Help with my Cockatiel?

Question

I need to ask a few questions.

1. How old is when a cockatiel is fully grown

2. My cockatiel lost 3 feathers and none were bleeding, is this molting?

3.When will you be able to tell when all of the changes in your cockatiel (Cheeks getting more red, head more yellow, or if it stays the same). When will its cheeks turn red and head turn yellow if its a boy? (Age ex. 6 months, 7 months, 1 year)

Answer 1

this is a good website
http://www.cockatiels.org

Answer 2

A cockatiel is at full size at about 1 yr, but can not breed without risks until about 18 months- 2 yrs (it would be like a teenager breeding)
2- Probably molting. Some birds lose only a couple feathers at a time, while others lose pretty much all of their feathers at once. They look pretty ragged and can't fly (I have a cocktiel for each of these conditions).
3- At their first molt, about 6 months, you can see the colors of a male cockatiel show. They will get their adult plumage (unless it is a male pearled, then they will usually continue to lose the pearling). Females can have the yellow and orange face as well, but it is more diluted and kind of dirty looking. This applies to mostly just normal colored cockatiels. Once you start adding mutations, it could change the colors.
Another thing to look for in normal grays is barring under the tail. If the feathers are barred after their first full molt, they are most likely a female.

Answer 3

our cockateil is 20 thy pull feathers out because they are bored so keep an eye on them. they're feathers go a bit more grey when they are getting older

Answer 4

i have one and feathers do fall out. dont know about the color though. mine was full grown when i got him. that was in 1993.