Would like some info on my new lovies

[dcalto]

Hello all,

What an imformative site. I just bought my first pair of lovebirds and and have been working patiently on taming them. My real question is what color variations do I have and what age are my birds. My green bird still has black on his upper beak. The breeder told me they were both eight months old but due to his beak it has me wondering. She also told me I had a male and a female but when I asked which one was the male she hemmed and hawed before staing the male was the yellow one. Just how she acted made me doubt whether she knew or only cared about my money. She also stated all I would need was birdseed for food but I already had researched enough to know that was incorrect. Any help you could give me on age, color variations, and sex would be greatly appreciated. I tried to read about genetics but it just flew right over my head. Thanks again.

<a href="http://s1312.photobucket.com/user/dcalton75/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20131205_2021450_zps212be7fb.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t535/dcalton75/Mobile%20Uploads/20131205_2021450_zps212be7fb.jpg" border="0" alt="Kiwi and Kuepi photo 20131205_2021450_zps212be7fb.jpg"/></a>

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t535/dcalton75/Mobile%20Uploads/20131205_2021450_zps212be7fb.jpg (http://s1312.photobucket.com/user/dcalton75/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20131205_2021450_zps212be7fb.jpg.html)

[dcalto]

Just wanted to add that my yellow has some light blue on her rump and tail feathers.

[linda040899]

Hi and welcome to Lovebirds Plus Community! We are happy to have you with us!

Eight months old????? Maybe in another 4.5 months but certainly not now! Both are showing baby coloring and that dark splotch on the green one's beak will not be gone until he's roughly 3.5 months old. Baby lovebirds are normally weaned and eating on their own by the time they are 8 weeks old and if you are taming them, it's my guess they are not hand fed (a good thing if all this breeder cares about is money!). The first molt starts at 4 months/16 weeks and you will see the facial masks deepen and brighten considerably.

The "yellow" one's mutation is Pallid and the green one appears to be medium green. Pallid is a sex linked mutation so if you can tell me what the parents looked like, I may be able to genetically sex the Pallid one for you. Only certain pairings will produce males in this particular mutation. The mother must look like the baby and the dad must at least carry the gene. If the mom isn't visual but the dad is a Pallid, then the baby is a hen. If neither parent is Pallid, dad is carrying the gene and the baby is also a hen.

Hope this is helpful.

[dcalto]

Thank you so much for the quick response. My bf is a little aggravated at me because I am on this site so much. I will contact my breeder today a d try to get some info from her. I wish I had found this site before I purchased them. I would have known the right questions to ask. If I get any info I will post it on here.

[dcalto]

Here is a pic of the parents of my pallid bird. She assured me they were not siblings but again stated they were both about 8 months old. Oh well. They are both awesome little birdies. Let me know Linda if your able to sex my yellow lovie. Thanks again.


http://s1312.photobucket.com/user/dcalton75/literary/Mobile%20Uploads

[linda040899]

Sorry but the link won't open for me. Tried a couple of variations but no luck. :( Do either of them look like the baby?

[dcalto]

Try this one.

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t535/dcalton75/Mobile%20Uploads/1206131027_zpsc0d98582.jpg

[dcalto]

It seems like both parents are of similar color. Is that a bad thing to breed two pallids? Sorry if I have too many questions.

[linda040899]

That link worked. :) Are they the two in the upper right hand corner or are they the other 2...or, perhaps one of each?

I have a strong suspicion that the Pallid is a hen.

[linda040899]

You can breed 2 pallids together but I would not breed brother/sister. If those are the parents, your pallid could be male or female, as the criteria are there for it. The hen shows the color, as does the male. The gene for pallid is a guaranteed pass on both sides.

[dcalto]

Yeah she said two in upper right corner were parents.

[dcalto]

Thank u so much. I will look into testing for the sex of both birds snd do so more research into whether or not I can keep them together or seperate for safety. Right now they are extremely happy together. Only if they were as bonded with me as they are together.

[linda040899]

Give them time to get to know you and see how the relationship changes. The situation is brand new to them and the only thing they know for sure that's familiar is each other. If you want to try new food, offer small pieces of fresh veggies. I usually shred fresh carrot so they can explore it by thinking it's a possible toy. Then they find out it's edible. Youngsters are usually more inquisitive than older birds because most tend to be fearless. :)