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My Thoughts on Breeding Fawn Zebras

My comments are definitely from past experience, as of recent years ( say the last 5 or 6, at least) I have concentrated more on the other varieties, including 2 that are new to me , namely Blackfronts and silvers/dilute blues.

As a result of this, predictably, my fawns have deteriorated to such an extent that the only way to resurrect them will be through introduction of new unrelated stock (thanks to Ron Weal and Peter Walsh for their assistance here, which is greatly appreciated.) This will, no doubt, be a slow and challenging process, no different really than starting from scratch.

Recalling the days when I did breed a lot of fawns, I can recall a few "key indicators" to consider when developing a stud of quality Normal Fawns:

Careful use of Normal split Fawn Cocks - obvious, but vital! Use the best quality Normal Greys you can when breeding splits for this program. The Greys used to produce your splits should be dark as possible in colour, with good feather characteristics. Ensure they are not carrying any other colour factors (see next point also);

Never use Slates, Dilutes, or the white varieties - (again, be sure for your splits!). I suggest Fawn X Fawn matings be limited to 2 consecutive breeding seasons max. i.e. revert to "split" matings in the third season if not more often;

Feather quality - good Fawns tend to be of a "silky" feather (whether they be buff or yellow feathered). Look for this attractive quality and enhance it to its maximum. In my experience, Fawn chicks take longer to fully develop than many other varieties (at least my line did) so give the chicks plenty of time to mature. Be patient!

Depth of colour in the tail, chest bar and side flanks is a sign you are on track for strong overall body colour;

Some of the best type and size Fawns are buffs, so don't discard them only on the basis of their colour being less strong than the yellow feathered birds. Be aware of the difference in feather types, and look at your whole stud of Fawns to evaluate how best to introduce good quality buff birds. (Hint: a top canary breeder is the best person to teach you about feather qualities);

Have a look at some really good quality Fawns: familiarise yourself with all the features. The best I've seen in Australia over the last years would be either Ron Weal's (Bathurst) or Paul Lockyer's (Perth). Have a look too at any photos of UK Fawns - great colour, not to mention the other obvious attractions.

Once established, a good line of Fawns can also be used to develop/strengthen other lovely varieties e.g.. Creams, Creambacked, Fawn Pied, etc., just to name a few.

My Final comments apply to all varieties - when searching out stock to start your breeding program, remember the "3 Golden rules":

Don't expect anyone to sell you their best birds, no matter how much money you offer them!;

Don't buy stock from "all and sundry" - choose carefully the breeders who have the style of bird you like the most, and limit the number of breeders you obtain birds from to only 2 or 3 initially;

Don't be in a hurry - developing a top quality stud of Zebras takes many years, and the people who have achieved this have done so through much patience, hard work and skill.

Good Luck,

Grant Bastin

Fawn Genetics

For those that are not aware of the genetics of the Fawn Zebra, the following can be useful when planning your breeding program. Fawn Zebras are sex-linked and the following pairings will give these results:

Fawn Cock X Fawn Hen = 100% Fawn Cocks and Hens

Fawn Cock X Grey Hen = Grey Cocks split for Fawn and Fawn Hens

Grey Cock X Fawn Hen = Grey Cocks split for Fawn and Grey Hens

Grey Cocks split for Fawn X Fawn Hens = 50% Fawn Hens and Cocks, 25% Grey Cocks split for Fawn, 25% Grey Hens