Hi there, my albino budgie Casper was sexed as a boy a while ago but in the last week or so I've noticed that his cere has gone a brownie colour. Is this normal in an albino or is HE becoming a SHE?

I'm sorry about the photo quality but it's the best I could do as unfortunately Casper is not only camera shy but people shy as well and continuously kept turning his back on me.

 

I know this has nothing to do with gender but could any one tell me why there is such a difference in size between Casper and his cage mate Elmo. As far as I know there is only a few months of age between them and they're unrelated. I know show birds are bigger but I don't think Elmo is a show type bird I thought he was just a pet type budgie but the difference is mind blowing. I didn't notice it until they were put together after quarantine to keep each other company. They seem to get on okay but I'm concerned about Elmo being so large that he might dominate Casper too much.

 

Thanks for any info

Casper is a hen and the size difference is that Casper is a pet type budgie and Elmo is a show type budgie. The show types tend to be larger in size and the pet types are smaller.

Another reason your albino is small would be due to both parents being albinos......this is guesswork of course. BUT two albinos paired will produce smaller ino chicks and its a possibility thats what happened here ?

I don't want these two mating together so I'll be moving Casper out to the girls aviary tomorrow.

But in the future when they're of age and I want to breed them will they have to have birds the same size as themselves or in the bird world does size not really matter?

Thanks

Size doesnt matter

If he's not bothering her you don't need to split them up, just don't add a nest box It might be necessary tp split them up if he is harrassing her too much but i my experience the show types ar ea little more laid back in that department so they might be okay.

I was advised in a previous post that it's not good to seperate your hens and cocks (besides when taking steps for breeding). I thougt of doing this with my flock before to prevent breeding with my younger hens but was advised not to. Is this the reason you have "seperate flocks" of males and females? And another question to the experts is what is the effects on the birds if you seperate them into gender flocks?

 

Just wanted to confirm that I think you albino is a hen. I have a mature albino and he is a cock... and his cere is pink. Here is a picture of him a month ago or so.

 

okay then, yes I have separated them for the reason that I don't want any unnecessary breeding as I have read that even without a nesting box they can still breed and these budgies are too young. But if you can keep 1 budgie as a pet without any other sex as company what is the difference in keeping several of one sex together to prevent breeding. I have 4 girls in the outside aviary and Elmo is now by himself. My house budgie Oliver is by himself as well and he is doing beautifully without friends, so what's the difference if I keep the sexes separated until ready for breeding. The girls seem happy, though Billie is grumpy as heck since her partner escaped. But again they seem happy and healthy. If it's not good keeping them separated then I'm only too happy to correct my mistake.

If I mix them and put Elmo out with the girls what will happen...4 girls against 1 boy? Am I going to be asking for trouble especially with Billie as she is busting for more babies! Will she not get territorial with the younger girls (2 of which are her babies)? I just don't know what to do, I only want what's best. Any advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks

i have a dog called casper

okay then, yes I have separated them for the reason that I don't want any unnecessary breeding as I have read that even without a nesting box they can still breed and these budgies are too young. But if you can keep 1 budgie as a pet without any other sex as company what is the difference in keeping several of one sex together to prevent breeding. I have 4 girls in the outside aviary and Elmo is now by himself. My house budgie Oliver is by himself as well and he is doing beautifully without friends, so what's the difference if I keep the sexes separated until ready for breeding. The girls seem happy, though Billie is grumpy as heck since her partner escaped. But again they seem happy and healthy. If it's not good keeping them separated then I'm only too happy to correct my mistake.

If I mix them and put Elmo out with the girls what will happen...4 girls against 1 boy? Am I going to be asking for trouble especially with Billie as she is busting for more babies! Will she not get territorial with the younger girls (2 of which are her babies)? I just don't know what to do, I only want what's best. Any advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

 

I did not realize that your had many more females than males. I am in not position to tell you what you should and shouldn't do, I was just stating that I too had these very same thoughts for the very same reasons but was advised against doing so. I have 10 keets and my females out number my males also. Right now, I have three breeding pairs, two females in a separate cage and a young hen and cock (3 months old) in another cage. I probably could have the four non-paired birds together, but my one female is mature and wants to lay again and I didn't want aggression from her on my young male. I by all means am not criticizing you for your set up. Everyone does what they feel is best and good for you to prevent un-wanted breeding. I was just asking if your logic was the same as mine and thought that someone with more experience could explain the disadvantages of separating flocks. I'm sorry if you felt offended.

Edited September 16, 200816 yr by **Liv**
changed "#" to "number"

From the mouths of experienced breeders who have tried seperating the sexes and then reverted back again........most breeders run mixed flocks now. They say the reasons are all hens in a flight get fat and lazy without the male flirting and interaction that goes on. All males in a cage tend to end up preferring male company and often indulge in gay sexual behaviour patterns which can be hard to break the pattern of. Mixed flights have no real issues and budgies WILL indulge in recreational sex......its normal behaviour for them. Its only when there is a place a budgie feels it can lay eggs and make babies that they ever proceeed to form an egg and lay.

Thank you KAZ, that's exactly what I was looking for... ... just the logic behind the suggestions. Thank you.

i have a dog called casper

Hehe! Also I had a beautiful blue budgie called Casper!

okay then, yes I have separated them for the reason that I don't want any unnecessary breeding as I have read that even without a nesting box they can still breed and these budgies are too young. But if you can keep 1 budgie as a pet without any other sex as company what is the difference in keeping several of one sex together to prevent breeding. I have 4 girls in the outside aviary and Elmo is now by himself. My house budgie Oliver is by himself as well and he is doing beautifully without friends, so what's the difference if I keep the sexes separated until ready for breeding. The girls seem happy, though Billie is grumpy as heck since her partner escaped. But again they seem happy and healthy. If it's not good keeping them separated then I'm only too happy to correct my mistake.

If I mix them and put Elmo out with the girls what will happen...4 girls against 1 boy? Am I going to be asking for trouble especially with Billie as she is busting for more babies! Will she not get territorial with the younger girls (2 of which are her babies)? I just don't know what to do, I only want what's best. Any advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

 

I did not realize that your had many more females than males. I am in not position to tell you what you should and shouldn't do, I was just stating that I too had these very same thoughts for the very same reasons but was advised against doing so. I have 10 keets and my females out number my males also. Right now, I have three breeding pairs, two females in a separate cage and a young hen and cock (3 months old) in another cage. I probably could have the four non-paired birds together, but my one female is mature and wants to lay again and I didn't want aggression from her on my young male. I by all means am not criticizing you for your set up. Everyone does what they feel is best and good for you to prevent un-wanted breeding. I was just asking if your logic was the same as mine and thought that someone with more experience could explain the disadvantages of separating flocks. I'm sorry if you felt offended.

 

I in no way felt offended Chrissy...I, like you, am learning and anything that anyone else says I will take on board as the more info that I have the better budgie owner I'll be...hopefully .

But for the time being I think I'll leave the girls by themselves as the cage they're in has some wood shelf like pieces that I'm sure would encourage Billie (she's my only mature female in there) to lay.

I've attached a photo. I think if I remove them it will weaken the structure so until I have something better I'll go with what I've got.

 

 

I think, as much as Elmo might enjoy having his own harem, he will just have to cope getting to know us better. I think we will take advantage of trying to tame him a bit more as he is not too people friendly at the present.

 

Thanks for everything

I think you will be okay with those shelves as there is no cozy corner for them to tuck into. Most budgies like to feel quite enclosed and secure when nesting so to me the shelves do not look like potential nesting sites.

Say, is it just me or Elmo has a dark splotch over his cere???

 

wow... he's so big. XD I wish I had a big budgie too.