Chest Crested Budgie

[Dean_NZ 0]

Hi guys, i have had a pestering thought for some time now about a bird i have noticed at the local pet shop. I stop in often to talk to the staff since they breed canaries and budgies, and my dad breeds canaries. So we talk about the season and what sort of quality of chicks they have had, as well as what they have noted coming into the store.

 

One budgie i noted immediately some time ago which still hasnt sold is a green (possibly grey green) cock that has a spiral crest of feathers on its chest. I wondered at first if it had only just been handled and the feathers were askew and would be preened back into position. But subsequent trips have proved they are in fact a crest of some sort.

 

I was just wondering if it is not unheard of to have directional feathers pop up in random places? Or perhaps this was some sort of injury or plucking in nest incident? I have wondered about buying him just to see if he would breed and perhaps pass on this chest crest. But if it is not really all that special then i suppose its just a curiosity. I guess im trying to figure out if this is common, or if it is uncommon, do you suspect injury or genetics. Finally, after all that - would you purchase him yourself? Thoughts? Comments?

 

I will check and see if he is there tomorrow and do my best to snap a pick that CLEARLY shows the 'chest crest'.

[melbournebudgies 0]

I'd ask to hold him and check to see if you can see any scarring on him, I had one with svere inuries and even her feathers went the right direction. If you can't see any obvious old injury then I'd buy him

[Sailorwolf 0]

Get him!!!

[LILBABYBUDGIES 0]

my say is take a chance and get him do a little bit of homework first but just take a risk. but do quarrentine if you do get him!

[melbournebudgies 0]

Just bear in mind that it may take a generation or two (or four) before you see any the same so don't give up after one pairng.

[LILBABYBUDGIES 0]

yay its experimental time!

[Dean_NZ 0]

I suppose thats true. If it is genetic, i will have to go through the process of determining its inheritance. Dominant, recessive, sex linked....

 

I find it very interesting to read that there have been recessive greys, recessive ino's, and other mutations common today that appeared in duplicate with a different form of inheritance. It is obvious why these have died out when ino breeds much easier as sex linkage and grey is easier bred as dominant. Perhaps we will one day hear of a black face re-appearing that is sex linked. Who knows. I will certainly investigate this bird tomorrow...

 

So i plan to check and see if he is still there, take a good look at him including photos, and check with the staff to see if they know anything about the breeder. Perhaps i could even get in touch with the breeder and see what he/she remembers of this birds crest or has information about its parents/siblings.

Edited February 8, 2009 by Dean_NZ

[LILBABYBUDGIES 0]

good luck keep us posted

[melbournebudgies 0]

Best bet would be to breed him and then put him to his hen offspring if none with the feathers appear in the nest to test the theory, not something I would normally do but in this case probably the fastest way to determine the inheritance. Also if it's anything like the crests on the noggin then test him with as many of his daughters as possible as not all offspring will be carriers

[GenericBlue 0]

theirs something about mary lol lol lol ha ha ha love you mb x x x x x

[Dean_NZ 0]

Hi everyone, i went down to see if i could find him at the pet shop and sure enough, our little grey green chest chrested budgie was there. I was fortunate enough to have him put aside for a close inspection, and it certainly is a crest.

 

However, when i spoke to one of the avian staff i know, she was able to tell me not only who brought in the bird, but that she has seen a number of them from this lady and others. She says as far as she know it is a common feathering problem among the english show types that sometimes are close to featherdusters, that is to say, she sees this condition always in 'longer feathered birds'.

 

Knowing full well who the breeder was i decided not to get the bird as she is someone i have decided not to buy any more birds off - she is one of NZ's top breeders, but demands very high prices and offers no help to experienced or beginner breeders, even seperating her star pairs and selling them off individually to prevent anyone breeding her line too closely

 

I will post pics shortly however, just in case anyone still wants to see

[**Liv** 0]

It's a competitive world out there for some show breeders. Some breeders are very protective of their lines. Some remove leg rings on culled birds so the line is not trace able.

 

Would love to see pics

[splat 0]

Do the feathers on the chest go up instead of down or is it spial twisted?

[Dean_NZ 0]

Here are some pics, he wouldn't stand still for long enough

 

 

and this one:

 

[Trish 0]

Here are some pics, he wouldn't stand still for long enough

 

 

and this one:

 

 

If he was a she I would call him "Marilyn" as in Monroe...it's like he has thet windswept look standing over the subway grate! HA!

Edited February 11, 2009 by Trish

[Kazzy 0]

If he was a she I would call him "Marilyn" as in Monroe...it's like he has thet windswept look standing over the subway grate! HA!

 

:rofl: :rofl: Exactly!

[**Liv** 0]

I have one that has a little feather disturbance, but i never thought anything of it... Its kind of like a cow lick on his left shoulder.

 

[Dean_NZ 0]

Do the feathers on the chest go up instead of down or is it spial twisted?

 

I think from inspection of the photos you could say they just go up instead of down. Rather than spiralling, which some appear to do although i think that is more of an illusion.

 

Lol. I agree with the Marilyn thing!!

[**KAZ** 0]

You probably need a hen like this for him

 

[Sailorwolf 0]

Aww. I think you should get him, he'd be awesome to try and breed from. But that is your choice.

[splat 0]

I had a grey spangle which was fine till he got to 3 months then he went like that, the feathers on his chest went up instead of down, I culled him. A breeder told me it can appear as late as when they are 2 years old. I have forgotten what the fault is.

[thk 0]

Is it just a case of "crest gone wrong" on a crested bird?

 

Is there such a thing? (like the crest has slipped from his head to his tummy?) Looks cute!!

[Munchie's Mum 0]

So what was the deal with the feathers? It was a chest crest?

 

And has anyone in Australia seen budgies like this? I'd love to get my hands on one or two!

 

[nubbly5 0]

I have seen this appear and disappear on several different budgies. It seems to be sometimes when buff feathered birds are out of condition a bit and the feathers twist around and will not return to their original position well. Often handling these birds will twist the feathers enough that they stay like that for some time. A large very buff feathered dom pied of one breeder here was selected for the nats but would not feed in the holding cage, as he lost condition his feathers went like that. When he was removed and held on his own he regained condition and then his feathering settled again.

 

I have had quite a number of different birds do this and have never culled for the problem. I certainly don't have an overflowing feather problem either.....

 

I would assume, having seen some crested birds with crests on their back that if there was on on their chest it would look more regular and you would be able to pick the locus reasonably easily, even multiple loci look a little different to the feather disturbance.