how can you tell the diffrece between a male and female cockatoo?

Answer 1

I have a Sulfur Crested Cockatoo named Sophie.. I named her that because of her brown eyes. The breeder told me that she was female because of her eye color.
My African Grey is a different story....they have to be sexed to be sure.

Answer 2

Most cocktoos are sexually diamorphic by eye colour. Brown to red eyes means a female, dark brown to black means a male. Also, in some instances, males are slightly bigger than females - but this is not an ideal way of telling them apart, as many females are the same size or bigger than males. Confusing, huh? I've had some bird dealers tell me males have wider heads than females, but this is possibly just 'sales-speak' and not true.

To make it even more confusing, the eye changes colour when the bird reaches sexual maturity. Before then, they all have a mid-brown coloured eye.

If its important to get a male and female pair for breeding, the best way to go would be surgical sexing, as ideally they should be paired up while very young.

Answer 3

The only sure fired way to know is by DNA sexing, which you can do yourself or or go to your vet to have it done. Either way, a blood sample is required and it is sent off to one of only two labs in the country that do this. Then you will receive an official certificate from that lab indicating the sex of your bird.

Here is a couple that you can contact with questions online:
http://www.avianbiotech.com/
http://www.vetdnacenter.com/avian-sexing.html

There is the wives' tale that says that on Cockatoos, if the eyes are dark dark, almost black, they are male. If the eyes have any hint of brown or lighter color, then it is female. But I wouldn't rely on that method very heavily.

Good luck in finding the sex of your bird.

Answer 4

The only way to tell is to either have it surgically sexed (expensive) or DNA sexed. That involves plucking a couple of chest feathers or getting a blood drop and sending it to a reputable lab. There are some scams out there. The best place is Avian Biotech. They have a website at avianbiotech.com Blood sexing is $19.50 and feather sexing is $24.50

Do not go for the pendulum or cut feather scams. You have to have a feather with blood in the quill. Please use avianbiotech.com, they are the best in the industry and the only people qualified breeders will use. They are also the place most Vets will use but they will charge you way more than the fee Avian Biotech charges them.

Answer 5

Sometimes you can tell by the eye color.....the males have dark brown to blacks eyes. The females are a brick brown color.

But the best why is to have them surgical sexed if you are going to breed. This way you can make sure that all the sexual parts are in working order.

Answer 6

they say that you can tell the sex of the bird from the color of the eyes...but DNA sexing is the best way to be sure...
good luck :)

Answer 7

Call vetdna.com great guys I tried them good lab. you have your resuls in aday if you overnight it to them and cal.

Answer 8

You have to have them professional sexed. Talk to your vet.