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Post by skysmum on Jun 1, 2015 15:40:51 GMT
I was in a pet shop the other day, they had a cage of 4 buds with the label "Male" it was quite clear that one was a Hen. When i mentioned it to the girl she said "oh no the breeder assured us they were all Male's" . Some poor unsuspecting person is going to buy what they think is a Cock and end up with a Hen. Nothing wrong with our little hens but it just goes to show they are just in it for the sale im afraid
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Jun 1, 2015 13:46:06 GMT
nohinsara
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 30
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Post by nohinsara on Jun 1, 2015 16:00:30 GMT
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 Ahh ok. I have read contrasting things about the white nostrils marking ( link here), but experience always trumps what google says Thank you! I guess I have a flock of hens, haha!
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Jun 1, 2015 13:46:06 GMT
nohinsara
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 30
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Post by nohinsara on Jun 1, 2015 16:03:13 GMT
I was in a pet shop the other day, they had a cage of 4 buds with the label "Male" it was quite clear that one was a Hen. When i mentioned it to the girl she said "oh no the breeder assured us they were all Male's" . Some poor unsuspecting person is going to buy what they think is a Cock and end up with a Hen. Nothing wrong with our little hens but it just goes to show they are just in it for the sale im afraid That's sad. I think there is value in both sexes, to be honest, but I have noticed that breeders tend to 'big up' the males. I just wanted a pair so that I could have the option of one day trying for chicks. Doesn't look like that's going to happen now!
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Post by skysmum on Jun 1, 2015 16:15:37 GMT
Well around 50 years of keeping them gives me some hope but im still learning every day . Lots of reading up before you decide to breed, its not for the faint hearted and can be heartbreaking. It can also be a joy if it goes well but read read read . I have three hens and a cock living very happily together, its the luck of the draw and im also aware that this could change depending on hormones so i keep a close eye
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Jun 1, 2015 13:46:06 GMT
nohinsara
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 30
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Post by nohinsara on Jun 1, 2015 16:31:22 GMT
50 years definitely qualifies!
It's good to know that a bunch of females can get along for the most part. I will just keep a close eye. And your advice is heeded over breading. It does sound very daunting, from what I've read. My breeder tells me that they won't breed unless there is a nesting box?
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Post by skysmum on Jun 1, 2015 16:39:26 GMT
Lots of things have to be right for breeding, they have to be the right age, good nutrition in the months leading up to pairing, both compatible and bonded and in breeding condition, then you add the nest box . They will mate without a nest box just for fun and a hen may drop eggs but to raise a clutch you need the box.
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Jun 1, 2015 13:46:06 GMT
nohinsara
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 30
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Post by nohinsara on Jun 1, 2015 17:47:41 GMT
They will mate without a nest box just for fun and a hen may drop eggs but to raise a clutch you need the box. Oh. Well who can blame them for mating for fun! I have a lot of reading to do. I know I'm not supposed to attempt it any time soon (I wouldn't anyway), because when the female is young things can go wrong like ripping heads off of the babies, or so the bird breeder has told me. Plus I just don't have the time to give it, so it will be a long while yet anyway. And at the moment I have no males anyway! Haha!
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Post by Hezz on Jun 2, 2015 1:55:21 GMT
Your breeding birds need to be both over twelve months of age before you consider starting a clutch, and then you have about two years where your hen will be at optimum breeding age; 3 years is considered about as old as your hen should be allowed to breed without possibly compromising her health. PS The link you put up is a good one - there is lots of good info on that site. If you have a good look at the four pictures given, can you see the difference? PPS Hello and welcome to you and your budgies.
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Jun 1, 2015 13:46:06 GMT
nohinsara
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 30
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Post by nohinsara on Jun 2, 2015 9:07:52 GMT
Your breeding birds need to be both over twelve months of age before you consider starting a clutch, and then you have about two years where your hen will be at optimum breeding age; 3 years is considered about as old as your hen should be allowed to breed without possibly compromising her health. PS The link you put up is a good one - there is lots of good info on that site. If you have a good look at the four pictures given, can you see the difference? PPS Hello and welcome to you and your budgies. Hello Hezz Thank you for your reply. Good info on breeding, many thanks. I guess I will see what they are like in two years from now, and how much time I can give it. For the pictures on the site, you mean the four picts under "Blue is a Boy, Pink is a Girl"? If I really look at those picts the only thing that really jumps out at me is that the colours of the males' ceres are more consistent, the females look a bit more marbled, with more pronounced white around their nostrils. Other than that, I find it difficult to tell the difference. I think my Gina might be a cock, but that is going on behaviour more than anything else. Gina likes to sing and talk,and though I know those are not behaviours solely male, I think Gina's cere might possibly look questionable. Care to weigh in on a guess of my birds' gender? *big toothy grin* Thank you for the welcome. Me and my budgies are happy to be here
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Post by suesbird on Jun 2, 2015 11:31:05 GMT
Hi Nohinsara, I told you I was useless at bird gender. My Jo gender confused for 6 months!
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Jun 1, 2015 13:46:06 GMT
nohinsara
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 30
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Post by nohinsara on Jun 2, 2015 12:39:29 GMT
Hi Nohinsara, I told you I was useless at bird gender. My Jo gender confused for 6 months! Hi suesbird, don't be so hard on yourself. You're not useless, or maybe you and I both are! Because I think you were the one that said you thought Gina might be a Gino, and I tend to sway towards that conclusion as well! What is your Jo? Cock or Hen?
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Jun 1, 2015 13:46:06 GMT
nohinsara
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 30
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Post by nohinsara on Jun 2, 2015 12:53:11 GMT
This is Gina this morning. She has those white markings on her cere, but they aren't pronounced. So...
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Post by suesbird on Jun 2, 2015 13:09:43 GMT
First 6 months cock, last 12 months hen. A stroppy hen at that.
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Post by starlingqueen on Jun 2, 2015 13:50:48 GMT
How old is Gina?
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Jun 1, 2015 13:46:06 GMT
nohinsara
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 30
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Post by nohinsara on Jun 2, 2015 15:15:24 GMT
Gina hatched Jan 18th. She is going through her first moult
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