Lovely pics guys, Both doing well. While on subject of F.D. is it known, say if you get one chick in a clutch, are you likely to get more from that pairing or is it just a one time thing that can pop up or is it "Parent has to have the gene" type of thing.

Both parents have to have the gene it is believed. Livs feather dusters...............she had three in one nest. I believe in the nest my FD Dusty came from and in retrospect her brother would have been one too if I had not euthanased him.

Generally you dont re-pair the parents of feather dusters.

Edited April 22, 201213 yr by **KAZ**

Thanks for the info. Kaz just one to keep in mind if the event arises.

Robyn, **KAZ**, thank you very much for warning. In fact, I've already read the article of Mr. Stephen Fowler and also I've found the article of Mr. Jim Marshall from Canada who has bred 104 FD's and I know that the type of inheritance of FD gene is recessive with variable penetrance.

 

 

 

 

After long hesitations I decided to trim the feathers on his face and around his cloaca. I can say that the trimming had a significant results in his behavior: he became much calmer, he started to walk with his head up, he practically stopped these jerking movements that are so characteristic of FD. Now he likes much to watch around. He still walks, plays with toys, perches, preens. He tries to fly – he jumps and flaps with his wings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I see much better now!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I suppose that his vision is not good, he often narrows his eyes. Also definitely it takes him more time than usual budgies to realize the things. I offered him the "swimming pool", but he did not realize how to splash in water.

 

 

 

He is in the swimming pool:

 

http://video.yandex....r=curieux&cid=8

 

 

 

He is in the swimming pool with birds:

 

http://video.yandex....r=curieux&cid=8

 

 

 

After trimming he always looks around:

 

http://video.yandex....r=curieux&cid=8

By trimming his feathers, so he can see, would probably add to his quality of life so to speak. It will give him a bit of enjoyment to be able to check out his surrounds. Well done.

Good to hear what a difference trimming has made...well done in working out whats best for him

robyn, **KAZ**, thanks

twisted, your picture has disappeared (( It's a pity((

 

 

 

After the 1^st trimming I noticed that he had difficulties with preening and decided to cut his double and triple feather to make them ordinary ones:

 

 

 

 

Today FerDinand is 3 months old

Now he looks like this:

 

 

He is very active, often makes “wings gymnastics” and jumps, trying to fly:

 

http://video.yandex....rieux/view/227/

Today is his birthday.. He is 4 months old today..

Today he died.. Quietly and without any sufferings...

 

It's very, very, sad... I love him...

Edited June 25, 201212 yr by TaniaOK

I understand how you feel. I just lost another duster and they work their way into your heart so quickly. We hope each time, despite facts to the contrary, that ours will live longer than most. Very sad when they go .

Sorry you lost Ferdinand Tania, it's probably worse to lose a F.D. as you would have so much more interaction with them. Compared to normal aviary birds that is. :(

**KAZ**, robyn, thank you for your support. It's very sad to lose them, yes..

**KAZ**, I'm grieved to hear that your FD also passed away.. Poor creatures. I hope, one day people invent something that will help FDs live longer..

so sorry to hear :-(

 

Can I ask you guys what causes a FD budgie to die so young normally??

Clouds birds, I guess that excessive feather growth demands too much of nutritions. The nutritions don't come to important organs and these organs don't develop normally. So, it's a question of time, when something in the organism stops working..

Great vids and pics all the way through this topic. Well done to everyone.

 

Well done Tania on looking after FerDinand.

 

Sorry for your loss. Sometimes the brightest candles burn out the fastest. You did what you could.

Dave_McMinn, thank you for your kind words.

FerDinand will always live in my heart..

You did well Tania. You gave the little guys some much love and care. I looked at some of your videos and feel so teary eyed. He was beautiful.

BudgieOwner, thank you..

Sorry I didn't see this sooner. My condolences on the loss of your special guy.

Finnie, thank you for your support..

Today I've got a new FD from my buddy breeder. She's wonderful. She's 32 days old. By today she had been fed by her parents normally and she was taken directly from the nest. She's in a very good condition, she's not thin. Her sounds are close to normal ones. She behaves as any usual chick, she's very active. But she doesn't know how to eat by herself, so, for the present, I use crop feeding.

 

 

 

 

Her name is Stefany. I hope much that she will have a long and happy life.

She is very cute. I'm sure living with you she will have the longest, happiest life possible

She is looking great Tania. Does your friend get a lot of F.D's in is birds? He may have to breed with different pairs to try to avoid them, unless he doesn't mind having the D.F appear, they look like sweet little birds even if they are short lived.

Nadene, thank you very much for your kind words

 

She is looking great Tania. Does your friend get a lot of F.D's in is birds?

robyn, thank you No, he gets them occasionally. Her parents are being bred the 2nd year, and it's the first FD chick from this pair. It was a complete surprise for him.

Today she died.. I hoped that she had bigger chances, as she had been fed by her parents for long, but no.. She did not learn how to eat by herself, I used crop feeding (3 times per day, 4 - 5ml of Nutribird19). I guess, it was not enough.. My poor creature.. She was so active, so alive when she came to me..

Sorry you again lost your F.D. Tania, it's hard to watch a little one lose it's battle when they were given such a handicap to overcome in the first place.

Oh, I'm so sorry you lost her this early. It's very nice that you gave her a good life while you could.