I Want One!!!

03-09-2007, 05:08 PM

The strange looks of a very odd budgie are winning hearts across New Zealand. Whipper the budgie’s extraordinary plumage, stunted wings and bizarre attempts at whistling like a bird have not impressed everyone.He was rejected by his mother and has been declared a mutant by his vet.But Whipper has made fans and admirers of everyone in the small New Zealand town of Winton who has laid eyes on him. “Nobody’s ever seen anything like him before… there’s just total disbelief,” said owner Julie Hayward, who has played host to a steady stream of curious neighbours. “He’s so cute how he’s got really fluffy, curly bits,” was one young girl’s reaction to Whipper. But his looks are not the only thing that make Whipper stand out from the crowd. “He doesn’t make the same sound as budgie. In fact he doesn’t make the same sound as anything really,” said Mrs Hayward. Whipper’s mother, though, was unable to appreciate her offspring’s unique curls and whirls. “She threw him out twice, so the second time it was too risky to leave him in there,” Mrs Hayward said.

Family friend Gillian McFarlane said: “He is just glorious. There was something right from the start that he was just going to turn into a little megastar.”

03-09-2007, 05:39 PM

I think it is a mutation/aberation problem, refered to as a feather duster. Unfortunatly they dont live so long because of all the resources spent of feather growth.

looks cute but sad in a way.

03-09-2007, 05:41 PM

Oh now I feel bad

03-09-2007, 05:43 PM

This is an excerpt from an article about them....

Quote:

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.3 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

This is the entire article. http://www.answersingenesis.org/crea.../i1/budgie.asp

03-09-2007, 05:44 PM

Now I feel really really bad. I've never seen or heard of them, I had no idea.

03-09-2007, 05:45 PM

How sad! I thought he was adorable when I first saw the pictures too.

03-09-2007, 09:26 PM

Awwww, that is sad. I never heard of anything like this before.

03-09-2007, 09:34 PM

I guess not all of natures curve balls turn out good. He is a cute thing tho.

03-10-2007, 06:48 AM

I actually know someone that had one. He had to have his facial feathers trimmed so he could see...he did not live a year. It was very sad.

03-10-2007, 10:27 AM

You shouldn't feel bad! He's very endearing. He's adorable. I just want to snuggle him. Maybe his cuteness ensures he'll receive a lot of love in what will be a short life.