A crazy idea just popped into my head...

FlyBirdiesFly

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I’ve been watching YouTube videos of cockatiels lately, and I’ve noticed something: all the males do similar things. They strut, whistle, do heart wings, and bang their beak on things. I’ve never seen Ducky do any of these behaviors. What if he’s not male? The pet store told me he was male before I took him home. I’ve never questioned it, I’ve always just known him as male and never thought anything of it. And come to think of it, he’s also very quiet. Males tend to be more vocal and act like show-offs. And Ducky has faint yellow spots on his back and flight feathers. All this time, I could have been labeling Ducky wrong! Cockatiel experts, please help. Ducky is my baby who I’ve known for two years, I just can’t bring myself to say “she” instead of “he” if Ducky is indeed a female. Below is a picture of one of Ducky’s molted flight feathers, from today. What do you think?

flybirdiesfly-albums-my-flock-picture19317-image.jpg
 
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FlyBirdiesFly

FlyBirdiesFly

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Here is a pic of Ducky’s back and the side of his wing:

flybirdiesfly-albums-my-flock-picture19318-b5692372-a3aa-4068-9204-264363aa0bdf.jpeg


flybirdiesfly-albums-my-flock-picture19319-49401cac-7c3e-44b7-9f6f-c4a00f9f3651.jpeg


I think he is a lutino pearl mutation, because if you look closely, you can see yellow spots.
 

texsize

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Ducky looks identical to my Angel. Angel is a She.
From what I have read 75% of Lutino's are female so Ducky is 75% female and 25% male. LOL
 

wrench13

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Hey, Ducky is a boy until he lays an egg. At that point he will be a natural wonder - a male that lays eggs!
 

AmyMyBlueFront

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And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
The only cockatiel I'm familiar with is the "normal greys" like my little beebs,and he is definitely a he :D coz his face turned almost all yellow..If I saw your Ducky in a pet shop I'd say "she" was a "he" just because I'm not an experienced teil parront :confused:

As for the he/she thing...I "assumed" Amy was a she..imagine my :eek: after 25 years when I decided to get "her" DNA'd and found out Amy is really AMOS :p
He has been called Amy for so long,and referred as a she, I just can't bring myself to refer her/him as a him :confused: Amy doesn't mind though and I doubt Ducky would either ;)



Jim
 
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FlyBirdiesFly

FlyBirdiesFly

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Jim, I cannot imagine having a bird for 25 years and suddenly finding out that you’ve been referring to your bird as the opposite gender. But now I’m worried now that Ducky will begin to lay eggs. Female cockatiels seem to be prone to egg binding and chronic egg laying issues. In a way, though, I’m kind of relieved that I now know for sure, and I don’t have to wonder anymore. Ducky will remain a “he” :)
 
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texsize

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I have had 2 cockatiels that layed infernal eggs.

in one case it was due to my Son petting the bird on the back and stimulating her without knowing. since then she layed 2 clutches of fertile eggs without problems. Because we don't want more babies she was separated from the male Tiel. no more eggs.

The second case is more complicated. she started laying 2 weeks after I bought her (at a yard sale). I thought I was going to have babies but the female in question had to be put to sleep due to a brain tumor.

I still have 4 female Tiels and have not had any infertile eggs.

I have seen Sunny (mother of the 2 clutches) self stimulating herself by letting a hanging toy rub on her back. even with that she has not layed any eggs.

I don't think the danger is too great so long as you avoid petting the bird on the back or under the wings.

texsize
 

SilverSage

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I recommend a DNA test but yes, most visual lutinos AND most visual pearls are female. Why, because in both of those mutations, males need two copies of the gene and females only need one. But a DNA test is cheap, easy, and can tell you for sure. Avian Biotech in the USA, Health Gene in Canada, and I’m not sure about other countries.

Also, if you are concerned about egg binding, please read the following article.

http://www.silversageaviaries.com/handlinghormones/


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YUMgrinder

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my experience is with normal greys and I'd say from the yellow head its a bay but I think that rule only applies to normals? I thought my jazz was female till I did a dna test, it was like 20 bucks I would suggest doing that. My male isn't as vocal as the internet says they are, he only mimics words every once in a while and it's really only mimicking my tone. "ba-by biiiird" is one but it sounds like he is singing it not saying it if that makes sense. Lately he would try "gimme kiss" but it's really hard to make it out. He whistles like crazy though. Now, I suspected he was a boy cause of his mannerisms, he does the heart shaped strut when out with the other birds and taps his beak on things. Boy or girl, he/she is beautiful!! I still refer to mine as a she from time to time. I can't seem to call him a boy after all this time I thought he was a girl lol.

Also, I used avian biotech for dna testing and was happy with the process and pricing. Fast results too.
 

ParrotLover2001

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my experience is with normal greys and I'd say from the yellow head its a bay but I think that rule only applies to normals?


The yellow head still applies with lutinos. A full, bright yellow facial mask means male, like other mutations. A partial, yellow facial mask is female.

Not all females will lay eggs.

Since this bird is a pearl, it is female. Males loss their pearls after a year of age.
The bird doesn't care if you refer to it as a he or she, they don't know what those words mean.
I call Jordan a female but I don't know her gender. I called Clicky male for 3 years before figuring out he was a female.



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Kiwibird

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Except for the purposes of breeding or if you have a female who becomes a chronic egg layer, the gender of a pet parrot is pretty irrelevant. They don't care if you call them "he" or "she" or give them a girl or boy name contrary to their actual gender. Parrots have no concept of anything of that sort. We were told Kiwi was supposedly tested some point as a male (and has displayed male mating behaviors). I've never bothered getting him tested myself to confirm because I simply don't care if he's "really" a boy or a girl parrot. I don't plan to breed him and so far no eggs, so it's a waste of money IMO. I wouldn't be concerned about eggs unless your bird starts laying them or shows symptoms of being egg bound. Beyond familiarizing yourself with the symptoms of egg binding (knowing teils are prone to it) I see no reason beyond your own curiosity to get her DNA tested to confirm gender.
 

SilverSage

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Not all males lose their pearls, actually. And female lutinos still have a bright yellow face mask. But as has been said the bird doesn’t care what you call them. I like to know in case of veterinary emergency though.


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AmyMyBlueFront

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And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
Not all males lose their pearls, actually. And female lutinos still have a bright yellow face mask. But as has been said the bird doesn’t care what you call them. I like to know in case of veterinary emergency though.


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That was my thoughts exactly with Amy..curiousity...I had my suspicions because she never laid eggs..I just wanted to know!:)



Jim
 

texsize

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Here is a pic of my angel and I am as sure as I can be without a DNA test the she is Female

Amgle_12-9-17 by wes mcfaden, on Flickr
 

smbrds

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Angel is a pretty bird.

I know that some birds are sexually dimorphic and only way to know is from DNA testing.
In the case with normal greys was pretty sure after around 6 months or so to tell male or female. Normal greys are easy to tell apart once they mature. When Baby was younger I thought he was female until he started his molt.
 
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