[LowkeyBirb]

Hello budgie buddies!

Okay, so after reading about how a budgie's high energy and persistent nagging for a friend could annoy a cockatiel, I decided to go ahead and get a third bird. My goal was to get a boy, but I think I may have accidentally gotten a girl. She is totally quarantined in Helios' old cage and I will be giving her a long-term treatment since I got her a different Petco.

She is so gorgeous and looks like a storm, I couldn't pass her up with how bright and sunny Helios is, they will look gorgeous together. While she is very cute, she wants zero part of me, but wasn't just petrified on the bottom of her cage and did explore a good bit. I didn't realize how calm Helios was to warm up to me, while she wants NO part of me even near her cage right now. It's okay, Im patient and happy with my flock. No more for me. I have my perfect trio; The sun, moon, and sky. and in like two months it will be nice having them all in my office with me.

So since I think I flubbed up and got a girl I've been calling her Selene, but would much rather have a boy for hormonal reasons. Can you guys help me out here? Also any input on age? I am guessing younger than 4 months at least yeah?

Thank you!!

 

[Cody]

I agree that the bird appears to be a female but she is quite young so let's wait and see what StarlingWings has to say. Beautiful gray color, she really does look like storm clouds, her wings have been clipped so it will be months before she can fly.

 

[LowkeyBirb]

Thank you for your response!
Helios is also clipped from the store, but he can still get some decent height and carry himself along. She on the other hand can barely get herself more than 6 inches up, I think they really did a number on her wings. So here's to hoping she is very young and will molt at some point in the next few months. I can't wait to see her zipping around 🥰

 

[Sweety's mom]

She is soooo cute!

Why on earth would the pet store clip their wings???

 

[LowkeyBirb]

She is soooo cute!

Why on earth would the pet store clip their wings???

Thank you! This picture doesn't quite show her true color, but her tummy has a bit of a bluish tint that really made her stand out for me. I was thinking there was a tiiiint of purple on the cere when i picked her out and my gut said boy, compared to the others in her tank. But once I got her home I was like...oh no I think its a girl lol

is that weird?? All three of my birds are clipped from the store/breeder. I was told it was so they don't get hurt if they happen to get out and fly into anything dangerous. I was thinking every bird comes clipped and then flies after their next molt.

 

[Sweety's mom]

Thank you! This picture doesn't quite show her true color, but her tummy has a bit of a bluish tint that really made her stand out for me. I was thinking there was a tiiiint of purple on the cere when i picked her out and my gut said boy, compared to the others in her tank. But once I got her home I was like...oh no I think its a girl lol

is that weird?? All three of my birds are clipped from the store/breeder. I was told it was so they don't get hurt if they happen to get out and fly into anything dangerous. I was thinking every bird comes clipped and then flies after their next molt.

Oh my goodness, no. Or at least clipping should NEVER be a standard practice. It should only be used when the health of the bird would require clipping (very uncommon situation). Did you say it was a big pet store, or are you getting them directly from a breeder? Some breeders or stores are maybe choosing to do this so that if THEY accidentally let the bird out, they can catch them. But this is a horrible reason to clip wings.

I have had mine since last July and if he had been clipped, he still would not have all of those feathers back right now. He has molted some a few times but he has not lost those flight feathers yet, so that means he would not have grown in new ones yet - - 8 months later! I cringe to think of him not being able to fly all this time.

I'm sorry your babies are clipped - but very happy you will not clip them again so at least they will be flyers one day.

 

[StarlingWings]

She’s definitely a girl 😌 A gorgeous little one!! Looking forward to hearing more about her~

 

[LowkeyBirb]

She’s definitely a girl 😌 A gorgeous little one!! Looking forward to hearing more about her~

Do you happen to have a few resource links to share in regards to avoiding breeding? Will she always need her own cage? How do I avoid her ever wanting to lay an egg?

 

[Cody]

They do not always lay eggs but it is best if you are aware of the pitfalls and what to look for, take a look at this When We Don't Want Eggs!

 

[StarlingWings]

To add on to what Cody said, females do not necessarily always have the urge to lay, either. It depends on their relationship with the budgie they're housed with and how well the owner can successfully throw off her hormonal patterns to avoid the situation to begin with. You do not have to house them separately unless it's obvious they keep trying to mate with each other despite your efforts to discourage it. However, you will have to be vigilant and keep an eye out for any egg-laying or anything so that you can toss the eggs before any life has formed, etc.

Personally a lot of this is up to the female in question. My girl is 10 and she has never been broody in her life. Of course, she never has access to any space or situation where she may become broody. On the other hand some other single females have to be constantly deterred from laying. It all depends on the individual hen. The best you can do is follow the information in the links above and always remain watchful and perceptive of your budgies' behavior~

To prepare for the potential situation that they could need to be housed separately (if they don't get along, if one of them begins to bully the other, or if they insist on mating) you should try and have a spare cage on hand just in case

 

[FaeryBee]

She is a very beautiful little girl.

When you have mixed genders, it is very important to do everything necessary to prevent breeding.
Budgies are much healthier and happier when they are never bred.

A Heartfelt Plea to All Members
Tips For Discouraging Breeding
Before You Ever Consider Breeding Your Budgies
Guidance for Breeding Advice Threads