Cockatiel sexing and age

[hannah7733]

This cockatiel should be almost 10 weeks according to the breeder but he/she seems to be molting already and I know its way too early if he's really 10 weeks. Can you tell from pictures if it's really a baby? And any ideas on sex? I think boy just because he was singing a lot when I picked him out. 

[Hezz]

We are a budgie forum, Hannah; I'm not sure that any of our members have a lot of experience with cockatiels.

[hannah7733]

I know but I posted in a cockatiel forum several days ago and no one has replied. I've asked a couple of questions on there before I got this baby and no responses. People on here have always been helpful so I thought if anyone does have experience with cockatiels I'd have a better chance of a reply on here =)

[Marianne Marlow]

I think that the way to tell the sex of a cockatiel is something to do with the pattern under the tail.

[Marianne Marlow]

Is this helpful? I found it on pinterest

[Marianne Marlow]

Also this

[Marianne Marlow]

From Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockatiel_colour_genetics#Sexing_Without_Sexual_Dimorphism

Sexing Without Sexual Dimorphism

As mentioned above, some mutations don't allow sexing by their feather patterns. This is because some mutations don't vary between males and females. One method of sexing cockatiels involves checking their pelvic bones.[1] This idea is similar to how human pelvic bones differ, where females have wider hips to allow for childbirth; female cockatiels can have wider and more flexible pelvic bones to account for egg laying. This method isn't always accurate when genes cause females to have a narrower pelvis.

Another way to sex cockatiels is by their behaviour. Males tend to be more vocal and also have an easier time mimicking noises.[1] Males also sometimes "strut". This behaviour is categorized by sticking their chest out and parading around, sometimes pacing, typically accompanied by whistling.[1] Females are usually quiet and they're more likely to hiss and bite.[1]

[Marianne Marlow]

Cockatiels seem even more complicated than budgies!

[Hezz]

I think the hens have the barring across, on the underside of, the tail and the males have brighter cheek spots, but that is just info I've picked up along the way. I don't know how accurate it is.

Thanks for having faith in us, hannah7733. Sorry if we can't deliver. Looking at your photos again, and Marianne's info, it would suggest that yours is a male of at least a year old. That doesn't fit, really, does it??

[hannah7733]

Thank you both and no it doesn't fit Hezz. I think the pictures Marianne put up are only for adult cockatiels since babies normally show all the same patternings. Apparently there are no way to visually sex a cockatiel but some people do say about the tail barring/cheek patches as Marianne said, but they're really not reliable, only in adults you can use this but even then its not 100%. I do know that because this cockatiel is a pearl mutation, when it has its first molt and grows its adult feathers - if its female it will retain the pearling, if its male it will lose this and look like a normal grey. I really don't know if its having its first molt now since it isn't meant to happen til 6-12 months. So I guess I'll have to wait and see, if it starts growing out normal grey feathers now then I'll know its older and a male!

[Marianne Marlow]

Sorry we weren't of any use!

If you think he's male then he probably is, regarding the singing!

[maryann]

It’s an old post but I used to breed cockatiels. I could tell their by feeling their pelvic bone. Sorry I can’t help you long distance! I was right 99.9% of the time. The space is larger between the bone for a female. Makes sense, right?
I hope by now you know what he/she is. 😎
Maryann