Seeing Double

[PickleMeDickles]

So, I have been a little hesitant in asking this (kind of embarrassed actually). I have one green cheeked (pickles) and 2 suns. I have had my Suns sexed and I have a male and female. They live together with no nest box, but are comfortable with family and will happily ride along well I work during the day. My problem is, I can't tell Winston from Lady unless they are out of their cage. Then it takes less than 30 seconds as their behavior and personalities are really different. I am a little frustrated about not being able to tell them apart while they are in their cage, as I would like to know who is doing what and eating what. They don't have leg identifiers. They are a few years old, so I'm not sure if it would be a bad idea to band them now, or does someone have any other ideas for identifying them? I have thought of dotting someone's head with food coloring...

 

[JBassset]

That'd be tough.

And that's why my two are so dramatically different in appearance. And I still get them mixed up!

 

[GaleriaGila]

I have only heard of one such situation... years ago, I knew of somebody in your position. They wound up clipping the very very tiniest end of the longest tail feathers... making it blunt instead of rounded... less than a quarter of an inch on the parrot (a mid size Amazon). It worked.

P.S.
Never be ashamed of a question, girlfriend! We've had conversations about how our birds "pleasure themselves" (lol) so anything goes here, if it helps us help our birds!

 

[PickleMeDickles]

Hi,
The tail feather thing is a great idea, I will have to see who is willing It is crazy how they both look identical. Same size, same beak, same "expression", same coloring, no major variations. I thought all Suns were identical until I joined this forum and saw everybody else's birds and how different their patterns or colors are. I usually know who is who as Winston ALWAYS flies to my head and Lady ALWAYS flies to my shoulder!

 

[GaleriaGila]

It certainly solved my friend's problem. I like it because I'd be paranoid about effects of food coloring, yes, even food coloring! Cuz the one who gets its head colored would surely be preened by the other, and... who knows?

 

[PickleMeDickles]

That was exactly my thought! And I would have to use blue to stand out, and I'm not sure what goes into blue food coloring. Plus, they both dunk their heads under water almost every day, so between preening and bathing, I think the tail thing is perfect! They even have the same voice, "okay" "are you okay, i', okay" "hi, hi, hi" "whatarudoin" amoung others. Such crazy birds!

 

[wrench13]

Spray paint one of them red.

 

[Kentuckienne]

Spray paint one of them red.

Looks like that Amazon sass is contagious.

 

[wrench13]

That wasn't me! it was Salty, I swear!

 

[GaleriaGila]

AMAZON SASS!

MODERATORS, MODERATORS, MOD--- uhhhh... ummm... nevermind...

 

[Kentuckienne]

AMAZON SASS!

MODERATORS, MODERATORS, MOD--- uhhhh... ummm... nevermind...

You got it! Click! Treat for Gail!