Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 1/21/2009

Question
Im planning to breed parakeets and i was wondering about these questions...
1. After about 2 or 3 weeks after the eggs hatch can i play with the baby birds so they learn to be hand tamed???
2. At what age can i start to teach them to talk (im tring and i have patients)and i know they might not learn
3.Is it easier for a male or female to learn to talk?
4 how can i tell the diff of the babies from male to female?
thanks alex

Answer
Hi, Alex,

To answer your questions......

1.  You can start handling the babies as early as you want to after they hatch, as long as you are very careful not to drop any and your hands are very clean so the babies don't get sick from germs on your hands.

2.  In my experiences, male keets are the best to learn how to talk.  However, you have to wait until they start making noises/sounds, are weaned, etc., before expecting too much from young keets.  Also be aware that most do not learn to mimic (they don't actually learn to talk, they mimic sounds they hear).  

3.  Both sexes have the same ability to be able to learn to mimic, but some birds do so, some don't....it's up to the individual bird and you can't do anything to force them to mimic.

4.  You can't determine sex right away visually.  It takes an experienced breeder to be able to sex keets until they go through their first molt at about 6 months of age.  Until they go through their first molt, their coloration can change.  You sex keets via the color of the cere.  This can be difficult depending on the overall coloration of the bird.

Chrys