I have looked everyplace and found alot of info on how to tell male or female. But i'm still not clear on how you guys tell when they are young. i will be looking at babies tomorrow, i believe they are about 6 or 7 weeks old. How will i tell the difference becuase i want a male? Some are recessive pieds (green and yellow) and some are normal (green) if that makes a difference. Thanks for your help even though this has been discussed many times.

It is hard to tell. oth sexes have the same coloured cere. A female will have white rings around the nostrils.

 

Good luck, even the experts can get it wrong at this age. If your buying off a breeder, then they should have a good idea.

Lin is right it can be difficult. Here are a couple guidelines if the cere is very bright pink, smooth and transparent nasal rings it can be a boy (that has been my experience with Pretty), now if it flatter, rougher looking, whitish pink, with distinct white rings it will probably be a hen.

 

Check out my siggy for the male cere in the recessive pied, that is my Pretty, you can also see Merlin's cere better in the pictures I posted of him last week when I first got him. He is 7-9 weeks old.

Pics that follow are of my birds when first brought home. I'm guessing they were a couple months old at the time.

 

Male on left, female on right

Both males. Male on right is recessive pied.

Shawna - I printed out the pictures you provided and am taking them to the breeders with me tomorrow so thanks a bunch. I will let you all know which baby I pick out. I then have to wait a week to get him/her. I'm so excited!!!

Edited May 1, 200619 yr by karma-k

Shawna - I printed out the pictures you provided and am taking them to the breeders with me tomorrow so thanks a bunch. I will let you all know which baby I pick out. I then have to wait a week to get him/her. I'm so excited!!!

Good luck. Can't wait to see what you pick out!

Great job Shawna and good luck Karma