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Question
how do u tell the gender of a budgie
Hi, Marle. Thanks for posting!
Male budgies have blue ceres...the colored area above it's beak where it's nostrils are located; females' ceres are brown/beige/tan/white. However, if a budgie is less than about 5 months of age, it could be difficult to sex as budgies' cere colors can change some until they have reached their adult coloration. They molt the first time at about 5-6 months of age, then again at about 11-12 months of age, then once per year thereafter. To be certain of a budgies sex, the bird needs to be about 6 months old when looking a cere color. All of what I've stated also depends on the color mutation of a budgie. In other words, a white or multicolored budgie might have a multicolored cere or a cere color that doesn't fit the general "rules" for sexing budgies. In these cases, you sometimes have to wait and see if the bird lays an egg in order to identify it as a female! And then there's always the possibility of having your budgie DNA sexed. If you're interested in this, look up Avian Biotech on the internet. They charge about $20 per bird and can sex with a couple drops of blood from your bird's toenail that you draw at home and send off by mail to the lab.
Come back with any questions.
Chrys
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Answers by Expert:
Chrys Meatyard
Expertise
I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.
Experience
Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.
Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.
Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.
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