Hen or Cock? Cock or Hen? I have no idea!

[nohinsara]

Hello! This is my very first post.

Hoping you lovely people might venture a guess on my little bird. He/she is quite young still, born 17th of Feb.

It is one of three birds I have, but I am only asking for this bird because I am so unsure now as to whether it's a cock or a hen! We named the bird 'Bugsie Malone' assuming it was male, but now, I'm not so sure. The bird has become quite dominant and I've had to separate it from the others due to bullying. I've read that females tend to be dominant, so now I have no idea! 

Here's a pict (hope this works):

[nohinsara]

And another pict:

[OP]

From my limited experience I would say female. Welcome to the forum.

[nohinsara]

Thank you OP Funny, I always thought this bird was male, right from when we got it, but I just found an older pict of it, and looking at it now, I'm not sure why I thought that.

We had to separate this bird from our other bird, Gina, who's one month older. Bugsie pulled out almost all of her tail feathers.

Here is a picture of Gina, who we assumed was female. I think her cere could go either way, but would be interested to hear what others think?

Gina:



Older picture of Bugsie:

[suesbird]

From my even more limited experience I would say first one cock and second one hen.

Sorry.

[nohinsara]

Haha! So, I've got them completely wrong then? Bugsie (yellow/green) is a hen and Gina (white/opal) is a cock?
Oh, man.

Gina's had to go back to the bird breeder to recover from Bugsie's bullying, too. I hope to get Gina back soon, but not sure what to call it now!

[suesbird]

Wait until someone more experienced is on, then they will tell you. Op probably correct

[skysmum]

I would say they are both Hens

[suesbird]

See I told you I had extreme limited experience.

[nohinsara]

Jun 1, 2015 14:50:13 GMT skysmum said:

I would say they are both Hens

Ohmahgoodness. Two hens. Are two hens likely to fight? I know there is a certain amount of squabble that always goes on between budgies, but Bugsie seems to be overly so with Gina, and also the other little baby bird we have, who's too young to tell on gender. I can post a pict of that one as well, if it helps? Bugsie is brutal with it too

[nohinsara]

This is the baby. Only born in April, but Bugsie beats up on it too

*sorry previously posted wrong code

[skysmum]

All Hens and yes its probably why Bugsie picks on them as she see's herself as the dominant Hen.

[nohinsara]

Jun 1, 2015 15:15:20 GMT skysmum said:

All Hens and yes its probably why Bugsie picks on them as she see's herself as the dominant Hen.

Oh wow..

Yikes. Need to have a talk with the bird breeder I guess!  skysmum, just curious what you see in the youngest (last pict posted)? I have been told it's impossible to tell when they are this young. Maybe that's just what breeders say to keep themselves covered! I am a complete newb so I haven't even attempted to guess.

[starlingqueen]

I agree, all hens. The white round the nares shows it's a hen.

[skysmum]

Jun 1, 2015 15:24:45 GMT nohinsara said:

Jun 1, 2015 15:15:20 GMT skysmum said:

All Hens and yes its probably why Bugsie picks on them as she see's herself as the dominant Hen.

Oh wow..

Yikes. Need to have a talk with the bird breeder I guess!  skysmum, just curious what you see in the youngest (last pict posted)? I have been told it's impossible to tell when they are this young. Maybe that's just what breeders say to keep themselves covered! I am a complete newb so I haven't even attempted to guess.

Any white around the nostrils and its a Hen, a cock will have a solid blue cere. Its difficult with some but on the whole i can tell a Hen when i see one