November 6, 201014 yr Author I was just cleaning Dusty ( as he stepped in his dish of soft food ) and noticed he has growing a yellow feather down by his left leg. One single yellow feather on a skyblue dom pied bird. Weird Does one yellow feather make him a halfsider ?? I have also just put him in a cage of his own not the smaller showcage he was coping well in. Why ? Because he has decided he wants to perch and has been desperately trying to get up onto the perch, flapping and jumping vertically up in the air like a shocked quail. I have given him a cage inside the junior flight of the aviary and he has perches and a ladder now. The yellow feather
November 6, 201014 yr Nice to see more pictures of Dusty! Weird about the yellow feather. I wonder if any more will grow.
November 6, 201014 yr Not a halfsider.... pull the feather and you will see its not attached at the skin. Its just a stray feather from another bird that has been drawn in to his feathers... mine used to get them all the time, even the odd cockatiel feather would get pulled in!
November 6, 201014 yr Author Not a halfsider.... pull the feather and you will see its not attached at the skin. Its just a stray feather from another bird that has been drawn in to his feathers... mine used to get them all the time, even the odd cockatiel feather would get pulled in! Sorry to blow your theory Liv.......This fella hasnt been near any other birds. He was inside in a show cage with no other budgies around him and he is kept alone and this feather is attached to a feather follicle. Did the tugging test and its fixed into a feather follicle. Surely you must know I wouldnt just look at it and assume. I looked very close and tested the feather growth. Note also its the same length as the feathers near it. See also how it is wet looking ? Thats because I fully washed the budgies butt area after it walked through its egg and biscuit mix and got all stodgy food all over its butt and feet. Scrubbed and rubbed and the feather didnt come off........cos it couldnt RIP says not a halfsider but from a feather follicle with damaged genetic something nor other Edited November 6, 201014 yr by **KAZ**
November 6, 201014 yr Feather dusters have many genetic issues wrong with them. We all know that a blue bird is a mutation of the pigmentation, thus it appears as a blue on white, not the usual green on yellow. It is entirely possible that the damaged genes that result in the "feather duster" condition also can have an effect on pigmentation.
November 7, 201014 yr okay, I was just going on my experiences with them. All three of mine picked up stray feathers. The feathers would get drawn into the down and sat there looking just like yours. I used to remove a different coloured feathers from their underside every few days.... Cool that yours is something more special
November 7, 201014 yr Author Dusty was put in a larger cage yesterday as he was showing signs of wanting to try and perch. Checked today and found he wasnt eating. Deduction ..........either new distraction or larger cage at fault.......more exercise uses up calories needed for feather growth. Put him back in show cage with seed underfoot for today..........and full crop again. My thoughts are reduce opportunity for exercise which burns calories..........means the food keeps both feather and body going. So far so good.
November 8, 201014 yr Kaz this is such an interesting post. Thanks for giving us regular updates,although I know when Dustys time is up I will be feeling awfully sad.
November 9, 201014 yr Author Dusty was restless so I gave him some time in a bigger cage this morning. He seemed to enjoy it and was calling out to the other birds, tried climbing up the ladder, and rediscovered his little icecream tub shelter. Video Part one click on photo Part two click on photo and photos Edited November 9, 201014 yr by **KAZ**
November 9, 201014 yr Thank you so much Kaz for this post, I have thoroughly enjoyed following Dusty's progress, as I had never heard of 'feather dusters' prior to joining here. It is an awesome resource base. Dusty is just gorgeous, and now I also know how they sound thanks to your video. I loved the way he was sizing up the entry into the ice cream container. Very sad that his life will be so short, but somehow, that makes him all the more special. Robyn
November 9, 201014 yr He seem to be doing great Kaz, isn't a pity he is a feather duster, what lovely width of head
November 9, 201014 yr Author He seem to be doing great Kaz, isn't a pity he is a feather duster, what lovely width of head Yeah But I guess if he wasnt a FD he would look like a pet type budgie
November 10, 201014 yr Thanks KAZ for this thread, it's really interesting. I guess these guys aren't very common, so having a photo/video diary of his progress from the nest onwards is important for others to understand them in case they get a FD in their flock.
November 13, 201014 yr Author Dusty is doing well. I have Dusty in a cage ( breeder cage size ) in the aviary in a cabinet. Dusty can see and hear the other budgies and some of them come visit the front of the cage. Breaking cap now and I notice shedding some feathers on the floor of the cage too. Eating well. As long as the crop shows signs of being full of seed Dusty can live there.
November 13, 201014 yr Author he is looking good now kaz all the best with him how old is he now He is 14 weeks old
November 16, 201014 yr How is little Dusty going? All good I hope! Can you post some pics of his siblings? Cheers
November 16, 201014 yr Author How is little Dusty going? All good I hope! Can you post some pics of his siblings? Cheers Dusty is going well and around 15 weeks now. I will get some new photos later. One other sibling that also seemed affected was euthanased at age 2 weeks as its feathers indicated an issue not recognised at the time as a feather duster but most likely was one as well. New photos of Dusty.
November 17, 201014 yr Makes you want to pick him up and cuddle him doesn't it. Does he seem happy Kaz? As in active chirpy etc. as much as he can ?
November 17, 201014 yr Author Makes you want to pick him up and cuddle him doesn't it. Does he seem happy Kaz? As in active chirpy etc. as much as he can ? For right now.................happy and active and alert. Sees me coming and ducks into the icecream tub hutch in case I will pick him up I do to check body weight and crop contents. Edited November 17, 201014 yr by **KAZ**
November 19, 201014 yr Author Dusty is still going well. Was inside due to hot weather but seems to prefer the noise and activity of being near the other budgies. Taking a chance and leaving Dusty out there. Eats better when with the other birds anyway.
November 19, 201014 yr what a nice budgie just if it was not a fd that good at lest he is going to have a good life at your home kaz
November 19, 201014 yr Dusty looks so darn cute, I can't imagine how annoying those long feathers are to him/her though. I've never really read much about Feather Dusters, but reading this thread has really shown a lot more to me. Thanks for posting updates about Dusty. Have you figured out if Dusty is a she or he yet? - Kassidy
November 19, 201014 yr Author Dusty looks so darn cute, I can't imagine how annoying those long feathers are to him/her though. I've never really read much about Feather Dusters, but reading this thread has really shown a lot more to me. Thanks for posting updates about Dusty. Have you figured out if Dusty is a she or he yet? - Kassidy I think Dusty is a hen budgie
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