THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fourth Series. —Vol. X.—No. 8 .—All rights reserved. AUGUST, 1932.



NOTES ON THE BREEDING OF THE

ZEBRA FINCH


By H. Jones


Many people seem to find this deservedly popular bird very difficult

to breed and these notes are a resume of instructions I have sent to

various fanciers who have been exasperated by their lack of success

in their breeding attempts.


Stock .—It is essential that the breeding stock should be equal as

regards sexes. If there are more hens than cocks there will be no

serious mating. Even one extra hen can upset an otherwise tranquil

aviary. The best matings are old cocks with young hens. Cocks are

the deciding factor in breeding, for 99 per cent of hens will lay, hatch,

and rear young ; some 20 per cent of cocks will not take marital duties

seriously. The moral is, when you have a good cock who will build

a nest, help to hatch and rear the youngsters, and continue to feed

them while the hen is busy with second nest, you must value him

like the good bird he is and stick to him. I have cocks now in their

fourth breeding season and their progeny are quite healthy and virile.


The more pairs one has, without overcrowding, the better will be

the results. Single pairs are very rarely successful. The cocks seem


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