What breed, rough age

[garethw]

Hi all, here are our 2 new family members Rum & Raisin.  In my introduction we have established the I had the boy and girl the wrong way round ,  but now I would like to know their breed and rough age.

Both have solid black eyes, but she (Raisin) seems much bigger and the black (Beard?) feathers below her beak are much more prominent than Rums.  He also is much more fluffy then she is too.

Rum





Raisin

[redbeardnz]

I'll be super useful here and claim that i can confidently point out that they are, in fact both budgies.
my budgie knowledge is now exhausted :-D

[weelouie]

I'm no expert either but judging by the lack of barring on their foreheads, they're mature adults. The black eyes may or may not mean they're still young, that can depend on what type and colour they are.

Speaking of which, I'm still learning the colours and types myself as I just "inherited" six of them, five are variations of pied. Here's a link to the page I'm using, it's long but detailed: puppiesareprozac.com/budgie-parakeet/colors-varieties-mutations-genetics/#Pied_Mutations

Re breed - not sure what you mean, the only "breeds" I know of (and I'm not sure if they're breeds) are the standard or American, the English or exhibition type, and the crested. I'm sure someone who has experience with showing them will be along soon to correct me!

[Hezz]

Neither Rum nor Raisin are of mutations that keep their solid black eyes into adulthood. These two are not mature adults at all, but somewhere, anywhere, between three and 9 months old, as the photos are not showing any iris ring at all yet.

Does Rum always look like he does in this photo? Just that he looks a bit too fluffed up in the photo, which is not healthy. If he is sick he will fluff himself up to try to stay warm. Raisin, with her feathers all sleeked down, shows how a healthy budgie should look.

Raisin is a yellow-faced grey, if you where looking for mutation types; is Rum's face a pale yellow, or has he been eating something like corn??

[garethw]

Oct 25, 2016 7:00:09 GMT Hezz said:

Neither Rum nor Raisin are of mutations that keep their solid black eyes into adulthood. These two are not mature adults at all, but somewhere, anywhere, between three and 9 months old, as the photos are not showing any iris ring at all yet.

Does Rum always look like he does in this photo? Just that he looks a bit too fluffed up in the photo, which is not healthy. If he is sick he will fluff himself up to try to stay warm. Raisin, with her feathers all sleeked down, shows how a healthy budgie should look.

Raisin is a yellow-faced grey, if you where looking for mutation types; is Rum's face a pale yellow, or has he been eating something like corn??

Thanks Hezz, he is pale yellow faced. In the photo, I had caught him mid groom. He does sleek down, but seems a little more fluffy (like baby feathers), I think he is molting because some small white fluffy feathers are floating around the cage

[OP]

It could also be the mutation. Bobby is very similar in colouring and her chest and head feathers look sof and downy. She looks like a soft toy sometimes. Is that how Rum looks at times?

[Hezz]

See if they are receptive to some mashed up hard boiled egg, otherwise get them some commercial dried eggfood. Either of these will give them the protein they need to replace the moulting feathers.

My guess for Rum's mutation would be a yellow-faced opaline mauve. I must add that mutations are not my strong point; I am willing to be proved wrong.

[jujubiiird]

They're both very lovely, I like their names too

[nev90]

Rum is a yellow face opaline dominant pied. You can tell he is young because his cere is still pink.

Raisin is a yellow face opaline grey. The cheek patches show that her colour is grey not mauve.

Neither bird has developed iris rings yet so they must both be under six months old.

[Hezz]

Thanks nev90, for all of that. At least I am getting some of this right ......

[garethw]

WOW, thanks for the help and comments. I am trying so hard to get her to be less scared of my hand, he is/was fine but I have a feeling that she is putting him off. He was brill yesterday and let me stroke his chest, but he was a bit on edge today. On the plus side, she has found the cage food dish's now so the bowl on the floor has gone.

Hezz, I bought some egg biscuit from a large pet chain as they did not have some egg food mix in, but I will call down to the local shop on Saturday and get the egg mix. I heard a lot of commotion last night in the cage, turned round to find Raisin trying to bath in the water dish . I gave them a spray with some warm water, they seemed to enjoy it.