Cockatiel and Parakeet question.

[Triplemoon]

I have a weird question. My two girls are fairly new to me. My cockatiel was a gift from a friend and so was Tweety. Goldie has started this weird licking my cheek thing. Is that a sign of affection? She also likes to clean my earring ( she can't get that one out unless she pulled way hard it is in my cartilage and has been pulled quite a bit) and doesn't pull it but just jiggles it and licks it. she also likes to make a call from across the room if I am not talking. Like she wants me to talk to her. Right now she is preening on my shoulder.

Another thing. Not cockatiel related.... My parakeet today sat on my hand for about 30 mins and started to clean herself. That is after a week of being here. Is that my first sign of hope with S/he?

I am going to post a photo of the girls. I was wondering if anyone can tell if my Parakeet is a girl or boy.

now for Goldie's favorite spot on me....

 

[MonicaMc]

Do you know what mutation Tweety's parents are? I'm guessing male unless Tweety's mother does not look like him/her.

Are the eyes red or black?

 

[Triplemoon]

No idea as he was a gift from someone who bought him from a pet store. The eyes are Red. I am leaning towards male due to the whole cere being the same color and a breeder friend of mine told me if tweety was a female the nostrils would have white. But the cere is all the same color even up to the nostrils.

 

[MonicaMc]

That's why I'm guessing male!

A lot of people think pink means female, because it's not blue like a males cere... but it's also not the same colors of female budgies ceres! It is the males who end up having a pink cere if they are Ino or Recessive Pied.

 

[Triplemoon]

Tweety has zero color other then yellow on him. No bars or anything. My breeder friend said I have a pretty find. I just wish they had more paper work on him. I will not buy from a pet store again. I should of told my friend to of just paid my breeder friend if she really wanted me to get one. I love him to bits but just worry about his longevity. He is a spoiled baby now. Even if he isn't a fan of being held.

He has started to tweet. I always am saying Pretty bird and Pretty baby. In hopes he picks up words.

 

[Marina]

If you can catch him or her speaking that is a 100 percent clue it is a male as females do not speak. Egg laying means its a female as im sure you know. Generally males have blue ceres when adult and females pinkish when adults. Im unfamiliar with mutations. Longevity is 10-15 years, sometimes younger sometimes older.
As for your cockatiels, your earring is shiny plain and simple and mine does the same thing; likes to fiddle with them. Grooming your face, licking or picking at imperfections is normal as it is just a simple grooming gesture. Calling for you is just that, where did you go? Are you ok? Whistle or talk back to them. Make sure it isn't continuous screams as that is just attention seeking. My girls call for me usually when they are walking to find me in the apartment and shut up when they find me. I noticed when they are hungry or thirsty they will yell non stop, and it isnt like they cant fly/walk back to their cage to eat, they just prefer I transport them back myself. When my girls get spooked and fly and land somewhere they will also scream out for each other to see who landed where or "hey come find me" to which i do. Longevity is on average 15-20 but again can die sooner or later, sometimes past 25-30 years, but by then the age really shows.

 

[MonicaMc]

A bird that speaks is no guarantee it's a male! I have a female cockatiel that whistles, and I have met owners with females that talk! I know for a fact that Tomi Girl is female because she has female markings and she has laid eggs in the past when she was an "only bird".

A pink cere in a budgie that is 4+ months in age is a 100% guarantee male! By that age, a hens cere is typically white with sometimes blue and/or tan colors. Blue could mean male or female, depending on the blue itself... Males typically have a smooth/shiny cere, where-as females have a rougher looking one (not shiny). The blue of a male usually encompasses the entire cere where-as in a hen there's usually some white and/or tan colors, too.

It can be confusing.

 

[Triplemoon]

With the Budgie being a true lutino with red eyes and no color but yellow on him his cere will remain a pinky color. Or so I am told by my bird friends in Chattanooga. But he is becoming more and move vocal and likes to show off a bit. But I am sure girls can to. If I am really concerned later I will get him sexed. right now I just want him to grow up and be a good little bird. ( he bit me today. It was my fault as I didn't read his warning when I was trying to pick up something I dropped while installing a new toy)

 

[MikeyTN]

I used to have a pair that produces Lutino Parakeets and Albino ones too. And yes their ceres will stay pink. But once the females are ready to breed they change to crusty brown. Once Parakeets mature you should notice the males and females act totally different. It's been years since I've bred them. I used to own a book that also shows the difference between the male and the female's nostril shape while one sex is more oval and the other one more round. IF I remember right the males are more oval while the females are more round.

Anytime you wear shiny things birds will be attracted to it and they will tug it and play with it. Might be wise for you to remove your ear ring if you have them on your shoulders.

 

[Triplemoon]

I have had Goldie for a while and all she does it jiggle it until I tell her stop and then she moves on. I have a necklace of play things and she will move to it. She is a pretty smart bird in listening to tone and knowing when to back off.