my cockateil

Question
I READ THE ARTICLE ON THE COCKATEIL DISPLAYING HISSING AND PUFFING THE WINGS. WELL I HAVE A COCKATEIL I GOT FROM A FREIND WHO GOT IT FROM A PET STORE AND THEY HAD SAID IT WAS A MALE. I THINK THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A MALE BECAUSE HE WHISTLES ALOT. BUT I HAVE AN ODD QUESTION. COULD HE POSSIBLY BE A SHE? HE CONSTANTLY MASTERBATES ON HIS PERCH AND I HAVE HIM IN WITH A FEMALE WHO KEEPS LAYING UN FERTILE EGGS. I AM CURIOUS IF HE IS A SHE HOW CAN I TELL? THANK YOU SO MUCH! TEMPE

Answer
Hi, Tempe,

I found your question(s) in the question pool this morning.  Evidently, the person you sent your question(s) to originally could not answer for some reason.

I'd have to see a picture of your bird in order to try to help determine sex or you would have to thoroughly describe the coloration on your bird's body.  Usually, a bird that masterbates on a perch is a male, but not necessarily.  Male tiels are more vocal than females this is true.  Females chirp, but they don't sing like a male does.  If your female is laying infertile eggs, you could have 2 females in the cage, but this depends on number of eggs being laid, etc.  

As an aside, you need to try and stop excessive egg laying.  This can be hazardous to your bird's health.  Reduce light sources to 10-12 hours per day, 8-10 hours if necessary.  Do not remove any laid eggs...allow the bird to abandon them in her own time or she will continue to lay and lay.  Be sure to keep a cuttlebone in the cage for supplemental calcium.  

Chrys