my COCKATEIL is 12 weeks old now,,, when will I be able to tell?

Question

if it's a male or female?
also it seems that it's tail feathers are looking a bit scraggly .. is this normal?

P.S> how do I tell if it's male or female,, what do I look for?

Answer 1

SAPPHYRE: another questioner asked this question in the OPEN QUESTION in BIRDS category..." found a baby parrot on my grandparents farm. It was almost attacked by my sisters cat. It looks very young. Please give me instructions on how to take care of a baby parrot and please be very detailed. There are no vets close by and my grandparents truck has not worked for years. Can you also theorize why a baby parrot would be doing on a farm. It looks exactly like this.http://www.pionusparrot.com/Babies%20200..." Is there some way you can get to the question and give this person some answers.... it's a VERY VERY young bird and I tried my best but you are an EXPERT at it... thanks

Answer 2

As soon as you start seeing feathers in the bottom of the cage(as well as probably floating all over your house) both of your questions will soon be answered. He should be going through a molt soon, maybe a couple of weeks to a couple of months. He will lose a few feathers at a time gradually until they are all replaced so his tail feathers will be new looking and you should be able to tell the gender. When he starts the molt, look for bright yellow feathers in the face area, that means its a male, also a male will lose the striped tail feathers for normal grey feathers. If its a female, the colors will stay the same.

Answer 3

Depending on the color of the cockatiel, you'll be able to tell when they have their first big molt at around a year old. normal greys are usually the easiest to visually sex. The male will have bright orange on the head and solid tail feathers. Before that first molt, male greys will look just like females.
If the cockatiel is a lutino, you'll have to do DNA.
Other mutations can be visually sexed but it can be tricky.

Answer 4

What mutation is it?????

Not all mutations can be visually sexed but if you know the mutation or can put up a pic of it then we can says yay or nay about sexing it at maturity & how to do it.

Maturity is approx 6 months old.

Answer 5

If it lays eggs it a female, but only a blood test will tell you for sure otherwise.

Answer 6

well one way to try is get it a bird tent and it will lay eggs if it is a female