Im just wondering macka, if you are aware that there are records of feather dusters being kept alive through proper nutrition and care? And i know of one feather duster that went on to father offspring, and NONE of them were feather dusters.

 

You talk about these birds suffering, or that keeping them alive is cruel in some way since they are genetically defective. I agree with GB in saying that the gene in question mainly affects there feather growth and it is that strain on the body to produce such feathers that normally kills the bird. Thats not to say the genetic fault makes them suffer or live in pain, just places them under a larger burden to eat sufficient food to maintain feather growth.

 

If i myself had feather duster chicks, i know i would not have the time to provide them the feed necessary and i would sadly put them down. Not for any other reason than i know i cannot give them what they need, and without that care, they would be overcome nutritionally and waste away.

 

I think what liv is doing is superbly educational, and i hope we are all open to changing our pre-conceived notions about feather dusters in light of what liv is showing us by allowing us into the lives of these little guys.

If we get any more in the future I will let others enjoy and care for them as i will run out of time too. Given the proper care and attention, these little guys make adorable pets.

If we get any more in the future I will let others enjoy and care for them as i will run out of time too. Given the proper care and attention, these little guys make adorable pets.

 

see that is something i would not do

so just goes to show you our diffrent opinions

and yet i exept that liv feels they make great pets as im sure they would

but in my opinion that only premotes people to want to breed them for this reason

KNOWING LIV IS NOT MEANING OR WOULD SHE DO THAT

but their are people out their willing to do anything for a dollor and if people started see these geneticlly mutated birds (as thats what they are )

in veiw of being great pets then no breeders would try to stop the breeding of these in their flocks and just sell them off as ..pets

this i would not do weather its so others can experiance the joy of carring for them as it may be a joy in their personality but not a joy to have to daily clean ,bath ect they would come at a price of time and worry i would say more than enjoyment to have around as pet

i understand what you are saying liv but i still myself would not allow others to care for any in future as i said i would simply cull them from nest and the breeding birds i would move on dont care how good they were

as for it not to reacquire

it is a genetic fault after all

not something anybreeder desires

well i for one would not

Edited August 5, 200915 yr by GenericBlue

Breeding them for pets cannot really be done GB as there is no way of telling how short a life they will have. I dont think it will ever come to that.

Edited August 5, 200915 yr by KAZ

I hope we dont get any more... thats for sure, but i know some trusted people who could give them the care they need if needed

Edited August 5, 200915 yr by **Liv**

I hope we dont get any more... thats for sure, but i know some trusted people who could give them the care they need if needed

 

thats fair enough

i didnt think you were trying for more lol

and i do see where you are comming from liv

i didnt think you were going to just hand out feather dusters to people so they could experiance it

but ...it dont matter its all good i cant explain what i was trying to say so i will just zip it

Brreding them for pets cannot really be done GB as there is no way of telling how short a life they will have. I dont think it will ever come to that.

 

I agree, not too many people would actively search for a pet that they know has an extremely short lifespan.

If we get any more in the future I will let others enjoy and care for them as i will run out of time too. Given the proper care and attention, these little guys make adorable pets.

Is it possible Adelaide university may be interested in being involved...

Brreding them for pets cannot really be done GB as there is no way of telling how short a life they will have. I dont think it will ever come to that.

I agree, not too many people would actively search for a pet that they know has an extremely short lifespan.

Hi krosp darling, i am very interested in what various members might consider short a short lifespan, as i myself advance,,,

If we get any more in the future I will let others enjoy and care for them as i will run out of time too. Given the proper care and attention, these little guys make adorable pets.

Is it possible Adelaide university may be interested in being involved...

Brreding them for pets cannot really be done GB as there is no way of telling how short a life they will have. I dont think it will ever come to that.

I agree, not too many people would actively search for a pet that they know has an extremely short lifespan.

Hi krosp darling, i am very interested in what various members might consider short a short lifespan, as i myself advance,,,

 

Their days are numbered from the time they leave the box. As you know, Quilla started out great, but didn't cope well with weaning and was gone before he was 6 weeks old. The average age they live to is only 12 weeks old. Some have been known to make it to 2 years under exceptional care and with companionship with another. A friend of mine had one who lived for 2 years with a french moulter companion who would feed it it's every meal. When the FM died, the Duster died within a week

If we get any more in the future I will let others enjoy and care for them as i will run out of time too. Given the proper care and attention, these little guys make adorable pets.

Is it possible Adelaide university may be interested in being involved...

Brreding them for pets cannot really be done GB as there is no way of telling how short a life they will have. I dont think it will ever come to that.

I agree, not too many people would actively search for a pet that they know has an extremely short lifespan.

Hi krosp darling, i am very interested in what various members might consider short a short lifespan, as i myself advance,,,

 

Their days are numbered from the time they leave the box. As you know, Quilla started out great, but didn't cope well with weaning and was gone before he was 6 weeks old. The average age they live to is only 12 weeks old. Some have been known to make it to 2 years under exceptional care and with companionship with another. A friend of mine had one who lived for 2 years with a french moulter companion who would feed it it's every meal. When the FM died, the Duster died within a week

 

 

That is so beautiful

Their days are numbered from the time they leave the box. As you know, Quilla started out great, but didn't cope well with weaning and was gone before he was 6 weeks old. The average age they live to is only 12 weeks old. Some have been known to make it to 2 years under exceptional care and with companionship with another. A friend of mine had one who lived for 2 years with a french moulter companion who would feed it it's every meal. When the FM died, the Duster died within a week

 

This young lady lived alone up to 18 months of age

 

 

 

 

the moment it was put with other budgies the others killed it.

Please lets learn and protect,,, from each other

Their days are numbered from the time they leave the box. As you know, Quilla started out great, but didn't cope well with weaning and was gone before he was 6 weeks old. The average age they live to is only 12 weeks old. Some have been known to make it to 2 years under exceptional care and with companionship with another. A friend of mine had one who lived for 2 years with a french moulter companion who would feed it it's every meal. When the FM died, the Duster died within a week

 

This young lady lived alone up to 18 months of age

 

 

 

 

the moment it was put with other budgies the others killed it.

 

 

whoa...im sure that bird couldve lived longer look at its long throats spots!!

Seeing as you have mentioned,the RSPCA.I would think they would take a dim

veiw,to keeping a bird's alive,that's going to die from a breeding defect.

 

 

I SERIOUSLY doubt the RSPCA would do a single thing if you complained to them about this. We have a hard enough time at the best of times getting the RSPCA to see to genuine complaints about birds.

Seeing as you have mentioned,the RSPCA.I would think they would take a dim

veiw,to keeping a bird's alive,that's going to die from a breeding defect.

 

 

I SERIOUSLY doubt the RSPCA would do a single thing if you complained to them about this. We have a hard enough time at the best of times getting the RSPCA to see to genuine complaints about birds.

 

thats so true and the fact that liv is not being cruel their for animals having quality of life

so.......

liv gets a tick for everything in the right places

Thanks guys for your support

Seeing as you have mentioned,the RSPCA.I would think they would take a dim

veiw,to keeping a bird's alive,that's going to die from a breeding defect.

 

 

I SERIOUSLY doubt the RSPCA would do a single thing if you complained to them about this. We have a hard enough time at the best of times getting the RSPCA to see to genuine complaints about birds.

 

 

Go girl go...

okay It appears,that Iam the only one that thinks.

they should of been put down,I will let the topic

die a natural death.

For my 2 cents worth - liv is doing exactly what I would be doing if these little birds were mine. They hatched and so I would care for them as well as I could.

okay It appears,that Iam the only one that thinks.

they should of been put down,I will let the topic

die a natural death.

 

As long as they're happy and not in pain and someone is prepared to give them the care and attention they need then I wouldn't put them down, but as soon as that changes then it should be considered. I don't think you're alone in that thinking and Liv is the best to determine when that is the case.

 

Who know's, with her investigations she may find a new way of caring for them that will give them a long and happy life.

 

Keep up the good work Liv and good luck!! :rofl:

Edited August 5, 200915 yr by Hills

Time for an update.

 

The two are doing well. It is a battle to keep them clean.

One day Shaggy decided to take a bath in his water dish, then while soaking wet, walked though the egg food, then proceeded to the seed dish for a nap. The little rascal looked like a chicken schnitzel. I had to give him (and Cirrus) a bath in warm water with sorbolene baby wash.

 

they actually enjoyed the bath. The water was pretty much black after each had their wash. They seem to accumulate and hold onto a lot of dirt, and dust in their feathers. It was quite a relief for them to have a wash and i will do it more often.

 

 

 

They don't look so huge now

 

After their bath they got a blow wave with the hair dryer (on cool setting) and we now have two puff balls hehe :sad:

 

 

 

Just to show their size next to my cockatiel Tealie

Edited August 20, 200915 yr by **Liv**

They are beautiful Liv How old are they now ?

They are 9.5 weeks old today.

Better at Liv's that at other places I know where as soon as it's realized that the baby is a feather duster it is put down. I figure it's not the birds fault it was born a feather duster and as long as it's not suffering and has a good quality of life which is plainly obvious for Liv's birds then that's great.

 

Kudos to Liv for the care and attention she is giving to these little guys AS WELL AS providing useful information to the rest of us. I for one am glad to see more information like this especially pics as these little guys grow and the pics of when they were younger is very helpful to me.

 

Thanks Liv!!!

 

Oh and they are fabulous looking things too - 100% cuties. It is a shame that they live shorter lives because of all that feather growth. It's kinda s shme that they don't stop midway like frizzle chickens.

Edited August 20, 200915 yr by nubbly5

Well done Liv on looking after them so well. :rofl:

 

I had a hard time accepting Mojo was a Feather Duster and in fact it was my husband who had to break it to me :rofl: .... but it got to the stage where he could no longer see and he was getting so crappy plus the fact he never learnt to eat on his own so I sent him to heaven last week. :rofl:

Edited August 20, 200915 yr by renee