Well done Liv on looking after them so well.

 

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: .... I sent him to heaven last week.

 

That is a bit rough. I liked your hubby when I met him. So let me get this straight - he told you a bird was a feather duster and you sent your hubby to heaven? Talk about "shooting the messenger!!!"

 

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

You may have edited this but I got in quicker.

Edited August 20, 200916 yr by Dave_McMinn

Well done Liv on looking after them so well.

 

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: .... I sent him to heaven last week.

 

That is a bit rough. I liked your hubby when I met him. So let me get this straight - he told you a bird was a feather duster and you sent your hubby to heaven? Talk about "shooting the messenger!!!"

 

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

You may have edited this but I got in quicker.

 

snh snh snh.......

Poor Poor Tony :rofl: :rofl:

 

 

:rofl:

Ho Ho Ho. Yes I DID edit the post but you beat me to it! :rofl:

Those two are absolutely cute as... :rofl: .

You're doing a great job.

I absolutly love em. they look so happy and healthy.

Also this thread is absolutly educational for all of us.

 

 

Go Liv go!

They look so utterly cute in the towels and afterwards when they were dry. The size comparison with Tealie is very instructive.

Oh nooo, how awkward! Poor poor thing

they look like the ginnipigs i usto breed tedybears they were called after their blow wave that is

Last night about 11pm Cirrus looked a little quiet (more than just sleeping) and when i picked him up he vomited.

 

I have came to the realization that there is no way to see the early signs of sickness in feather dusters

 

Thankfully he just had a little sour egg food after some water got into the dish, and he has been treated for salmonella, but you really can not see the early signs of sickness. You can not see if they are fluffed up. You can not see their stance on the perch, as they dont perch. They always have some messy feathers around the vent and the face... They dont sing and you cant see their eyes so you cant really tell if they are sleeping too much...

 

Oh boy, scary stuff for me as i like to keep close eyes on all my birds health!

Last night about 11pm Cirrus looked a little quiet (more than just sleeping) and when i picked him up he vomited.

 

I have came to the realization that there is no way to see the early signs of sickness in feather dusters

 

Thankfully he just had a little sour egg food after some water got into the dish, and he has been treated for salmonella, but you really can not see the early signs of sickness. You can not see if they are fluffed up. You can not see their stance on the perch, as they dont perch. They always have some messy feathers around the vent and the face... They dont sing and you cant see their eyes so you cant really tell if they are sleeping too much...

 

Oh boy, scary stuff for me as i like to keep close eyes on all my birds health!

 

 

Hugs buddy...you are doing the best you can.....you cant ask any more than that :hug:

That is a real worry, isn't it, especially as you'd want to keep and extra close eye on them? You did well there with Cirrus. Just as well you have a lot of gut instinct to help - gleaned from your experience with birds (and children). It all helps to alert you.

 

All the very best as you persevere with these little sweeties.

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.

 

Dean it is probably worth mentioning that the bird I believe you are referring to was a halfsider feather duster was it not? I doubt very much whether a full feather duster would have the ability to father offspring, and in all fairness, that is the way it is meant to be.

 

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.

 

I have done a few post postmortems on feather dusters and although what you say is correct, that the stress of feather growth puts more strain on the body, in my opinion what kills them is the massive amount of food they must consume to survive. The three dusters I have looked at have all had massively swollen and infected proventriculus, gizzard and intestines. Just thought I'd bring those two things up ...

 

On another note, I have the utmost respect for Liv, the care she is giving is a massive commitment and it shows her to be a wonderfully caring individual. Good on you Keep up the good work.

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.

 

Dean it is probably worth mentioning that the bird I believe you are referring to was a halfsider feather duster was it not? I doubt very much whether a full feather duster would have the ability to father offspring, and in all fairness, that is the way it is meant to be.

 

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.

 

I have done a few post postmortems on feather dusters and although what you say is correct, that the stress of feather growth puts more strain on the body, in my opinion what kills them is the massive amount of food they must consume to survive. The three dusters I have looked at have all had massively swollen and infected proventriculus, gizzard and intestines. Just thought I'd bring those two things up ...

 

On another note, I have the utmost respect for Liv, the care she is giving is a massive commitment and it shows her to be a wonderfully caring individual. Good on you Keep up the good work.

 

I know of the half sider that fathered chicks yes, but i was referring to another bird I had heard about, a skye blue featherduster that was bred at about 6 months of age if i recall correctly. I'll try track it down, otherwise dis-regard that lol. I dont like to just say things without remembering or being able to find the source.

 

On another note, yes i do agree it is a terrible strain on the body to produce those feathers :rofl: But im not yet at that place where i can just say "better to kill all feather dusters". If i had one in a nest, i would kill it. Because i KNOW i cannot provide for its unique nutritional needs. Its a personal choice and i respect anyone who makes a rational decision on what is best for the bird based on what care and support they can give.

 

On a final note - hooray for you! Glad to see another knowledgable member on the boards, even better still you are from new zealand :bye: I have been away for the last 3 weeks, and will continue to be away most of the next 2 weeks so i missed welcoming you earlier.

 

Look forward to seeing more of you.

 

p.s thanks for the update liv!

Cirrus is doing well. He is fit, fat and active. He is beautiful

 

Shaggy on the other hand, is failing. he is loosing weight, is not able to walk properly and his neck is fused in a downward position and is no longer able to preen. I believe the fused neck is from muscle cramps from his head always being in the eating position - it fits perfectly into the feeder when he is eating. Yesterday Shaggy gave me "the eye". I took him into the bathroom and cut all his feathers short. He is half the size now. I cut off as much as i could ensuring to keep enough for normal coverage for warmth. He is feeling better today, but it hasn't helped his neck.. his quality of life has dwindled

 

 

On another note... i think we have FD number 4

This is the last chick from Robbie and Renee. This was one of 4 eggs from her 3rd round. it was the only one showing fertile so was fostered out and i addled the others deliberately.

 

This chick has has a badly splayed leg and a normal leg. probably from Renee being exhausted and laying weak eggs.

Here she is.... possible FD number 4, She is 3 weeks old.

I am so glad about Cirrus. Poor little Shaggy. The new baby is looking like an FD. Oh dear.

poor shaggy. I feel so sorry for him, cant you put the food in a different dish or something?

Liv I'm surprised to see them lasting so long. You must be doing something right.... Oh and yes, it looks like no 4 on the way.. Sorry to say.

poor shaggy. I feel so sorry for him, cant you put the food in a different dish or something?

 

I am doing what i can with him. He is still unable to lift his head out of the feeding position, but is brighter in the eyes and happier with his feathers cut short, so for now he is good

 

Thanks Daz, I had a feeling she was #4 too. i don't have beautiful feather like that in any of my birds yet so that was the give away.

Wow Liv, i've just read this whole thread - you have been doing amazingly! Such sweet little guys! I just wish you would've gotten a photo of this bit - "The little rascal looked like a chicken schnitzel" Sounds like you have given them a wonderful life, short as may be. Good on you, fantastic job!!

Good news!

this chick

 

 

Is not a FD

 

I checked the feather tonight and the quills have stopped growing, the feather sheaths have gone - in a feather duster there is always a few millimeters of feather still unclosed in the sheath.

that is good news. Maybe just a well feathered bird then?

that is good news. Maybe just a well feathered bird then?

 

That would be nice. This bird wont be and good for showing because of her splayed leg or hip displacement issue. But we are going to assess her quality as a stock bird, and consider getting the vet to surgically remove her leg for breeding. If she is not good for a stock hen then she will live in the aviary or be re-homed as her quality of life should be fine as only one leg is affected.

wow that is a good bird than wow

Oh that is so good about her not being an FD. She looks lovely and feathery and I am sure she will be pleased with your plans for her. She is a lucky bird.