NZ parade of freakazoid animals continues with this mutant parakeet

[astro]

Must see to believe

[The_Llama]

Have you seen any other info that tells whether or not he’s a healthy, functioning bird?

[astro]

Here’s a more detailed picture

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

“Oh no, General! No Strontium 90 could ever travel all the way from Bikini Atoll to an inhabited area.” :eek: :dubious: :rolleyes:

[Zebra]

After being rejected by it’s mother, was it raised by Elvis Impersonators?

[Zyada]

@Zebra

After being rejected by it’s mother, was it raised by Elvis Impersonators?

No, that’s more along Liberace’s line.

[Doctor_Jackson]

From the 1st link:

“He’s so cute how he’s got really fluffy, curly bits,” was one young girl’s reaction to Whipper.

Heh. I don’t believe I woulda said that!

[Mangetout]

I’ve seen that mutation before; it is actually something that a few breeders select for; known as a ‘duster’.

[cards]

Is he pinnin’ for fjords?

[The_Llama]

Mr tout, is that breed able to survive like a normal budgie, or is it like a breed that will live for 2 years and die for whatever odd genetic reason?

[Cervaise]

@Zyada

No, that’s more along Liberace’s line.

I was thinking more about big sparkly glasses to complete the Elton John look.

[liirogue]

How does the poor thing see?

[Etherman]

@liirogue

How does the poor thing see?

Terrible.

oh, wait…

So is this some half way between feathers and hair sorta thing.

[Etherman]

Crap, there should be a ? instead of . at the end of that last line.

[Skywatcher]

@The_Llama

Mr tout, is that breed able to survive like a normal budgie, or is it like a breed that will live for 2 years and die for whatever odd genetic reason?

Religious overtones aside, this site seems to have good info.

Damien didn’t sell her, but instead gave her to bird-lover Warren Scholes, who named her Nora, after a local political character.

Nora’s long, curly feathers seemed to lack some component of the normal barb, barbule and hook structures of standard feathers, and they greatly hampered her mobility. Although able to eat normal budgie fodder and shuffle around, Nora couldn’t climb, preen or fly like other budgies, and she could hardly chatter or squawk either. However, with Warren’s help she did eventually learn to perch on the low rung in her cage.

Nora’s parents were both descendants of English show budgies, the only birds known to produce ‘feather duster’ mutants, the first such case being reported in England in 1966. Breeders think a mutation (genetic copying mistake) in a recessive gene causes the problem.

Since Nora’s three siblings were healthy, they must have each inherited a good copy of the gene from at least one of the two parents. (If the gene from their other parent was defective, the good copy would override it.) If they inherited one good copy and one mutant copy they would be carriers of the disease, while remaining healthy themselves.

When the copies from both parents have this mutation, as with Nora, the ‘feather duster’ syndrome results. To avoid the possibility of more chicks like Nora, Damien separated Nora’s parents, and did not breed them together again.

These ‘feather duster’ mutants also carry some strains of Budgerigar Herpesvirus that aren’t found in normal budgies, but experts don’t know whether the virus plays a role in this genetic problem. As their bodies divert precious nutrients and energy into continual feather growth, these mutant birds suffer severe muscle wasting. Most die after four to eight months. Warren gave Nora special care, but even with this attention she managed to live only 12 months before succumbing, whereas a typical budgie lifespan is anywhere from six to 14 years.