To hand raise or not to hand raise THAT is the question

[vivian]

Baby is doing great. He or she I'm not sure how to tell is eating on his/her own and is obsesed with a miror that has a recording of my voice saying hello anytime he/she moves in front of the sensor. L.O.L He/she also wont let anyone touch him/her exept me.

[vivian]

OK it's time for a update!!! "Baby" is doing great, he's very nice to be around and likes to be scrached on the cheek. But I'm not sure how to tell if he's a boy or girl. I was told that the color of the nose could be a factor but I'm not sure. He's nose right now is a light blue and he's about four or more months.

[birdlover000]

Yes, cere the two circular things above the beak can in some cases determain the sex. You will not know his age until he is sexual mature, which takes about a year or a little less. The cere can change from one color to another throughout the one year period. Some time after the large "first" molt, you should be able to tell the sex.....

[birdlover000]

Forgot to mention, dark shinny-like blue is male and brown crusty is female. Before they are mature it can change from pink to purple, to blue and back to pink.... just have to wait...

[Trees Gray]

You can usually start to tell the birds gender between the age 1 month to 4 months depending on whether it is a male or not. Males that are aggressive, bossy and protective will start will start to behave that way early in life. Hens are less vocal and it seems they don't really let you know by their behavior until they are older. Then there are those late bloomers that aren't vocal and you can't really start to distinguish their behavior until 3 months or more. When pigeons youngsters are allowed to interact with others their age or older it is easier to see the gender as they start role playing and acting out with each other.

I have a youngster named Winston who was 4 weeks old when I pretty much guessed he was a boy. He got defensive and started picking at me when ever I would come to the nest bowl, much more the usual. At 2 months he was defending his place at the feeder and going rounds with the older males. He already had his own cubby picked out at 3 months of age.

Pigeons are considered mature at 6 months of age.

[vivian]

ok I sopose he's a boy then cus he always cherping his head off!!

[birdlover000]

Chirping isn't a good way to tell the sex, only because males and females do that, and sometimes one sex can be more vocal then another...50/50 chance. There aren't many signs to tell the sex of a budgie before the cere changes.....

[vivian]

oohhhh..ok