Feather duster budgerigar

Feather duster budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), sometimes called budgerigar mops, are budgerigars that have a condition characterised by overly long feathers that do not 'sit down' in the usual way, giving the bird the appearance of a feather duster. This condition is sometimes known as chrysanthemum feathering. The contour, tail and flight feathers do not stop growing, and they do not have the necessary barbs and barbules for the feather's structure to interlock. The shaft (calamus) is also curved, and so the feathers appear deformed and fluffed out. Individuals with this condition often appear less alert than nest mates. In addition, they are small and some have other defects such as microphthalmia. They lack vigour, often cannot fly and die within a year of hatching. There is no treatment for the condition; birds are often euthanized in the nest.

The condition may be a genetic disorder,[1][2] caused by a herpesvirus,[3][4] or perhaps caused by both.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Pass, D.A. (1989). "The pathology of the avian integument:A review". Avian Pathology 18 (1): 1–72.
  2. ↑ van Zeeland, Y.R. and Schoemaker, N.J. (2014). "Plumage disorders in psittacine birds-part 1: Feather abnormalities". European Journal of Companion Animal Practice 24 (1): 34–47.
  3. ↑ Shivaprasad, H.L. (2002). "Pathology of birds–an overview". Proceedings of C.L. Davis Foundation Conference on Gross Morbid Anatomy of Animals. AFIP, Washington DC.
  4. ↑ Lazic, T., Ackermann, M.R., Drahos, J.M., Stasko, J. and Haynes, J.S. (2008). "Respiratory herpesvirus infection in two Indian Ringneck parakeets". Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 20: 235–238.
  5. ↑ Girling, S.J. (2010). "The welfare of captive birds in the future". The Welfare of Domestic Fowl and Other Captive Birds. Springer Netherlands. pp. 115–133.

External links

Video of feather duster budgerigar

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, April 17, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.