| Title: | Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN! |
| Notice: | INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.* |
| Moderator: | VIDEO::PULSIFER |
| Created: | Mon Oct 10 1988 |
| Last Modified: | Tue Jun 03 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 942 |
| Total number of notes: | 6016 |
Hi, I currently don't own any birds, but I'm thinking about getting a cockatiel. I read in this month's Bird Talk that male pearl cockatiels lose their pearl look during their first moult. After the moult they look like a regular ol' grey cockatiel. Is this true of all male pearls or just certain splits? Does this mean that if I buy a young pearl bird, I have a 50% chance that it will change coloration? Not that I have anything against normal greys, I'd just hate to spend $40 extra and end up without my moneys worth! I know that females have barring on the tail and spots on the wings, but these markings don't show up until after the firt moult, right? Thanks for any advice, Roseanne VMS Workstations Software Atlanta Customer Support Center
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 345.1 | ONLY GIRLS ARE PEARLS | FDCV07::BOURGAULT | Fri Apr 27 1990 13:42 | 12 | |
According to what I heard, this is the unfortunate truth for male
pearls. I would suggest however, that if you are interested in
obtaining a young pearl and want to insure that it is a female who will
retain her beautiful pearl plumage, purchase from a breeder. Breeders
of cockatiels pretty much can tell males from females at a very early
age. In fact, even I was able to distinguish my male from female
babies by the time they were 2 months old - and I was 100% right!
Find a local cockatiel breeder and visit them. This way you will get
what you want and not take a chance.
Good luck!
Denise
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| 345.2 | Thanks. | RHETT::RROGERS | Tue May 01 1990 10:22 | 5 | |
Thanks Denise! Roseanne | |||||
| 345.3 | FYI - PEARL COCKATIELS FOR SALE | FDCV07::BOURGAULT | Mon May 14 1990 14:31 | 14 | |
Just thought I'd let you know that I was at my local pet store
(Seaworld in Salem N.H.) and they had a few beautiful pearls and
cinnamon pearl adult cockatiels (untamed) for $49.99 on sale this
week. They were handsome birds in good feather. Since they were
adult birds, I would assume they are females. Since Cockatiels
are easier than many birds to tame it may be worth looking into
if you are set on getting a pearl.
Just thought I'd let you know.
Denise
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| 345.4 | RHETT::RROGERS | Tue May 15 1990 12:39 | 19 | ||
Thanks for keeping an eye out for me. Unfortunately it seems I'm one of the few PET_BIRDS noters who does not live in Mass or New H. I'm at the Atlanta Customer Support Center. Even though there are a several hundred people here, I know of only one other noter from here (hi, Laurie!). That IS a great price for cockatiels, especially pearls. Right now I'm saving up to buy a large cage I have picked out at a local pet supply store. There will be a bird show in Atlanta in early June. I went last year and there were some great deals, so I may finally end all this planning then! At the same show last year I saw some plum-head parrakeets and fell in love. I have not seen one since (although a fellow noter found some in a MA pet shop). They seem like the perfect bird for me except they are *so* expensive... so I'm keeping an open mind and hoping I can find a good bird at the show. I'll keep you all posted. Roseanne | |||||