Posted August 20, 200817 yr I know I'm never going back to that horrible pet store. I don't why I ever went there, except my daughter LOVES pet stores and the clerks are always so nice to her. I've been calling him a he but I really don't know. I think his beak might have the scaly mites. It looks a bit funky and rough on one side. He's got a beautiful blue spot on his back. He's very sweet and not at nervous like Shelfie.I now realized I jeopardized her health but they've bonded so much I can't imagine separating them. Boy or girl? Thanks, Summer
August 20, 200817 yr A front on closer photo of the cere would help with sexing and it does seem to have the start of scaley face. Good looking bird
August 20, 200817 yr Looks like a double factor dominant pied. To sex it for you we need daylight photos and clear one of the cere. That photo isnt clear enough nor natural light. PS this bird is VERY YOUNG.............4-5 weeks or so. Watch to be sure it eats. Should not be sold at that age. Edited August 20, 200817 yr by KAZ
August 20, 200817 yr Author Looks like a double factor dominant pied. To sex it for you we need daylight photos and clear one of the cere. That photo isnt clear enough nor natural light. PS this bird is VERY YOUNG.............4-5 weeks or so. Watch to be sure it eats. Should not be sold at that age. Are you sure he's that young. The ****-*** pet store said three months. He does look like a little baby though. He's eating seeds and dark leaf lettuce. He does seem to sleep alot though. He's seeing an avian vet on Thursday. I'll try to get better pictures tomorrow. Summer
August 20, 200817 yr Yeah. looks pretty young and stressed from those pictures. Remove the lettuce and replace with spinach. I would also add a calcium supplement to his water every day for the next 2 weeks because s/he looks a little vitamin deficient to me. I don't get mad easily - but pet shops drive me crazy Edited August 20, 200817 yr by **Liv**
August 20, 200817 yr Looks like a boy to me but a better picture would help. You can make a mash with chicken crumbles (from the supermarket) and egg and biscuit, it might give him a bit of oomph
August 20, 200817 yr Looks like a double factor dominant pied. To sex it for you we need daylight photos and clear one of the cere. That photo isnt clear enough nor natural light. PS this bird is VERY YOUNG.............4-5 weeks or so. Watch to be sure it eats. Should not be sold at that age. Are you sure he's that young. The ****-*** pet store said three months. He does look like a little baby though. He's eating seeds and dark leaf lettuce. He does seem to sleep alot though. He's seeing an avian vet on Thursday. I'll try to get better pictures tomorrow. Summer I am positive...he is the age where he has only just left the nest.
August 20, 200817 yr He is young thats for sure BUT WHOO HOOO he is nice, Is that blue or violet I see
August 21, 200817 yr Oh my, what a baby! I would take him to the vet soon, as a bird that young should have a completely smooth beak still, that it looks to be peeling is a little worrisome. Definitely keep an eye out on his food intake (from those pics I guess male as the cere is a little bulbous and very evenly colored - don't hold me to it though, in better light that little sweetie might look different). He does look quite stressed, but definitely a sweetheart.
August 21, 200817 yr I do not think that is very young. At 4-5 weeks have black beak. I have little budgie, it took up to 8 weeks.
August 21, 200817 yr Not all baby budgies will have black on their beaks, I have had some that did not. There looks to be a small spot of it towards the point though, doesn't it?
August 21, 200817 yr I do not think that is very young. At 4-5 weeks have black beak. I have little budgie, it took up to 8 weeks. I am sorry...you are incorrect. Black beaks only occur in a small percentage of chicks. Its a melanin issue not an age thing.
August 21, 200817 yr reminds me of Pretty when I first got him he was around 2 months. Edited August 21, 200817 yr by Elly
August 21, 200817 yr Not all baby budgies will have black on their beaks, I have had some that did not. There looks to be a small spot of it towards the point though, doesn't it? Probably, I say from my experience. There were 4 weeks Yes, they have a small spot now. http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq204/n...34/23-07006.jpg Edited August 21, 200817 yr by **Liv** Image changed to link because is over 640 x 480 pixles
August 21, 200817 yr Only SOME birds will have black beaks! You can't base the age on beak colour. I'd personally say he'd be between 5-6 weeks based on cere colour and how developed he is.
August 21, 200817 yr I have had nest with all black beaks, Some with out black beaks I use the Cere & Barbs as an indicator
August 21, 200817 yr I have never had a chick with a black beak yet. This is my latte at 4 weeks - she was still in the nest box then
August 21, 200817 yr Ooo,Is not good to have black beak? It is a disease? Some babies do and some babies don't maybe it is due to mutation maybe not but it is no uncommon. It doesn't indicate disease. Merlin had a streak of black on his beak when I got him Merlin as a baby
August 21, 200817 yr Ooo,Is not good to have black beak? It is a disease? Black beaks are fine!! It's believed to be a good sign of healthy genes I hope i get some chicks with black beaks this season Awwwww Elly I haven't seen Merlin's baby pictures before - What a cutie Edited August 21, 200817 yr by **Liv**
August 22, 200817 yr Ooo,Is it not good to have black beak? It is a disease? No and no... some bubs do some don't.
August 22, 200817 yr Author Interesting to read about the black beaks. There were several from the same batch with black streaks where he came from. Pretty is gorgeous and so is Latte. Shelfie got a clean bill of health today. Dave does not have scaley face and is a healthy weight however the vet said his breathing was harder than it should be. He thought he might be becoming ill. I'm to watch him carefully. If he gets worse we'll to a fecal test. But really he said all the tests and treatment he would do would be extremely expensive. I had told him I got laid off a week ago. I'm extending the antibiotics for another five days. Shelfie got over her sneezing with it. I hope it will work for Dave. Otherwise I'm just supposed to try to get him to eat healthy diet. Get a concrete perch to rub his beak on. Do you guys have any advice for me to nurse him better? He's so sweet and beautiful. I saw him puke into Shelfie's mouth tonight. I think they've really bonded. I hope she doesn't get it too but I just can't imagine separating them. Shelfie preens him all the time and he looks so content. Thanks for reading. Vet guessed Shelfie is a girl and Dave is a boy.
