Various Finches & the time to complete their First Moult.

[Aussie_Bengo]

Hi All,

I wanted to get a general idea as to which Finches are the quickest to complete their Adult moult through to which are the slowest. I realize that Zebs are likely to be top of the list (around 3 Months) but if anyone can fill in the gaps following it would be appreciated. I hear that some Australian Finches like the Gouldian have a relation ship with the falling of Summer but even then if anyone could shine some light on this it would be appreciated. Alternatively if there is a previous post I have overlooked in regards to this then please point me towards it.

Thanks.

[finches247]

Cut Throats are the quickest to colour up.

[Aussie_Bengo]

Cut Throats are the quickest to colour up.

Thanks!
How long roughly from hatching?

[BlackCobra]

Cut Throats are the quickest to colour up.

lol cutthroats can be sexed in the nest they color so fast.

[BlackCobra]

Hi Aussie Bengo
I found the white & black headed nuns one of the slowest to colour up, actually I think all Nuns that I have had do the same.

[Craig52]

That's very true BC,in fact it's one of the reasons why they come in and out of vogue.They take so long to colour up and sex to sell, breeders get rid of them and go onto something else.It's like a 3-4 year cycle in either the BH,TC,and WH nuns,in 3 years there's lots around and in another 3 years there's none and that's when everyone is chasing them.
One of the quickest finches to colour up are lesser redbrows,less than two months after fledging and will breed at 3 months old if you let them. Painteds are simmilar and will breed when coloured at 2-3 months.
My crimsons take around 4-5 months to colour up,but can be sexed in two months after leaving the nest,any red in places other than the cheek patches is guaranteed a cock. Craig HNY

[E Orix]

I have found Nuns that fledge early in the season can colour fully the same season.
I have just caught up some of this seasons young and they are at least over 1/2 coloured already.
Those that are bred late sometimes don't colour fully until well into the following season yet they
are fertile and will breed.
While it can be frustrating waiting for them to colour the thing people forget is
The slower the colouring/maturing the longer they will live and breed.

[BlackCobra]

I have found Nuns that fledge early in the season can colour fully the same season.
I have just caught up some of this seasons young and they are at least over 1/2 coloured already.
Those that are bred late sometimes don't colour fully until well into the following season yet they
are fertile and will breed.
While it can be frustrating waiting for them to colour the thing people forget is
The slower the colouring/maturing the longer they will live and breed.

Yes your right, but I stopped breeding them as a lot of the time when the dealer would come to get my babies the nuns would not be ready & I would have to hang onto them a lot longer & feed them a lot longer.
But I do miss the white headed nuns, there one of my favorites.

[E Orix]

I should have said the White Headed take longer than the Tri Coloured.
I had a heap of young White Headed Nuns here for ages,then when the people realised they were coloured up the were all after them.
Personally I think they are a great group of birds,like most Asiatic species they are in top feather for about 50 weeks of the year.
It's a shame that they will interbreed so easily with basically all other Munias.

[Aussie_Bengo]

Thanks for all your responses!

Are Diamonds similar to Painteds in this respect?

Also do Silverbills fall under the same category as WH, BH &TC time wise?

Thanks Again.