My beeee u t ful new baby . . .

[jlt666]

Hi everyone,

Geez I feel like I kinda know some of the frequent posters here already because I have been lurking for so long!

I finally brought my baby Timneh home!! He is just so beautiful, I think he has the red factor because he has speckles of red and all the pictures of I've seen of African Greys never showed the beautiful blue feathers on his chest when the sun hits them. As you can see, I am in luvvvvvv.

I saw a post that someone was saying they can tell whether an African Grey is male or female by looking at the shape of his eyes. I thought only a DNA test could tell, but if you guys wanna take a shot at it and tell me boy or girl, I would be happy to hear from you!

Here are some pix of my baby . . .

Jac

P.S. to Lisa B. - I spent all my summers as kid in a rental house on Long Beach Island in Harvey Cedars, brings back such wonderful memories everytime I see one of your posts . . . Long Beach Island was a quaint little island with a five and dime (Ship's Wheel?) and fudge shops, mini golf courses and a wonderful bakery, has it changed much?

[red192]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww what a beauty! what a gooood baby, eatting ur veggies!

[Amie]

Originally Posted by jlt666

I saw a post that someone was saying they can tell whether an African Grey is male or female by looking at the shape of his eyes. I thought only a DNA test could tell, but if you guys wanna take a shot at it and tell me boy or girl, I would be happy to hear from you!

The only SURE way to tell the sex is a DNA check. But there are certain facial characteristics common to males/females in Greys. With the Congos that came through our house while we were fostering for a rescue when I was growing up, my mom was never proven wrong with the DNA test. I'm not as good with Timnehs (and am not 100% sure the rule applies. We only had one Timneh come through, and she was already sexed).

The "trick" is that females have round eyes, and their beak is closer to their face, if that makes sense. It doesn't protrude as much from the face and is more sleek than the more rounded males. Males' eyes are almond shaped, and will have "<>" points at the sides.

IF that rule also applies to Timnehs, and judging on what I can see in the profile picture of your new fid, I'd say female. The eyes seem perfectly round, and the beak appears sleek to me.

And I will be 100% okay with admitting I'm wrong once the results come in. This is my first visual sexing of a Timneh through pictures!

[Lisa B]

Hi Jac, and congrats! what a beautiful baby, and what hues of Blue!
Certain lighting will pick up the blue hues more than others, and some greys have more of a blue tint then others. I had one Grey that had alot of blue. my guys now, not so much.

Ahhh I am very familiar with Harvey Cedars..... Its still a beautiful area, with the quaint shoppes...and I was just at the fudge shoppe for Easter. I am pretty new to the area, being originally from north jersey....however, i LOVE this area. Its built up alot just off the island, and the homes on the island are to die for.
We havent been to the mini golf courses yet, but plan on it. We have been to the Chowderfest, and I just love walking on the beach when its quiet and I am alone.....I cant wait for the warmer weather to arrive!!!

[my-africangrey-echo]

Hello Jac welcome to the forum and congrats on your new baby!! I have a DNA male TAG and agree your baby looks like a girly 2 me. But a DNA is the only way to know for sure unless of coarse some day in the distant future she lays an egg.

[babypiggy]

there is no SURE way of telling the sex

it could still be 50/50 chance of getting it right
lol


only 110% accuracy is the DNA tests

:)

[Amie]

Originally Posted by babypiggy

there is no SURE way of telling the sex

it could still be 50/50 chance of getting it right
lol


only 110% accuracy is the DNA tests

:)

It's not 50/50. If you look online, there are statistics where avian vets can visually sex and African Grey within 95% accuracy.

And a DNA test is only 99%. So the odds aren't that much better. (We had an unsuccessful DNA sexing when my mother fostered for a rescue. One of our "male" cockatoos started laying eggs!)

Now, having a picture, and not being able to see the beeb in person, makes a pretty big difference. But we've never said that this is fool proof and both guesses suggested getting the DNA done.

[jlt666]

I appreciate your educated guess, we will see what we will see when the tests come back. In the meantime, I think Martini does have a feminine quality to her, but what do I know, lol!

Makes no difference to me. We are doing awesome here. This morning Martini slept on my lap while I was working and upon awakening ravenously attacked an apple. I am so happy to see her eating so many fruits and veggies.

Jac

[Amie]

I love your name choice :)

She and Goose the Grey should become friends

[DynamitePsycho]

Congratulations! Your baby is beautiful!