Sprocket the Rocket

[1Sprocket]

My name is Staci. I just sighned up. I'm curently hand feeding 18 cockatiels, 2 pearls, 3 pieds, 7 Latinos, and 7 greys. I am keeping one of the Pearls. His (hopefully a "his" anyways) name is Sprocket. he is somewhere between 3-4 weks old.

[1Sprocket]

*weeks sorry I'm a terrible speller lol

[1Sprocket]

Hopefully I will get some better pics up pretty soon!

[Monica]

Welcome to BB! Do you know the mutation of the parents of the pearl chicks?

[micki]

hi and welcome to the forum

[Courtzrocks]

Welcome to bird board.

[greencinacheeks]

welcome to the BB!!!!!!

[1Sprocket]

Originally Posted by Monica

Welcome to BB! Do you know the mutation of the parents of the pearl chicks?

No what is it?

[Monica]

A mutation is like a color. The normal grey cockatiels are not mutations, but if they aren't grey then they are a mutation... i.e. pearl, lutino (not latino, which is an ethnic group), pied, etc.

I asked if you new what mutation the parents are, because if the mother is a pearl, then Sprocket *MIGHT* be a boy. If his mother IS NOT a pearl, then Sprocket is a girl. It's to do with sex-linked genes...

Short and simple, if Sprocket is a girl then Sprocket will keep her pearls. If Sprocket is a male, he'll most likely loose all his pearls and look like a normal grey.

Some mutations can be harmful to birds... such as the feather duster mutations in budgies. However, the most "harmful" mutation in cockatiels is the lutino or albino genes. Like humans, they may suffer from light sensitivity, not being able to focus on objects (thus troubles flying), and any other problems that come along with being an albino creature. However, other than those "side effects", the lutino/albino gene is not harmful to cockatiels in any other way (i.e. it should not shorten their lifespan so long as they are properly cared for).

[1Sprocket]

Thanks a million!