Help! Age and gender of my Budgie Turkey?

[Budgiediana]

Hello!

I've recently bought my budgie Turkey and I adore him!

The pet shop i bought him/her from told me Turkey was 3 months. I had done my research and I didnt think he/she was 3 months old. But in good faith, I believed them and would have bought Turkey either way.

What do you guys think? Is he/she 4 months old? 6? Maybe 1 year? I have no clue!

Also, can you tell what gender Turkey is? They have a light blue cere, but I dont know if that means they're a young female or adult Male.

I would really appreciate some answers, thank you in advance!

 

[Scott]

Welcome to you and your beautiful budgie! I am unfamiliar with the species and haven't a clue, but many of our members have great expertise.

If our budgie folks don't notice this thread in a few days, I can move it to the Budgie/Parakeet Forum to attract attention. Or you can create a new but slightly different thread - to avoid duplicate "cross posting." Your choice!!

 

[18WheelsOfSteel]

Need a picture of the front of the face please! Looks to be post molt, which means 4+ months, they are remarkably hard to age after that, changing very little after the initial molt, if the barring on the head goes all the way to the beak it's a younger bird, if it has what I like to refer to as the old man haircut look, it's anybody's guess

 

[bug_n_flock]

The iris is also a good indicator of age up to around 8 months, but is less effective when dealing with aviary birds.



Yours looks kinda poofy and "fat". English budgie? I agree with Wheels above about needing to see the little one's face for an "accurate" guess. But, based on your description I would guess female not in breeding condition.


How long have you had the little one?



Welcome to the forum!

 

[Budgiediana]

Thank you all so much for replying! Didnt expect all the help but I'm so grateful

Here's some more pictures of Turkey. I'm wary of interacting too closely to him/her yet as I've only had them for 4 days.

As far as I can tell, Turkeys iris has a black centre with a thin grey outline around it.

And yes, I do believe they are an english budgie as Turkey looks chunkier

At the pet shop, Turkeys feathers weren't as long as the others. Do you think Turkeys had their flight feathers cut or is this a sign of young age or something else completely?

I'm a new bird owner and have done a bunch of research, though I'm a little confused/worried as to why Turkey isnt doing much. Turkeys cleaning themselves but I dont think they've drank in the time I've had them, Turkey only eats the millet and no bird feed/vegetables and they're disinterested in the toys. Do you think Turkeys just getting used to their surroundings? I want them to be a happy bird and I'm concerned I'm doing something wrong or they they're unwell.

Thank again for your reply and I look forward to all/any messages

 

[bug_n_flock]

I vote Turkey is a 4-6 month old female english budgie(based on the cere's appearance I would vote closer to 6 months, but this is inexact). The tail is a bit short for my liking. That is normal to have not seen her drink. Either she is or she isn't drinking when you are not looking. Drinking makes them feel more vulnerable so it is common for an uneasy budgie not to drink in front of a new owner. Budgies are also from a very arid area and don't NEED to drink every day, which is not the same thing as saying they don't need access to water daily(of course I'm sure you give your bird water daily, said for the benefit of random people reading this thread from a google search. Hi, random people *waves*. )


I'd keep an eye on the tail feathers and maybe schedule an appointment with your vet if they don't come back in or if they start to grow in and fall, or if she just doesn't act "right". But it isn't unheard of for budgers to mess up their tails by playing or interacting with cagemates. Nothing to be scared over, just something to be aware of.

 

[ctwo]

Our ~4-month old budgie took months for his full personality to come out.

 

[18WheelsOfSteel]

Lotsa budgies in the wild get eaten and drowned while drinking, I imagine after a few millennia of this there is a natural apprehension about water and danger, 4 days in is still really new, she'll come around, mine took at least a month or two before they would generally ignore my presence, and even then they were always on full alert when I was facing the cage. For the first few weeks it was obvious how stressful my presence was to them and I made sure to change out food/water on them while they were asleep, quiet like ninja. I wouldn't worry if she seems timid at first, these birds have a natural level of curiosity, once they work out your not interested in eating them they will get more interested in figuring out what the big silly thing that won't fly is up to and where it is, usually by flock calling to you.

 

[Laurasea]

The iris is also a good indicator of age up to around 8 months, but is less effective when dealing with aviary birds.



Yours looks kinda poofy and "fat". English budgie? I agree with Wheels above about needing to see the little one's face for an "accurate" guess. But, based on your description I would guess female not in breeding condition.


How long have you had the little one?



Welcome to the forum!

Lol you said all the things I was going to!!! The Iris makes me think still pretty young, and the pooof make me jealous that he's got some English in him.
Welcome to the forum. There is lots to learn, even if you've had birds for years! So take time explore, look through the general parrot info forum read all the blue sticky threads. Definitely follow 18WheelsofSteel thread! He's got budgie Adventures on the road!!!!
I'm going tack on two Iinjs think have a lot of value hope you'll go read them
1) really great comprehensive article!!!
Of note to me, The morning ritual, I mentioned this to many people experience problems with their parrots, screaming, unhappiness.
Talks about how most pet store birds have been forced weaned, and not allowed to fledge. Talks about hand feeding. I do this every day at least once. Personally feel it enriches the parrot human bond. Teaches them to try new foods. Article talks about the importance of rituals. Of observation. Just a great all around article..
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/
2)
https://www.windycityparrot.com/blog/2010/04/13/flight-important-parrots/#ixzz62HloSvKV

 

[Flboy]

A real sweet one!
That open clasp is a real danger! In play, they can run it through their beak! My friend’s cockatiel did that, she was a kid and panicked! Fortunately, all ended well!
Once replaced, wide end down!
https://www.pethealthandnutritioncenter.com/bird-toy-safe-unsafe-material.html