Hi All, my last batch of chicks are out of cage now. Am posting pics. BUT my query is are chicks 3 & 4 normal? in regards to feathers. They seem to be all feather no 3

is having a job getting off the ground, no 4 just out of cage hasn't even tried yet.

These are my only "show type" pair. Rest were pet to show or pet to pet type. If this is a factor.

 

No 1 picture is Dad, looking a bit worse for wear.

Mum

No 1. front and back

 

 

 

No 2 front and back. seem okay.

 

 

No 3 front and back.

 

 

No 4 front and back (out of cage to-day)

 

 

any thoughts gratefully received. I did read about cinnamon having larger feathers I think. Maybe that's why?

Looks to me like you've doubled up on the long flight gene with those babies. Im not very experienced at recognising it, but the flights are definately elongated. They should suit them a bit better once they reach adult hood, but long flights are barred from show as far as i know? Single factor is okay but not double factor. You should put those chicks to your longest birds with shorter wings because you need a long bird to really make the most of long flights.

 

Thats my thoughts at least.

Yes I agree with Dean they look to be long flighted and No 4 mainly looks like the secondary feathers are long also, Double the trouble. If you keep them they need to go with a bird with nice tight wings or you will double up on the problem.

Yep longflights as Dean and splat say! Looking forward to what RIP has to say.

Edited November 1, 200915 yr by nubbly5

Definately looks like the 'long flight' gene there. I would also say no 2 is affected be it not as much as 3 and 4. Note this down in your records. Any chicks produced from these parents in the past should also have it noted in their records so if it comes up in the future you know where it came from.

 

Let us know if the feathers do indeed stop growing. Some years ago I was looking into the theory (my own) that Feather Dusters may some how come down through this 'long flight' gene. As I said just a theory. I had a Clearwing line that showed 'long flighted' characteristics but threw Feather Dusters.

 

By the way they look like really nice birds.

Edited November 1, 200915 yr by RIPbudgies

Thank's everyone I thought it was a bit odd but didn't know enough about show stock birds to know if it was normal. R.I.P. said to tell if feathers stop growing? Is this a possibility, that they just keep growing? And is there any way to tell which parent has the "gene" if it's not sex related/or genetic.

I don't show, but don't want to introduce any problems down the track so should I breed from this pair again or just not together?

I would split them up and see who is the culprit

I would not breed these birds together again. The odds are too high to produce more of the same. You need to think long and hard if you are goning to breed with these chicks when older.

 

I did not say the feathers will keep growing. I said to keep an eye on them if they keep growing....this is a sign of Feather Dusters. They do not exhibit Feather Dusters characteristics at this time. As I said I had a theory which was my own that it could be link to the 'long flight' gene. But it is just that a theory. Not fact.

 

There was also in 1980's a tendency for some birds to be produced with broader secondary flights. Again this is sometimes seen on 'long flighted' individuals.

Thank's Splat, I suppose I could put either bird with a smaller pet type and see what happens, keeping in mind either one could be the carrier. I'll wait until chicks mature a bit to see how they turn out. Guessing game either way isn't it.

Edited November 1, 200915 yr by robyn

Thank's R.I.P.

 

Could this problem be bred out, if I decided to breed chick's, by putting them with smaller unrelated birds? What is the outcome for these chicks, just birds with long feathers or could they have other problems, flight or dietary etc.? Can anyone advise?

You could breed it out but would take a while and you wouldn't put them with small birds but with birds with wings the are tight and fine not broad or long.

Its not actually a 'problem' per say. For a time, longflighted birds were dominating the winning benches until it was discussed and they were excluded from judging. The reason it became popular is because show birds are getting bigger, longer and buffer - having normal flights can leave you with a long bird that lacks proportions so the longflight gene was found to be a solution. As far as I know the longflight gene is partial dominant so it has a lengthening effect on the flights in a single factor that adds nice proportion to the longer birds that were starting to look like they had stubby wings (as show birds should have the flights almost touching, and sitting just on or near the start of the tail if i recall rightly). Double factor adds further length and these birds as I said started to dominate in some shows.

 

It is very obvious when you have double factor longflights - as it appears with these chicks and so these birds are (if i recall rightly) not considered for judging. However a long bird with a single factor can be very hard to judge as being well proportioned or longflighted so it is said that double factor long flights are very handy to pair with a looong bird with normal flights in the hope of getting long chicks with proportioned wings.

 

Consider we are trying to breed birds with good blow, good spots and mask length, buff or double buff feathers, wide, long, strong off the perch, well proportioned and smooth line from head to tail in a 35 degree angle... its no wonder why it is a life long pursuit :hug: Add in long flight genes and the difficulty goes up again in getting the bird with that 'winning' combination of qualities.

 

Edit: It would have come from both parents by the way. Both are likely single factor long flight :rofl:

Edited November 1, 200915 yr by Dean_NZ

Gee I wish I had taken a photo of an albino long flight that I bought off C&B Gearing a long time ago. It had long flights - not sloppy big feathered soft wings as seen on these youngsters but proper - out of proportion long primary flights. Cec at the time told me it was one of the few genuinely long flighted birds he had seen around for a long while. Makes me wonder if it's actually a different thing we are seeing here.........?

Gee I wish I had taken a photo of an albino long flight that I bought off C&B Gearing a long time ago. It had long flights - not sloppy big feathered soft wings as seen on these youngsters but proper - out of proportion long primary flights. Cec at the time told me it was one of the few genuinely long flighted birds he had seen around for a long while. Makes me wonder if it's actually a different thing we are seeing here.........?

 

Maybe that they are Cinnamon too is making it worse? :hug:

Hi Folks, this is still double dutch to me!!

If I understand Dean, thanks very much Dean, it's not a problem to the bird only in a show situation? I thought colours were confusing but this is just as!! I suppose it comes under genetics, but will chicks still function as normal? With flying etc or because wing feathers are so "loose and big" can it effect the, "aerodynamics" I suppose, of the bird. Is diet a factor in growing bigger feathers etc. They are still on the ground, to heavy or unable to fly, I don't know. No 3 fly's about a foot or two up in the air, they have only been out of cage two days so it might take a while for muscles to strengthen enough to take off. Can I help by doing anything more or wait and see? Thank's everyone for their replies, worse than rearing kids this is................ :hug:

Hi, Just adding a query to this post. I am adding pics of my chicks, as they look now. No 4 is still minus tail feathers.

 

 

 

 

I am now adding picture from Budgie pictures forum.QUERY. CAN ANYONE TELL ME THE POINTS of difference That show mine are carrying the long feather gene, but from replies the last bird is "Normal". How can you tell visually? if I come across another bird whether it has or has not the long feather gene?

 

this is b.c.c. forum picture.

 

My birds now are all flying etc. like my others, don't seem to have any trouble. But I will still watch what I pair them with.