Lutino... Mr or Mrs? Can anyone help please?

[Learner]

I've looked for an answer on the forum but can't find one.... I've done a bit of reading too but..

I have my eye on a lovely looking young (what I think is) Lutino (bright yellow, pink legs). I particularly want a hen to balance the genders.

I'm told the bird is 9 weeks old and I can see it has a brown, slightly bobbly cree so suspect it is a hen.
Am I likely to be right?


(I'd rather miss the chance of buying this bird than end up with another cock bird.)

My one other slight concern is:
Although the bird's feet look fine it has one very long toe nail. It seems strange to me that one should have grown to the point where it needs trimming yet the others are 'normal' length and pointed.

I would be very grateful for any advice especially as I've been searching for another hen for ages. Locally I can only find cock birds for sale no matter what the colour.

[samwiseg]

Hi Learner!

You can tell the difference in sex of Lutino's by their cere if the hen is in breeding condition so you are quite right

However when she is not in breeding condition she should still usually have pale white rings round the nares see here on BB's picture

Where are you thinking of getting her from? Not sure about the extra long nail, unless she has had them clipped in the past and one was missed or she has not worn that one down yet. If there is no sign of a deformity I shouldn't think it is too much to worry about.

I hope that helps!

[suesbird]

Well our poor little Jo has been told what a good boy he is for 10 months and it turns out he is a girl. I now have a gender confused bud . It does explains the attitude at times and moods!!!

[Hezz]

I know it is possible, but I would be suspicious of the 9 weeks of age if the cere has already turned.

[Learner]

Sept 23, 2014 23:43:48 GMT Hezz said:

I know it is possible, but I would be suspicious of the 9 weeks of age if the cere has already turned.

I thought the same... others in the same flight are youngsters (still have head bars) and I think the lutino was in an earlier batch. I will visit and ask tomorrow. Thanks Hezz

[samwiseg]

I thought the same Hezz but I remember when we had Mont hers changed pretty early.

What were you thinking...possible scaly?

[Learner]

It's such a gamble. Lutino is for sale at pet shop 2 mins away. I know the owner.He buys (cheaply) from breeders in surrounding districts & sells on. £30 for a young bird.

The lutino is gorgeous - others pied (?) mixtures of blues and white....all cocks.

Unfortunately no hens for sale anywhere for months.

Scaly face? I looked closely... even brown cere as far as I can see in poor light with my less than good eye-sight.

Simply can't decide..so not rushing.

[Learner]

Well that's blown caution to the wind and my plans to even out the numbers (hens/cocks).

The day before yesterday, as we had to shop for food, we (Mrs L and I) dropped into the pet shop. She liked the Lutino and.... all the others too!!

"Why don't you get a blue and white one?"

Because I want a hen.

"Well, you could get one of the others - they're really pretty."

I agreed - they were gorgeous. (I nearly always agree with Mrs L). This time she was undoubtedly right.

Alright I'll buy the Lutino and one of the blue/yellow 9 week old little ones. How about that one?
"Oh she's really pretty but you can't take it and leave its friend!"

It's not a 'she' it's a 'he' and I only came in to decide whether or not to buy the Lutino.

So... to truncate our conversation… even the budgies were nodding off:

I asked if the shop keeper would do me a deal if I bought three budgies…. Well, you have to try.

End result:
I saved £15 (?) and now have another three beaks to care for – one bright Lutino hen and “one of the other ones” and his pal. I couldn’t take just one and leave the other behind when they were obviously so attached to each other could I?

There they were nuzzling up to each other while Lottie the Lutino bounded about up the front of the cage to say hello.

Now, after a tour of the family to say welcome, they are snugly settled in a quarantine flight cage. My mother wanted to keep them in her bungalow across the road so they didn’t “catch cold.” I had to persuade her that they would end up moulting if they stayed in with her (minimum temperature 21 but more often 23 night and day)….and even more vacuuming for me to do once the seed starts to fly!

Pictures later.. I must take some and think of two more names that I wont forget!


PS Forgot to say: they are so tame at the moment - I must try to spend a bit of extra tme with them to keep them that way.

[suesbird]

Brilliant, always take note of your wife because we are always right!

[samwiseg]

Ha! Brilliant brilliant brilliant! Well done to Mrs L

Cant wait for pictures

[Hezz]

Methinks you need to take a little more than photos!! Maybe a calming ale, or whatever takes your fancy, but your description of this whole shenanigans caused gurgles of laughter from yours truly. You really are just as silly/smitten as the rest of us!!!

[Learner]

"We've" settled in nicely.

I am so pleased I made up my mind (?) to buy the (almost) twins as well as Lottie the yellow hen.

I have taken some photos and just as soon as I manage to download them from my phone I'll put some up for viewing.

After a little hesitation the three new-comers have started to eat baby-leaf spinach, they are less scared of the carrot sticks and have tried a quick nibble of grated carrot. Apple and perhaps a teaspoonful of hard boiled egg next.

The twins continue to be very close and snuggle down to roost together, they lean over each other to nibble the spinach and there's not the slightest sign of being bossy when it comes to sharing. Lottie on the other hand is less patient and insists on being first!

[samwiseg]

Sounds fabulous!

[Hezz]

Can't wait to see them, Learner. Lottie sounds very ........ ummmm .......... henny.

[Learner]

So, here at last, after juggling spinach leaves and camera.... and then she simply sat and posed:



This is Lottie (2nd name "Lutino" but I could of course be wrong with the colour!)



And... a side view inbetween attacking the spinach again.



(I'm sure the hosting programme has slimmed Lottie down a little when I cropped the photo)