Cockatiel gender?

[MJD17]

My tiel is young and I was told he is a he (most likely) since he was chirping a little bit and had no bars under his tail feathers, but from pictures his facial features look female. He is still very young (I believe three months) and I read that tiels don't go through their first molt until six months and that all young look like females until then. Attached is a pic. What do you think?

[GlassOnion]

All grey tiels look like females until they moult. But if there are no bars and he's whistling, it's likely to be male... But still you never know!

[MJD17]

All grey tiels look like females until they moult. But if there are no bars and he's whistling, it's likely to be male... But still you never know!

There didn't seem to be bars when I looked (I'm letting him rest in his cage right now since he's been out all day), though his sounds are generally only a few chirps here and there and nothing continuous. I'm really hoping for a male! How long does it take before a tiel reaches it's first real moult usually?

[kaylayuh]

For a quicker and definite answer, you can have him DNA sexed at the vet when you go in for your new bird visit.

[captwest]

If you can get him to whistle he's a boy.

[MJD17]

For a quicker and definite answer, you can have him DNA sexed at the vet when you go in for your new bird visit.

I'm really just questioning if young tiels all look similar to how he looks now. This is my first so I find it strange that the way he looks now could and would change to bright yellow/orange if he is a boy.

[kaylayuh]

Oh, I find most babies of any species to be difficult to sex visually. A lot of birds don't grow into their normal coloration until after the first or second molt. It's still fun to guess, though! And you should still take him into a vet for a new bird visit even if only to find a vet you like.

[BudgieSansWings]

To me looks like a male. The yellow looks like it's starting to come in. But to be sure, you've either gotta wait, or do a dna testing like kaylayuh suggested. All of the females I had could be just as noisy as the males... They just never said any human words. So I personally wouldn't trust judging sex by whistling.

[MJD17]

Oh, I find most babies of any species to be difficult to sex visually. A lot of birds don't grow into their normal coloration until after the first or second molt. It's still fun to guess, though! And you should still take him into a vet for a new bird visit even if only to find a vet you like.

Yup! I for one would be fascinated to see his go from how he looks now to a yellower face and brighter patches. Has anyone had a male that has done something like that? And there is an avian vet two doors down from where I picked him up that he has been (and will be) going to. Also, aside from that first question, is there a limit to how much interaction he should get daily? I'm home pretty much all day (haven't picked up a summer job yet (home from college)), so when I first woke up I changed his water and papers and took him out to hang out. Since then (around ten) he's been out mostly on my shoulder, although I let him have an hour or two in his cage to adjust and get some food and water. Third question (sorry, they keep coming!) is how can I get him to appreciate petting? There was another tiel I was considering there who was a bit more nippy but he loved getting his head scratched. I chose my current tiel because he didn't bite at all (he explored with his beak but nothing I would consider a bite, and only if you started rubbing his back or going near his face), but I did enjoy the way the other one would accept head scratches and put his crest up. Is this a tiel preference or will he adapt and start enjoying being touched?

[kaylayuh]

I find Cockatiels to have a pretty even temperment and not prone to behaviour problems, but it is a problem if the bird becomes too attached to you. To prevent that, I'd make sure he has some independant play time. My guys have a play gym and some play perches outside (or attached to) their cage where they can hang out. And even though I'm home all day, they spend about 3 or so hours actually on me. This way, I know they can amuse themselves and won't be too stressed when I'm not here.

Birds that have become over bonded to their person are prone to screaming and feather plucking. Both of which are miserable for the owner and for the bird. Find some toys he likes, find a good play gym, and just leave the cage door open when you're home.

And for your second question, some birds don't really like to be pet. Some like to be pet only in certain areas. Some love to be pet. My Green Cheek Conure loves to be pet. My budgies both hate it. The budgies are about 20 months and 16 months old and they've been this way since I've gotten them. I doubt they'll ever like to be pet (or interacted with). I've personally never known a baby that didn't like to be pet grow into an adult that did, but I also haven't been around too many babies. It may happen, but be prepared if it doesn't.