Just going through some old magazines and came across this opening statement to an article.

 

"Feather dusters, frizzle-feathered monsters, grotesque oddities of the Budgie world - call them what you will, but the stark fact is that modern breeding methods, in which fanciers strive for that world-beater, have resulted in the appearance of these hideous-looking specimens."

I would have thought, without knowing the facts, that the feather duster didnt go back that far. The show birds back then look very different to the ones of today. I would have thought that the feather we strive for today was a cause ? Interesting.

I feel that it is genetic. All of my Mops can be traced back to two birds in another aviary. I have asked that breeder if he has records and his are the same.

 

I keep good records and haven't had a mop / duster in over a year.

Bit late (like usual!) the first mop I saw would have been in mid 1980's. It being quite unusual and my being young it stuck in my head, actually I think I may have seen a couple in those years. Be interesting to know how far back they were popping up.

Well I've finished the season with out a mop... I hope I am as lucky next season.

Donno how I've managed it but for 9 years of breeding now - never one feather duster.

Half your luck Gina... I have traced mine back to two possible birds.

Now that I've said that Daz, bet you they start popping out of the wood work..... but then maybe not (big fingers crossed).

Excuse my ignorance but what is a mop / feather duster budgie, im assuming its not a good thing.

its a bird with feathers that constantly keep growing till eventually looking like a mop or a duster. The bird dies at a young age because it uses all its food and energy on its feathers, and eventually goes blind. They cannot fly either.

The reason why it was popping up back then is because it is not genetic. It is the budgie form of Down's syndrome.

This is when by accident 3 chromosomes go into a cell instead of the normal 2. This is a problem in meiosis and in humans typically tends to happen in older women, because their meiosis isn't as good as it used to be.

Hmm, interesting

The reason why it was popping up back then is because it is not genetic. It is the budgie form of Down's syndrome.

This is when by accident 3 chromosomes go into a cell instead of the normal 2. This is a problem in meiosis and in humans typically tends to happen in older women, because their meiosis isn't as good as it used to be.

 

 

Sorry to burst ya bubble there Sailorwolf but it is genetic. It has no relation to Down's Syndrome at all. I have bred a number over the years and kept a track of the trait just as any other. It is recessive and can be selected for just like any other recessive. The thinking of the day re Down's Syndrome was based on no edvidence and very little knowledge of budgie genetics. It is just another urban myth.

Thats very interesting Ripbudgies. Here is a very interesting thread. This budgie is amazing: http://www.budgerigars.co.uk/forum/showthr...=feather+duster

Theirs also a debate about the down syndrome topic.