Aussie Finch Forum

My first baby painteds left the nest today, 4 of them. They are on the ground now in a plastic pot with a side cut out full of swamp grass. One has a lot of red on his chest where the others have none or very little would he be male and the rest female or is it to young to tell. How long to colour up and when to put them in a holding aviary. Thanks

I think your coloured youngster would just be very early with its moult. A good trait to have. The others may just do their change normally and could be both cocks and hens.
I always looked for red around the throat area to determine cockbirds while they were still going through the moult.
I never found it a necessity to put the young in a holding aviary as they didnt seem to bother the parents on their next round of babies or vice versa.

I've just had my first Painted Finches leave the nest as well - thanks for the advice.