Boy or Girl? Young Budgie

[kablegirl]

I just got a young budgie from the pet store. I was told it's a male, but after reading many of the posts here I'm starting to think it might be a female. Can you help me determine which? 
I don't know exactly how old but I believe 3-4 months? 

[Hezz]

budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/1788/upload-pictures-clips

Having a look at your avatar I don't see any whiteness around the nostrils, which would indicate female, but the photo is quite small and blowing it up loses resolution. You will need an on-line site such as photobucket, tinypics, imageshack or the like to upload your photos to and then copy/paste the url code.

[samwiseg]

Agree with Hezz - I would say a hen from your avatar but to be sure would require a bigger picture

Oh Hi and welcome btw!

[skysmum]

Looks like a boy to me but without a closer pic cant be sure.

[kablegirl]

Hi there! Thanks for the warm welcome! I am new to owning budgies so I really appreciate this forum. Thanks for your help - both in identifying the gender of my bird and for telling me how to post a photo (which I couldn't figure out on my own LOL). 
Here is a larger pic. Still not super awesome but maybe a little easier to see?  

[Deleted]

Hi your got yourself a little hen.

[Hezz]

And if @corie says you have a hen, then you have got a hen. She is a pretty little thing .........name???

Also I think she may be a bit younger; she hasn't had her first moult yet which usually happens around that time.

[samwiseg]

Sweet little birdie! Would love to know a name

[kablegirl]

Hi Everyone! She is a sweetie. Her name was Buddy Bird but now that I know she is a she, her name is Betty Bird.
However I have a little dilemma. I probably should have bought two birds since I am at work most of the day, but I didn't. I was considering getting another bird, but now that I know this one is a female I'm not sure exactly what to do. I know 2 females will not get along, and I am not equipped to take care of baby budgies if I get a male.

Do you guys know if there's any way to keep a male and female from mating? Or should I just return this birdie and get two males? I hate to do that but I don't want Betty to be lonely and depressed all day.

What do you advise?

[Hezz]

Getting a male is all good; two females can be a problem, but not always, and there is no guarantee that any two budgies are going to get along, male or female. But getting a cock don't immediately mean you are going to have a family of budgies. Generally speaking without a nest-box or anything resembling a nest, the hen will not be prepared to nest and lay eggs. Also if you do get a male, they may still mate, but again, without the wherewithal to provide a "home" no eggs, and no chicks. Occasionally you do get a hen who will lay eggs regardless of there not being anywhere to lay them; take the eggs away and mix the cage up and often this will be enough to stop the egg laying.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Hen

[kablegirl]

Hezz,
Thank you for the advice! I really appreciate it! The last thing I want is for my pretty girl to be lonely and sad. Since she's only been at my home for a few weeks, do you think it will be a big challenge to introduce a new bird? 
I guess this should probably be put on a new thread now. :-)

Thank you again for all your help and advice. I've seen tons of online research that's contradictory and also talked to the folks at the pet store, but then again, the folks at the pet store are the ones who told me she was a cock. So I appreciate having this resource!

[Hezz]

Spend this time with her training and building trust. If you do get another bird, even from the same place as Betty, you will need to quarantine the second from Betty for around four weeks/a month. This is because the stress of being moved, having a new home and new people can cause underlying diseases to come to the surface - a stressed animal can easily succumb to illness - and you don't want this possible treat passed on to Betty.

For myself, I would be inclined to wait and get used to Betty and Betty used to me, building up that trust between you. Having one already hand-tamed makes the second one much more likely to feel confident with you as well.