I have a opaline hen that has opaline markings on her head. Is this common? I find it quite pretty personally although I assume it's no good as far as showing. Can anyone give me any insight?

I am not sure. A picture would help greatly

It is quite common. I don't know anything about showing though

Fine... give me a few minutes and I'll get back to you

YES .... will show picture ,,,,,, give me a sec

 

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Edited April 16, 200817 yr by Neat

Not a great picture but she wasn't being helpfulAAAARGGHHHHI've resized that three times so far! Just doesn't like me today...

Edited April 16, 200817 yr by melbournebudgies

Its called flecking in show breeding circles........pair it with a clean headed partner and fingers crossed for better chicks

This particular girl won't be doing any breeding, she has splayed legs. I rescued her and plan to keep her in permanent quarantine as a nanny for my fledglings- she's very smoochy with the other birds she is with at the moment so hopefully do well. I've ust seen a few in this coloour recently and was curious.

 

I find the pattern quite lovely, is there such thing as a fully flecked bird?

This particular girl won't be doing any breeding, she has splayed legs. I rescued her and plan to keep her in permanent quarantine as a nanny for my fledglings- she's very smoochy with the other birds she is with at the moment so hopefully do well. I've ust seen a few in this coloour recently and was curious.

 

I find the pattern quite lovely, is there such thing as a fully flecked bird?

Yes...you get some heavily flecked birds but show breeders try to avoid keeping them or try to breed it out by breeding to clean capped normals.

Hi MB [these people with such long names]…

 

Like Kaz has said your bird has what’s called flecking, some Opaline Budgies have even more than that & almost have as much barring as do Normals….. As you say I also quite like them, especially the ones with strong barring, but as said it’s a show fault…it seems to me to be more common in show type Budgies & seems to come strangely from the British show Budgie that was imported…the Australian or pet type seems to have less & also have a more completely clear V between the shoulders, which is desirable when showing.