other recessives they could both be carrying.

Thank you for all the information! You have been so helpful. Both chicks are doing great, they're about a week and half old now. Since they grow so quickly, I want to be prepared for when they leave the nest. I know the parents will still be feeding them for several weeks, but once they start eating on their own, do they need anything special or just a regular diet like the adults?

 

[Finchbreeder]

Just keep feeding the Parents and chicks a good healthy seed mix with the addition of green seeding grasses. Cuttlebone is also good to supply.
They are ready for the seperation when their beaks are the same colour as mum and dad's.

 

[Kimmycup1]

Both chicks seem to have light colored beaks. Everything I've read says they should be black. They have the wing feathers in so far and both currently have dark feathers. Attaching a couple pictures of the darker chick, they're not the best, the babies are starting to stand more upright and stick their heads out a bit. Will hopefully get better pictures soon, I just thought it was interesting that they have light beaks instead of black

Just keep feeding the Parents and chicks a good healthy seed mix with the addition of green seeding grasses. Cuttlebone is also good to supply.
They are ready for the seperation when their beaks are the same colour as mum and dad's.

 

[Finchbreeder]

Bit soon to say if the beak colour means anything. I generally leave the parents to their job from the time I know they have all hatched (or not), till they are about a fortnight old and some colour feathers are showing. Your situation is a bit different due to their choice of nest. Look forward to update pics in a week.