meet Angus..the last survivor of 3 baby cockatiels

This is Angus, the last survivor of his two late siblings, who passed away last week.
both siblings were stunted in growth, and had crop issues. I had both babies to the vets,in time, but it was not meant to be. both only weighed 16 grams
It was somewhat a relief to have them die, I just dreaded going in and hand feeding them when they were struggling, just waiting to them to close their eyes. it was such an emotional roller coaster.

It truly broke my heart near the end to watch them suffer.

But, Angus is doing quite well, although he is small just 45grams at 5 weeks of age, is gaining weight daily. I'm not sure how much more he will grow, or how healthy he will remain, but I am taking it day by day.

he is a pretty little thing, charcoal gray/black with yellow,(I'm not sure of the mutation, so I'm hoping someone will pop in and let me know)the flash washed out his darker feathers, he is quite a bit darker than in the pictures, and his flight feathers are jet black

.... he's my little buddy and I adore him.

IMG_1600_zpsdfaf8f88.jpg Photo by bmckellar735 | Photobucket

IMG_1603_zpsceb71535.jpg Photo by bmckellar735 | Photobucket

he is a pearl depending on the parents, you might be able to know his gender now

was mom the same colour? if not, then this baby is a girl! pearl is a sex linked mutation. females cannot be split pearl--they can only be visuals. meaning, they will only look pearl.

males however can be split, meaning they carry it hidden, or they can be visual.

so if mom does not look like this baby, then this baby is a girl


loooove baby cockatiels, they're like furry cute dinosaurs

DallyTsuka said:

he is a pearl depending on the parents, you might be able to know his gender now

was mom the same colour? if not, then this baby is a girl! pearl is a sex linked mutation. females cannot be split pearl--they can only be visuals. meaning, they will only look pearl.

males however can be split, meaning they carry it hidden, or they can be visual.

so if mom does not look like this baby, then this baby is a girl


loooove baby cockatiels, they're like furry cute dinosaurs

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thanks Dally, I thought it might be pearl.
Mom is a Lutino, and Dad is a Pied
these parents have produced, Lutinos, cinammon pearl, cinnamon pied, and now Angus, who is the darkest one out of the 5 clutches these parents have had

does mom have any darker yellow spots on her body?

DallyTsuka said:

does mom have any darker yellow spots on her body?

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No, she doesn't. under her wings are very faint white spots.I think she may be cinnamon fallow, and has red eyes
Dad is pied.
I have a few posts on the two parents and their suspected mutations.

then if mom has no spots, this baby is a girl, but i'd love to see photos of the parents

I'm sorry the other 2 chicks didn't make it, but at least Angus pulled through! He looks like a little fighter Cute name too.

Kiwibird said:

I'm sorry the other 2 chicks didn't make it, but at least Angus pulled through! He looks like a little fighter Cute name too.

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thanks Kiwi,we like the name, but he is now believed to be female, maybe we should change the name or should we leave it??

Eh, birds don't understand the differences between "gender specific" names. If Angus is a she, she will never know the difference. She will just recognize her family calls her "Angus" and respond to it. I've always though "Kiwi" was kind of a girly name, but he responded to it, so we kept it.

Can always call her Angie

I thought of that too!...but I still like Angus.
the name kind of reminded me of the black angus cow(I know that sounds funny), but she has a lot of black on her, so the name seemed fitting