How old is too old for a zebra finch to breed for the first time?

If the birds are passing from old age, there isn't much that can be done other than giving them a happy life. If you suspect there may be an illness causing it, then removing sick birds and having them examined by a vet is best, along with keeping them warm, eating, and drinking. Most finches live about 5 years, however this can vary depending on the individual.

This article will answer more of your questions but basically it is best to wait until they are 8 months old before breeding. https://www.petcoach.co/article/society-finch-species-profile-housing-diet-behavior/

Finches do best in pairs. Keeping them with budgies would not be recommended since they may get bullied. Finches also require longer cages that allow them to fly about, while budgies do fine in taller cages because the like to climb.

I'm sorry for the loss of your male finch. The female should be able to raise the chicks on her own. Make sure she always had fresh food and water. Keep her an the chicks warm and as stress free as possible. Once the chicks are eating on their own, you can separate them and introduce a new male if you want.

When zebra finches are all white it is sometimes hard to tell if they are male or female as they won't have the characteristic cheek markings, beak coloration or tail patterns. The two pictured look like they could possibly both be female, but it is hard to tell due to the distance from the camera and the lack of markings present (males will sometimes still have darker cheek areas, a stripe on the cheek, or a darker red beak). Males will also sing almost constantly that sounds quite different than regular chirping, and will also "tail waggle" when they are wanting to/attempting to mate with a female. If none of your birds are doing this, it is possible they are all female. Both males and females will show interest in nests and will go in them to sleep at night even if they aren't raising babies. If one is being left out, you can add in another nest or sleeping area to see if it helps.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The signs you describe are consistent with over grooming, likely from the other bird. This may be due to boredom or overly dominant nature of the cage mate. You can try to provide additional toys and perches in the cage, keep the light cycle in the room stable, and provide a nesting box. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

They could be too young (or too old) to breed. A hen should because least one year old. A younger hen will likely be too inexperienced to mate and raise chicks. Make sure they aren't "arguing". This can be a sign of incompatibility. Provide at least 12 hours of natural or simulated sunlight to encourage mating.