Leg rings

[malibu_birdie]

I have just been given a pair of charcoal zebs. Their previous owner has been unable to get them to breed (this may be because they were in a slightly overcrowded avairy with canarys and gouldians) so thought that I might have better luck with them. They have closed black rings - how old are they?

[Tintola]

Oh I was never much good at cryptic riddles! I give up. How old are they?

Also, Two seagulls were sitting on a perch, and one asked the other one "Can you smell fish?"

[djb78]

Malibu_birdie unless there is a year dated on the ring your guess is as good as mine, the colour of the ring means nothing to anybody but the breeder.

[AMCA26]

The colour of the rings tells the breeders the year as well. 2011 Purple, 2010 Blue, 2009-2008 i think Red and Black. Beyond that i am unsure.

[rip64]

AMCA26 is that just a Zebra Finch club thing with colour refering to year as a visual guide ??

[natamambo]

The colours only apply to years if they are bought from a registered club by a club member. I wouldn't rely on them to age a bird without a year as most of the reputable ring sellers won't sell outside the current year except to clubs. However, there's still nothing to stop someone buying up big in a year and using leftovers the following year if they are not fussed about using the colour only the number, not ideal for the rest of us but I know it happened in the budgie scene when I was in it in the 80s.

[rip64]

On leg rings - is there a relatively simple formula/plan in leg rings if numbered rings are not used - I always get a bit lost after the third generation - I seem to go OK up to twin colour rings then their offsprings matings really confusses me - I then document colours and start again with single colour, surely there is a method ??Is it as simple as using numbered rings ??

[natamambo]

snip
?Is it as simple as using numbered rings ??

Yep, that's the way I go. Foolproof if you keep the records.

[malibu_birdie]

Tintola, why did you delete your comment? I had a good laugh over that, really brightened my day

So at this stage I will assume that the charcoals are 2-3 years old. They are very large finches and active, but they just don't look as healthy in general as my finches, ever so slightly fluffed up is how I would describe them. Would this be because of their age? Or should I treat them with something?

[vettepilot_6]

Tintola, why did you delete your comment? I had a good laugh over that, really brightened my day

So at this stage I will assume that the charcoals are 2-3 years old. They are very large finches and active, but they just don't look as healthy in general as my finches, ever so slightly fluffed up is how I would describe them. Would this be because of their age? Or should I treat them with something?

Have you had them in Quarrantine? or are they in Cage by themselves? Or have you just got them? Could be stress....need to know more before forum could answer you..