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Post by dianapalmer on Nov 13, 2013 17:25:22 GMT
Hi.
Lisa, I'm not sure about the pattern of Emma's feathers. I only got to see her from the front, as she wouldn't turn around. She's in a cage that is solid on three sides.
Pammy, Sunny looks good. She's a very bright yellow, with some green markings. I will be very curious to know what mutation she is. She is the most brightly colored of the current group of budgies. I am surprised no one has ought her yet. The young man is sure she's a female, but I'm not absolutely sure. Her cere looks purplish to me, and I couldn't get close enough to see if there are white rings.
I told my daughter and my brother about the cockatiel. They were rather muted in their enthusiasm (LOL). It's so nice to have this group where others share in my excitement.
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Post by lisamarie on Nov 13, 2013 17:27:00 GMT
I'm sure they're both beautiful  Can't wait to see them! |
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Post by Pammy on Nov 13, 2013 19:31:40 GMT
Diana, I don't find it unusual anymore that pet store employees and even managers do not know how to accurately sex a budgie. I taught the manager at my local Petco, and he was very receptive since I had other questions and he was able to feel as though we were sharing back and forth. Even though I did already know the info he was imparting to me (mainly from our interactions here in our forum), we still had a great discussion about budgies that was enjoyable to both of us. Back to the ceres, though, he thought pink was for girls and blue was for boys. It seems to be a common misconception. Maybe when you next go to the store, you could snap a picture of Sunny to post here, and some of our girls could tell you for sure whether Sunny is a girl or a boy. Would that make a difference in your purchase, or do you plan to adopt him/her either way? I agree that it's wonderful that we can share our enthusiasm together amongst ourselves here on our forum, about birds. Non-bird enthusiasts seldom deliver the level of excitement we're looking for when we share happy birdie news. "Rather muted in their enthusiasm" describes it perfectly! At first I was disappointed when others deflated my balloon of excitement, but then I learned to save the best of my budgie and cockatiel joy for you friends here. |
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Post by dianapalmer on Nov 13, 2013 21:59:08 GMT
I went back to visit Emma today. She noticed I had a package of millet in my hand and seemed interested. An employee said it would be okay if I tried to give her some. I s l o w l y got out the millet and brought it up to the cage. Emma ran away into a corner of the cage and started swaying back and forth. I stayed perfectly still, but she didn't calm down. It's funny, because she didn't move away when I was just talking to her. But, the millet seemed to scare her, even though my hand was not visible. Oh, well. She will just need quite a bit of time and work when I get her home.
The two cockatiels were originally labeled "hand raised." The sign is gone now. I think it's because they have been in the cages so long, without anyone working with them.
I haven't decided about the yellow budgie of questionable sex. There are also a couple of white budgies that look more like females to me. I think I will ask the employee what it is about the yellow budgie's cere that makes him think it is female.
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Post by lisamarie on Nov 13, 2013 22:06:42 GMT
Don't be discouraged with her backing away. I know you won't be though, because you are doing great with Piper and Snowy. You will be a perfect cockatiel mom!
As for the budgies, you're more after gender (female) than color, right?
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Post by Pammy on Nov 13, 2013 22:21:50 GMT
I don't remember how it is that you know Emma is a girl. Did they DNA her?
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Post by dianapalmer on Nov 13, 2013 22:27:05 GMT
Pammy: No, they have not done a DNA test. The young man who raised them thinks Emma is a girl and the other is a boy. I don't know what he bases this on. I would prefer a girl, but don't feel strongly about it. I see advantages to both sexes. Perhaps I should try for a more sex neutral name.
Lisa:: That is a good question, about whether it is color or sex that I want. What attracted me to the yellow budgie was what a beautiful color it was. When the man said he thought it as a girl, that sort of clinched it. Maybe I'll get both (LOL).
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Post by lisamarie on Nov 13, 2013 23:23:24 GMT
I see no harm in that! Hehe
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Post by Sarah on Nov 14, 2013 2:34:30 GMT
Good luck with your new birds!
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Post by Sarah on Nov 14, 2013 2:36:52 GMT
I can't wait to see the mutation of the 'tiel! Sarah, I bought a cockatiel magazine from petco the other day, and in it there are aeveral pictures of the same cockatiel - it's all black. What is that called?! I have never seen it before and I absolutely love it I have never seen an all black adult. I've seen some very very dark babies, but unfortunately they seem to grow out of it. Still, I am very very far from an expert on cockatiel coloration. To research! XD |
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Post by lisamarie on Nov 14, 2013 2:43:37 GMT
I've been all over google, and my magazine, and the book I own and black is NOT listed. Thankfully, someone who works at the bird store answered (I commented asking if they will stay black) She said that it is not black, but a VERY dark dark gray. So i guess that answers that  But if you see the picture I posted from the magazine, that one is almost an adult and I would consider it black. I want a boy! |
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Post by Pammy on Nov 14, 2013 5:22:47 GMT
Sarah, does this mean that the dark gray on normal pied babies such as my Mistletoe-to-be have the potential of lightening up as sweet baby grows? And if yes, would the dark gray parts lighten to lighter gray, or to yellow?
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Post by Sarah on Nov 14, 2013 19:08:09 GMT
It seems to depend on a few things. Pirate had some silvery chest feathers that turned into a mat darker grey, and he had some very dark back and face feathers that melded down into that same 'medium' grey. I would say if you could mix the color of Pirate's lightest areas and his darkest as a baby, you'd arrive at his adult feather color.
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Post by Emily on Nov 15, 2013 2:58:42 GMT
I agree with Sarah. From what I've learned about mutations with cockatiels, it's that the colors can change drastically (but isn't that with any bird?). I also learned from Sarah that cockatiels keep their baby feathers a LOT longer than budgies. If you take regular pictures of Mistletoe, and stream them together--a year or two later Mistletoe COULD look like a different bird. Already when I look at Pepper, some days she looks a lot more yellow than Cinnamon, and one of her flight feathers that came in is a nice chocolatey brown and is currently the darkest feather on her body right now. I'm very interested to see how her colors change!
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Post by Pammy on Nov 15, 2013 3:01:10 GMT
That is so interesting! Ooh, Pepper's chocolate brown feather must be pretty. Brown is one of my favorite colors.
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But if you see the picture I posted from the magazine, that one is almost an adult and I would consider it black. I want a boy!
