Two syblings Both from the same nest.

 

Oldest by one day.

 

Her brother

 

 

What do you think. French Moult or very very buff?

Looks a bit like a picture of a feather duster, but I doubt it is.

What do you mean by buff?

 

Could be french molt but I'd worry about some sort of health problem in general. Just the way he carries himself and perches is extremely worrisome. The feathers don't look right at all.

Edited October 29, 200618 yr by eterri

Looks very like a picture of a feather duster baby budgie I saw on another forum

 

 

Here is a link to a young feather duster picture http://www.geocities.com/jubba_99/Featherdusters.html

http://home.clara.net/np21/duster.htm

 

 

 

I will try and find the other topic with pictures for you too.

Edited October 29, 200618 yr by Bubbles

As you know Daz, I know nothing about nothing but your bird does appear to look a little strange, good luck in figuring out what is amiss.

i thought no to feather duster cause the stuff ive read on them says they get heaps of feathers while still in the nest more than the one now, but still could be ?

Terri buff has to do with the down and feather content. "Big" birds are made up of the bird including mussle and fat. Also the feather quality. (Buff) We have three types of quality Yellow, Buff or Double Buff.

 

I spoke to the orginial breed that told me he did have a feather duster off the mating so it looks like it might be one.

 

I'll give it a week to see what happens.

Dusters don't last long.

If really really carefully cared for they can last up to a year in better cases.

I thought feather duster when i first saw the baby on the other forum Daz.

my first thoughts were feather duster baby too... Love him heaps, he might not be with you for very long

It would be a good idea to have your avian vet have a look, maybe test for other diseases that cause feather problems like PBFD. Better safe than sorry. I hope it's not something serious, poor thing.

 

I can't help but ask, why would you breed a bird that comes from lines known to produce a feather duster?

Edited October 29, 200618 yr by eterri

I spoke to the orginial breed that told me he did have a feather duster off the mating so it looks like it might be one.

Eterri.....I can't help but ask, why would you breed a bird that comes from lines known to produce a feather duster? Quote.

 

 

From this statement Terri. I am reading that Daz has inquired about the possibility that this is a feather duster budgie after posting this topic, and to the original breeder. I doubt very much that Daz would have bred with this pair knowing there was this problem in the birds histories. This baby budgie seems to be a total surprise to Daz and he is now searching for answers.

Edited October 29, 200618 yr by Bubbles

I can't help but ask, why would you breed a bird that comes from lines known to produce a feather duster?

 

Some breeders wont but the breeder I got the eggs from said that only a small percentage of the offspring were feather dusters. What the low percentage was I don't know.

 

The father came 1st in the last few shows he was in and the offspring were of good quality and so the breeding will continue.

 

The hen hopefully isn't carrying the condition.

 

 

Bea I had the thought but hoped it was wrong. I still hope it isn't but we will have to wait and see.

I have forwarded the photos to one of the top men in the industries for confermation.

 

I'll let you know the view.

 

Bubbles thank you. To clear up the reason for breeding. I didn't breed the birds. I was given four eggs from the pair as the breeder didn't want them to have another clutch.

Out of the four eggs, 1 was eaten, the other 3 hatched but 1 died during hatching. I found it with a bit of egg still on it.

These are the results of the two that survived. They were raised by Jazz and Bluey.

 

I only saw the parents but of course didn't ask if they had bred any feather dusters at the time.

Edited October 29, 200618 yr by daz

i think i would go with feather duster but its not as bad as i would have expected but then again i have only seen one in real life as to say so dont have a great deal to go off

keep us updated Daz would like to know the answer myself.

 

Her brother is beautiful - I haven't see too many grey recessive around in these parts.

Does that not anger you, that the breeder would continue to breed these birds even if the chances are low? It just seems incredibly wrong to me.

 

And the reason I asked about you, is because I assumed all of your birds were to eventually be used for breeding. Now, knowing that a feather duster could be produced, are you going to go on to breed this bird's sibling?

 

And rather than forwarding photos to some breeder, why isn't this little baby at a vet's office just in case it's some other problem?

Edited October 29, 200618 yr by eterri

I think a lot of it has to do with the rate their feathers grow. They are just continually growing feathers and it takes a lot of energy/nutrition to do that. It's not something budgies are equipped to handle. There may be other factors that contribute to the short life span, but that's the only one I've really read about.

that is what I have read Terri the rapid growth of the feathers, in essence the the rapid growth of the feathers drains the budgie's body from nutrients at such a rapid pace. Just like too breeding a hen too much can drain her body of calcium and other nutrients. That is why if you breed you must give your hen a break.

Yeah, that's what I've read as well. I just didn't put it to words as well as you did. Such a tragic thing, I feel so bad for them.

Feather Dusters

Feather Dusters are a rare mutation produced solely at random. These birds are huge compared to other budgies and have abnormally growing, very long feathers. As the name implies they do look rather like the feather dusters used for dusting furniture. They must eat constantly to try and supply their bodies with the nutrients they need because of the heavy demand put on them by the constant feather growth. They generally don't live more than a few months, cannot fly, and are usually blind. They are also thought to be deaf and PLEASE BAN ME!!, and may even be afflicted with what is known in humans as Down's Syndrome.

 

Here is a good explaination and simply put that I found http://www.tri-statebudgie.org/spangles.html

 

It is sad and genetic issues happen in all creatures including humans.

its a shame, he is rather cute.

Daz how is your little one going?

Looks very like a picture of a feather duster baby budgie I saw on another forum

 

 

Here is a link to a young feather duster picture http://www.geocities.com/jubba_99/Featherdusters.html

http://home.clara.net/np21/duster.htm

 

I will try and find the other topic with pictures for you too.

 

 

This 2nd link is a very good description especially about breeding 2 if they both have the same gene is doubles the chance. Very interesting good post.

Edited October 29, 200618 yr by lovey

Does that not anger you, that the breeder would continue to breed these birds even if the chances are low? It just seems incredibly wrong to me.

 

And the reason I asked about you, is because I assumed all of your birds were to eventually be used for breeding. Now, knowing that a feather duster could be produced, are you going to go on to breed this bird's sibling?

 

And rather than forwarding photos to some breeder, why isn't this little baby at a vet's office just in case it's some other problem?

 

To answer your Questions Terri.

 

1. This is the world of show budgies not pet budgies. The risk of a feather duster out ways the possibility of an outstanding Show bird on the bench.

 

2. I will be breeding from the sybling because I don't know if the "Gene" or "Condition" is also with it. Untill I breed it I won't know. I'll let you know in 2008. I won't be breeding it for 12 months.

 

3. I don't run off to the vet everytime one of my birds sneeze. I will observe him and ask advice from informitive people with experience in this matter. Many Top Breeders have more experience and knowledge of Budgerigars than a General Avairian Vet. I have taken my birds to two vets. The first told me that my hens were cocks. The second that I trusted and Nerwen knows moved.

 

Daz how is your little one going?

 

He seems to be enjoing himself in the Breeding Cage.

I found him preaning himself this morning.

 

I am meeting with a breeder this afternoon to discuss him. I'll let you know how I go.

 

 

Lovey thanks for the information, I greatly appricate it.

Edited October 30, 200618 yr by daz

1. This is the world of show budgies not pet budgies. The risk of a feather duster out ways the possibility of an outstanding Show bird on the bench.

I'm a bit thrown off by the wording here, but I'm gathering that you mean getting an outstanding show bird is worth breeding a feather duster every now and then?

 

As far as show birds and pet birds being two different worlds? That is 100% absolutely and positively a selfish human perspective. The reality is that these are the same species, the same birds. They need the same type of care to thrive as those birds we call pets. The only difference is that one group (the breeding birds) should be helping to regain the things that have been lost over the years through hapless breeding and for the most part, that doesn't happen. It saddens me to no end. I understand that many people do this as a "hobby" but I don't agree with treating animals like material objects because you want a prize for outstanding show budgie on the bench. I'm so tired of seeing people say "I love my birds" and then watching them talk about trading them off for something better or risking the health of an entire line for the chance at that one outstanding bird on the bench. Some of you guys REALLY need to practice and learn the phrase "I kinda like my budgies, they're real pretty..." because you don't trade off something you hold dear if you can help it. You don't risk the lives of things that you hold dear if there is any way around it. You don't pawn one (or possibly many more than one) off in the hopes that another might turn out to be outstanding. That is when you like the budgies. Maybe you LOVE the hobby but some of you only LIKE the birds.

 

2. I will be breeding from the sybling because I don't know if the "Gene" or "Condition" is also with it. Untill I breed it I won't know. I'll let you know in 2008. I won't be breeding it for 12 months.

One of the biggest problems with that is that you might not get a feather duster from the first clutch. Maybe not from the second. You might not get a feather duster from this budgie at all! Some other breeder who buys one of the chicks from this clutch might end up with a feather duster. And hey, he won't know if it has the gene so he has to breed it to find out too... ick. Why even risk it?

 

3. I don't run off to the vet everytime one of my birds sneeze. I will observe him and ask advice from informitive people with experience in this matter. Many Top Breeders have more experience and knowledge of Budgerigars than a General Avairian Vet. I have taken my birds to two vets. The first told me that my hens were cocks. The second that I trusted and Nerwen knows moved.

I can definitely understand where you're coming from on that one. A lot of avian vets don't have a great deal of budgie-specific experience so on many things, they're still learning and experimenting. On the other hand, disease testing for other possible causes (like polyoma or PBFD for example) is something they can easily handle for you and something that should definitely be looked into.

 

If I sound a little annoyed it's because I am. Though I will throw out this overly used disclaimer that I am NOT trying to disrespect breeders in general or even Daz, specifically. I am just very urked by the general ideas that go along with breeding "top budgies" and I honestly think that the bar should be raised a notch and could be if more people opened their minds a bit. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I can't help but ask questions and give my opinion sometimes.