December 20, 201014 yr Author You can often pick potential dusters by the short primary tail feathers at 2 weeks old (shorter than the coverts). Cheers PT Just noticed what you were talking about in this photo Peter or as you kaz im sure you feed extra to him Just want to mention. My feather duster had no extra food. Tried to offer it but all she wanted was her seed and water.
January 4, 201114 yr I have a question. Can only English budgies be feather dusters, or can Australian/American budgies be feather dusters as well? RIP Dusty.. you were a beautiful girl and loved by many. You are happy and healthy now. Edited January 4, 201114 yr by Ciana
January 5, 201114 yr I have a question. Can only English budgies be feather dusters, or can Australian/American budgies be feather dusters as well? RIP Dusty.. you were a beautiful girl and loved by many. You are happy and healthy now. They are the same bird, all budgies are australian budgies Some are bred for exhibition and because this was more extensively done in england they are called 'english' budgies and because america popularised the pet-type ownership of the budgie smaller pet budgies are referred to as 'american' but they are one and the same bird. So the answer is yes, all can become dusters if they double up on the duster gene.
January 5, 201114 yr It can have any disease a normal budgie can have. But having the long feathers is a disease it is born with, and the only way other budgies can get it is by breeding.
January 5, 201114 yr Thanks RIP and Kaz, great photos and labeling. If and when I get a feather duster I will with Gregs help do an autopsy too. Maybe if we all do it we might work out why they die. This poor little girl never had a chance with the fluid around the heart like that.
January 5, 201114 yr Author It can have any disease a normal budgie can have. But having the long feathers is a disease it is born with, and the only way other budgies can get it is by breeding. Its not really a disease Squeak......more of a genetic glitch.
January 23, 201114 yr okay i have a question in relation to bird autopsy im trying to learn how to do it so i can pin point issue of death in my birds up to date i have tried two one a absolute disaster and my second one well i managed to actually open the bird with out damaging anything so i thought until i saw rips one :{ still i did manage to recognize most parts and individually remove and view my question is to rip or anyone else whom may know about the bits the liver seemed to have on the edge a yellow round growth with red vains on it i have pics but wont post i will be happy to pm picture to anyone whom may be able to tell me what this was as my book didnt have it in their as a possible issue of death im sure though it was part of reason for her very sudden death in mid day she was flying all good then i turned around and dead on floor :{ she looked healthy inside bar this :}
June 17, 201212 yr Author I have another feather duster budgie.............a yellowface grey normal female. Surprisingly AGAIN found after I returned from a trip away just like the last one I had. This is JUMBO and she is likely to not last very long as she is beginning to lose weight and her foster father attacked her today. I will make any hard choices I have to in the morning one way or another but here she is at 7 weeks and before. Edited June 17, 201212 yr by **KAZ**
June 17, 201212 yr These "little" birds make you feel really protective of them don't they. Sure whatever happens it will be in chicks best interest.
June 18, 201212 yr Author I made a decision about Jumbo this morning based on what I found when I checked her in the cage..............she was lively enough when I expected to find her listless from lack of food. I was worried the dad who attacked her yesterday would kill her so I removed her to a smaller space ( a spare show cage ) with seed underfoot and a small drinker. I crop fed the first mornings feed and hopefully she will learn to eat with seed underfoot. I have made these decisions based on having done exactly that not only for the first feather duster I had ( DUSTY ) but also for any baby I have that doesnt initially begin to eat on its own. I wont crop feed day after day after day. This baby has to learn to eat on its own. I will crop feed only a couple of times till it learns to eat or not. This way, in my mind I have given it every chance................not starving it till it learns to eat and taking it away from danger from attack from its foster father. If Jumbo goes downhill as many of these feather dusters do and dies, at least I will know I gave it a chance. I will update.
June 18, 201212 yr You are amazing Kaz , all credit too you for the effort you put in for your birds and not picking a path just because it is easier for you. I hope she learns to eat soon. She is SOOOO cute. I think you will have to stop going away. Hahahahah
June 18, 201212 yr Author I think you will have to stop going away. Hahahahah My thoughts exactly LOL
June 18, 201212 yr sorry to ask but do you get Feather Dusters from a Feather Duster perant or dose it jsut come along
June 18, 201212 yr Author sorry to ask but do you get Feather Dusters from a Feather Duster perant or dose it jsut come along Feather dusters dont live long enough to breed and most likely cant breed anyway.... But both parents have to carry the recessive feather duster gene for you to get one in a nest. If you breed feather dusters from a pairing most breeders either sell off the parents or they dont pair them up again. Paired with other partners they should be fine and not produce a duster until both parents carry the gene. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, New photos
June 18, 201212 yr so if both the partners have aFeather Duster gene would there be a Feather Duster or is it a maybe and thx Edited June 18, 201212 yr by funkypanda
June 18, 201212 yr Author so if both the partners have aFeather Duster gene would there be a Feather Duster or is it a maybe and thx I dont know what the percentages are........you would have to know what percentages of the duster gene the parents would be carrying to work out how many fd chicks per nest and even then percentages are generally taken over about ten clutches and would vary nest to nest. noone I know would deliberately breed the parents of a feather duster again after finding one in a nest ( not to say a breeder wouldnt..some might but I dont know of any who would ) . Forum admin Liv once had three feather dusters in one nest. http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index.php?showtopic=26506&hl=%2Bfeather+%2Bduster
June 19, 201212 yr aww poor Jumbo. Feather dusters really are cute birds its a shame they dont live long
June 23, 201212 yr Just caught up Kaz, sorry about Jumbo but we knew it was a case of when not if. Sad just the same.
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