Jump to content

Cere Colour

Featured Replies

Posted

Hi folks,

 

I got a couple of pairs of pet type budgies yesterday. They are all recessive pied except 1 which I think is a combination dominant/recessive pied. I got them through a reputable dealer. Anyway, he insisted they were 2 males and 2 females. It's always a bit hard to tell with pieds. Anyway, when I got them home, I can see there are 2 definite hens in there but the 2 "cocks" have funny coloured ceres. The cere of the combo pied has a brownish coating with a greenish/aqua tone underneath. The recessive pied cock has a brownish skin over the cere with pinkish edges. I'm trying to sex them through their behaviour but nothing confirmed yet. I then read horror stories on here of how a brownish cere on a cock could mean testicular cancer. Great!

 

The thing that pi$$es me off the most is that the birds at the dealer are in a huge aviary, they are hard to see from a distance and they are caught up in a hurry and thrown in my carry box. If the dealer had spent the time showing me the birds and looking them over, I might have chosen differently.

 

Anyway, any ideas on the cere colours and what I need to look out for?

Post pictures please :D

Here are some pics...

 

Cock 1 - Recessive Pied?

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20006.jpg

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20007.jpg

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20008.jpg

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20009.jpg

 

Cock 2 - Combo pied (Dominant + Recessive)???

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20012.jpg

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20013.jpg

 

So what do you think? I suspect they are both cocks.

Edited by cranberry

second one is a hen ...dominant pied opaline spangle hen I think. but definitely a hen.

can you post pictures of the back of the cock number one please:D

Edited by KAZ

Any white usually means female. They both look female especially the 2nd one.

Any white usually means female. They both look female especially the 2nd one.

White applies to when babies or hens out of breeding condition Ratzy.

Edited by KAZ

second one is a hen ...dominant pied opaline spangle hen I think. but definitely a hen.

can you post pictures of the back of the cock number one please:D

 

Hi Kaz, take a closer look at cock 2. Zoom in if you can. You can see an aqua/green colour underneath. What if they are preening each other? Would 2 hens do that?

second one is a hen ...dominant pied opaline spangle hen I think. but definitely a hen.

can you post pictures of the back of the cock number one please:D

 

Hi Kaz, take a closer look at cock 2. Zoom in if you can. You can see an aqua/green colour underneath. What if they are preening each other? Would 2 hens do that?

Its a hen. You know when the wrinkly reddish colour is about to peel off and theres blue underneath with white. That cock is a hen :D

First one is a cock :)

Edited by KAZ

Bugger! Back to the drawing board...

Thanks for that. I'm still curious about 2 hens preening each other. Is that normal?

Thanks for that. I'm still curious about 2 hens preening each other. Is that normal?

Which two hens ?

 

 

Besides look in any aviary and see boys preen boys and girls preen girls....its a habit, a behaviour, not necessarily a mating thing.

The cock that you say is a hen is preening and kissing the hen I put him/her with.

Edited by cranberry

the cock that you say is a hen is preening and kissing the hen i put him/her with.

pick up the cock that is a hen and take a close look at the cere. If its as reddish and wrinKly as i see it here and peeling off, try to pick away the flaking skin on the cere....It will come off.

Cocks dont get red wrinkly ceres that peel off.

okay well in that case he/she is going. That's the last time I buy a bird where the seller just scoops him up and puts him in my carry box without showing me first. My fault though for not making sure but if you can't trust an expert what hope have you got. And I'm not going back to that dealer ever as he was a rude so and so as well...him and his half wit partner in crime.

Edited by cranberry

okay well in that case he/she is going. That's the last time I buy a bird where the seller just scoops him up and puts him in my carry box without showing me first. My fault though for not making sure but if you can't trust an expert what hope have you got. And I'm not going back to that dealer ever as he was a rude so and so as well...him and his half wit partner in crime.

 

 

Next time you go to buy birds....take a cage a bit like a show cage....get them to put the bird in it so you can have a close look. Always ask to feel the bird in your hand before finally deciding as some birds have sharp keelbones indicating illness and if you feel it you can assess its bodyweight and state of health.

 

Its a nice bird.....keep it :D

Kaz have a closer look at that second bird......... it looks like a cock with a browning cere - a cock with issues in other words.

Post pictures please :D

Here are some pics...

 

Cock 1 - Recessive Pied?

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20006.jpg

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20007.jpg

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20008.jpg

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20009.jpg

 

Cock 2 - Combo pied (Dominant + Recessive)???

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20012.jpg

 

http://www.aussiepinball.com/Tony/Budgie%20013.jpg

 

So what do you think? I suspect they are both cocks.

 

 

im sorry but they both look like cocks to me

can you get someone to hold birds and get a fount on picture of each hun

Kaz have a closer look at that second bird......... it looks like a cock with a browning cere - a cock with issues in other words.

Maybe but the cere looked wrinkly and peeling too. Another photo needed then :D

 

and if a cock with issues was why it was sold off most likely.

Edited by KAZ

Kaz have a closer look at that second bird......... it looks like a cock with a browning cere - a cock with issues in other words.

Maybe but the cere looked wrinkly and peeling too. Another photo needed then :D

 

and if a cock with issues was why it was sold off most likely.

Yep too true...Buyer beware!

so we now know from all this discussion that it is a budgie but dont know what sex it is yet?. :D

Edited by Houman

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

Sign In Now