This is Elvis.

 

How old are they lildee? It can make a bit difference when sexing them. Juvenile tiels are all colored like females until after the second molt at around 8-12 months. After that, males start to show their adult colored plumage. Hens will keep the same coloring.

First, I dont really know how old they are. The previous owner just up and gave them to me free. I wasnt asking too many questions, because he is (was) an extemely welll respected breeder in the area and I had bought lovies from him before. I walked by and noticed thatr his flock had gone from what seemed like a hundred birds (tiels, lovies, pigeons, owls, etc) to maybe a dozen pigeons and no other birds. I asked him, he had to give them up for helath reasons and just said, "want four "young" tiels?" I said yes. He guessed at the genders withthe pearls being both hens and the males being greys. But he wasnt sure because of the age.

Second, I truly appreciate all of the support and advice from you guys and gals. I immediately went and removed any toys ( pins too) and stuff that wasnt 100% safe even if it brke. Now, my husband makes the yous in his woodshop, I soak them in a toy guard solution I bought at the pet store and we are still scrathcing our heads about gender, lol

How long have you had them? Is there ant way to contact this man you got them from and get a guess as to the age? If so, also ask him what colors the parents are/were if he knows. It does make a difference. What color the parents are and what genes they carry governs what color the babies are. For instance: if the father was a Pearly and the mother was Normal Grey, all males will be Normal Grey and all females will be Pearly. If you breed 2 Pied, you will get all Pied babies. (These are a very simple pairing. the more genes you bring in, the more difficult it can get. A lot is still beyond me. I just have a little of the basic on cockatiel genetics and still learning.)

 

Just by looking at the pictures and making a guess, I'd say that Elvis looks like a young male just starting to get his yellow adult face in. maybe 8-10 mo? If it is older, it still could be a female. Echo looks like a female to me, but again, age can make a difference.

 

lildee--how many lovebird pairs do you have?  How many clutches of babies have they had?  Do they all pluck babies?

I know nothing about cockatiel genetics but I found this page.

 

Maybe it will help.

Annie

 

well, Theo and Kai, the pair that have just had thier last clutch (the ones that are picking) have had three clutches. The 1st, four chicks, then two, then only one (we thought she wouldnt lay fertile eggs, or we wouldnt have allowed this clutch.) and the last one (this) has three again. She had five chicks and only these three have survived. The last two hatched barely made it out of the eggs before they died.

We have Theos parents, Max and Bella as well. And we have kept the single bird from the last time, and one from the second. So, that makes six, plus the three babies (9 total). We will sell 2 of the babies though and one of the older birds is still for sale.

We have four tiels as well. Wow, and we were sure we were only going to have Max six years ago! Tot hink, all this started with one little lonely guy I couldnt turn away, then Bella needed rescuing, the rest is nature, lol.

On a different issue, I am having the worst time with my supplier for feed and seed, etc. I am hoping someone is around the Edmonton Alberta area that can refer me to someone else. Mine keeps 'forgeting' to put in my order and then says it was shipped short. This is the 3rd time in a row. HMMMMM. not a great way to conduct business. So I would sure appreciate another good place to get all my stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

Lildee, we have "on the web" pet shops in the US who will take orders to be refilled monthly or however often you need it. Sounds like it would be idea in your situation. Maybe you have similar online shops in Canada. You do have to pay shipping but I compared costs once when hubby bought some pelleted food in a pet shop. Ended up it cost less to order and pay shipping than the pet store prices.

Annie