i am having problems with my bird. billy or billie is 9 months and is a lutino (yellow with white patches on his face). A few weeks ago his cere went brown in color but i noticed today that it has changed to blue.

 

i went to the vet today and he couldn't tell me what sex it was but suggested a blood test. The main reason i visited him was that billie has started biting me. an example today was he was siting on my shoulder and bit me hard on the ear. i pushed him away and he just sat and looked at me as if to say what did i do wrong.

 

i was not happy wit the vet. he didn't really listen to me. he clipped billys wings and clipped his nails, demanded I take a video home to watch & learn. I have had budgies as pets for 40 years and was offended.

 

billy is being naughty. He was enjoying flying round the house investigating but now his wings have been clipped. during his flies he would land on my head or arm but now he won't be able to for awhile. the saying had your wings clipped is so true.

 

i do need some help please.

leanne

Do you have a picture of Billy?

 

It sounds like you may have a hen.

 

A crusty brown cere will indicate that the hen is in breeding condition (this doesn't mean you have to breed) then when the cere is a light blue this will indicate a hen out of breeding condition. It is when you have a very deep blue cere is when it is a boy, hens can have light blue ceres. In the FAQ section under General Information I believe there is a picture of this shown.

 

As for vets always make sure they are avian registered as most dog/cat and even exotic vets do not know much about birds, it is just not their major.

l agree with Elly.

from your description, it does sound like you have a hen.

Actually being a lute the cere won't go a deep blue- if its a male it will be a pinky purple colour. Sounds like a hen though.

Don't stress too much about the vet- I have yet to find a decent one!!

With the wings being clipped the bird might sulk for a bit but keep her with you on your shoulder (if it doesnt bite too much) and use it as a time to bond.

I agree with the pie , The cocks cere will be a fleshy colour it will brighten up when in condition but wont turn blue in colour the hens cere will turn brown upon maturity , it will be a flesh colour until then , but if you look at the nostral opening in hens it will start to go nutmeg brown from the inside out as they get older , Sounds like a girl , But a picture would help.

Actually being a lute the cere won't go a deep blue- if its a male it will be a pinky purple colour. Sounds like a hen though.

Don't stress too much about the vet- I have yet to find a decent one!!

With the wings being clipped the bird might sulk for a bit but keep her with you on your shoulder (if it doesnt bite too much) and use it as a time to bond.

 

Good observation I overlooked the lutino part but either way a hen will still be the same it is the boys as mentioned that will stay a deep pink cere and don't change.

I agree it sounds like Billie is a hen.. Try keeping some little tidbits with you so when she does start to bite you can offer her something to nibble on instead of just pushing her away. Just like kids- if she likes the attention when you move her and say ow that hurt she might keep doing it. A distraction might help her stop the biting but it will take a while..

I would look for another vet if I were you. I hope you voiced (Loudly) your displeasure at them trimming your birds wings without permission. Can you post a picture of Billy?

I agree it sounds like Billie is a hen.. Try keeping some little tidbits with you so when she does start to bite you can offer her something to nibble on instead of just pushing her away. Just like kids- if she likes the attention when you move her and say ow that hurt she might keep doing it. A distraction might help her stop the biting but it will take a while..

wow rah, i never thought of that !!!!!!!!!!!

Have to be careful that you don't reward her for biting though. Just calmly and quietly push her away when she bites, or put her on the ground. Now that she is clipped she won't like that.

the same this happened to me

and she's a hen called Lumina

if you like i'll send you some pics of her cere

Have to be careful that you don't reward her for biting though. Just calmly and quietly push her away when she bites, or put her on the ground. Now that she is clipped she won't like that.

that is true, my hen use to bite me alot but l would not respond to her and l would gently push her to lose her balance.

she doesn't bite me anymore :hap: