This budgie has me stumped...is it male or female?

 

My feeling is female, but it's cere has so much blue on it.

 

I've tried putting it in a breeding cage with a boy and then a female, but it didn't seem to react differently??

 

Also, it has a blue ring, which I think suggests it is either 4 or 10yrs old. It's a big bird, but I'm fairly sure it could only be 4 years old.

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated!!

 

Looks like a hen out of breeding condition. On the legring it will tell you the year....It will be a sideways facing number next to a symbol. Have a look and see what it says. You may need a magnifying glass.

 

PS Very nice bird :hap: Yellowface Violet.

Edited June 26, 200817 yr by KAZ

Looks like a hen out of breeding condition. On the legring it will tell you the year....It will be a sideways facing number next to a symbol. Have a look and see what it says. You may need a magnifying glass.PS Very nice bird :hap:

Thanks Kaz...I shall check that out now!2004 .... so 'she' is 4 years old.Also helped clarify the sex question....she was quite nippy when I was looking at the ring!!!Thanks again

4 years old if a hen is on the outer edge of breeding as in she is getting a bit old to be breeding her without issues. If she is a hen. Admittedly a little ambiguous this one. Maybe a search for her breeder will tell you for certain.

With her being so out of condition i would put her back into the aviary and give her lots of good food and vitamins to get her in tip top shape. Also looks like there could be the beginnings of scaly face (??) and also looks like she is moulting heavily. Perfect time for her to have some R&R (rest and recuperation)

 

You should get some nice chicks from her when she is in condition

4 (ish) years is normally the age limit for breeding hens so pair her carefully so you can make the most of her time

 

edit: Snap Kaz hehe :hap:

Edited June 26, 200817 yr by **Liv**

Thanks for your advice.

 

I found this bird a while ago in a bird store and it was VERY out of condition. I brought her home as a bit of a challenge to get her back to health. She certainly did have scaley face when I found her, but I have treated her with the spot-on ivermectin and that helped no end. My vet suggested I repeat the treatment with all my birds every six months, which is nearly due.

 

She certainly will get some R&R and special treatment to try to nurse her back to breeding condition. I would love to be able to breed her before the opportunity passes.

Its a boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its a boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sorry, its a hen.

Its a boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sorry, its a hen.

Clancy, not every budgie with a hint of blue on it cere is a boy.

Ditto. Hen for sure

Have we got an up date .... Did she start breeding for you????