Zebra finches laying eggs in food dish

[Kimmycup1]

I've caught a glimpse at a few feedings(the babies are so loud when being fed so I've made sure to peek when I hear them) and it looks like mom is doing most of the feeding right now. So if needed, I will separate dad but they seem okay today. I can't wait to find out whether they are boys or girls so they can have proper names.

 

[Finchbreeder]

A Zebra finch is adult when the beak has fully changed colour. It's not plumage that shows maturity with these little ones.
Keeping my birds in avairies I don't have problems with the birds wanting the chicks to move on so they can do it all again. They just get on with it, and someone in the avairy helps foster the kids with dad while mum re sits. It is usually the cock who thinks round 2 is a good idea.

 

[Kimmycup1]

I meant adult plumage in terms of just knowing whether they are male or female. I've always thought of the older one as a girl, and the younger one I go back and forth between boy and girl, so I look forward to knowing their gender for sure

 

[Finchbreeder]

Aproximately 3 months of age. Some seem to be a bit quicker than others but. Like people I guess, all mature a bit different.

 

[Kimmycup1]

Both chicks are now officially eating on their own. Should I stop giving the hard boiled egg?

 

[Finchbreeder]

You can gradually reduce the amount until it is stopped.
Increasing the greens as you do, while watching that the greens intake is not sufficient to turn the poos green.
Do either of them have signs of cheek patches or chestnut under the wings?

 

[Kimmycup1]

I don't see signs of cheek patches yet, but the younger one might have color coming in under the wings, it's been hard to tell because his feathers are taking so long to fill in in that area. They just turned 5 weeks so I know it's a little early still

 

[Finchbreeder]

It is a bit early.
But I have had the rare chick that did show this early.
Like people, you get those that mature ahead of the rest, and the slow maturing one or two. But most conform to the norm.
So plenty of time for feather changes or not yet.

 

[Kimmycup1]

I'm 99% sure the younger one is male, so he must be an early bloomer. I am attaching pictures which honestly aren't the best, I will see if I can get better ones. The first picture is the oldest in front, younger in the middle and mom last. No sign of brown feathers on the older one, but I've always felt she was a girl. I will wait to name this one till they are older in case it does turn out to be a boy. The second picture is of the younger one who I think is the male. If you look closely, there is a little brown under the wing. There is a lot more color that the picture doesn't show, the feathers almost look like pin feathers that are slowly being released. Parents haven't fed them in days, and babies are doing great eating on their own, although the younger one still asks often to be fed.

 

[Kimmycup1]

Unfortunately the younger baby has passed away. It was very sudden, he seemed fine earlier. I've been spending a lot of time watching them the last couple days and I've seen him eat, but I haven't seen either baby drink. I saw the older baby heading towards a water dish yesterday when I walked in the room and spooked her so I hope she is drinking when I'm not around to see it. To be fair, I rarely see the parents drink either. The baby that passed seemed skinny(I was able to hold him for the first time, I wish it were under better circumstances) so I'm not sure what happened. If it was a genetic issue, if he wasn't eating enough on his own even though I've seen him eat all throughout the day, or if he was dehydrated because he hadn't figured out how to drink water yet. I feel bad that he had a short life and I wasn't able to help him.