My Female Zebra Finch has Stripes

29 Apr 2018, 20:37

One of my female Zebra Finches have faint stripes on her chest like a male. Is this normal?

29 Apr 2018, 21:20

Yes some hens carry faint bars on the chest. Craig

30 Apr 2018, 08:37

Craig if I was to exhibit this hen would this be considered a flaw?

30 Apr 2018, 09:11

I'm not sure, i don't know anything about showing Zeb's but it isn't the norm to have breast bars on normal hens. In some mutations it is the norm and some hens have faint check patches as well. Craig

30 Apr 2018, 10:08

I dont; show my Zebs but most show birds are supposed to have "clean" chests. I have about 25% with chest markings. I find that when you are breeding reds or black fronteds these hens are good to use. Red hens also have cheek markings.
LML

30 Apr 2018, 10:29

Charcoal hens have lacing on the front chest and Grizzles have flecking on the chest but no other mutation that is accepted by the Zebra Finch Federation Show Societies should have markings on the chest of hens.
Some breeders use these as breeders as they believe they will get better cocks from these hens. The markings on the chest of hens would generally be considered a show fault.
I am in the process of putting a Zebra website together and will have photos and standards for each of the recognised mutations. ZFSWA is putting forward this year that the Red Breasted Zebra be given interim status. SEQ zebra Finch Society has a website.

30 Apr 2018, 12:06

I think my hen is a normal grey zebra finch but now my other hen has a black stripe on her chest as well.

30 Apr 2018, 21:02

You look to have a fawn and a gray, the gray has a bit of a band. If you wish to show it matters. If you dont, just enjoy.
LML

22 Jun 2018, 10:07

Young Charcol fawn hen I have just had colour up has a band on. Never seen this on a charcol fawn hen before. But no doubt someone else has. She also has a white feather at the top edge of each wing, very balanced markings.
LML

23 Jun 2018, 17:08

finchbreeder wrote: 22 Jun 2018, 10:07 Young Charcol fawn hen I have just had colour up has a band on. Never seen this on a charcol fawn hen before. But no doubt someone else has. She also has a white feather at the top edge of each wing, very balanced markings.
LML

Sounds like the charcoal version of my fawn hen.