Mutant Budgie Hatchling!

**Buttons the Quail** · 04-13-2009, 01:36 AM

My two budgies hatched a chick, and he had backward facing legs. His egg was unusually long, and he hatched this way. Unfortunately, I didn't correct it because it was the first chick we hatched, and we didn't know what they were supposed to look like. Then one day the father threw him out of the nest and onto the food tray, and chewed his head really badly. The poor bird was really pretty too, and was a mauve spangle. Can anyone tell me if similar mutations have happened before?

**BirdLuver09** · 04-13-2009, 08:02 AM

I don't think mutations have anything to do with it

it does sound like a birth defect though, and can be caused by many factors

the misshaped egg sounds like lack of calcium, which could cause deformities

Also inbreeding is the main cause of deformities

So if you got both birds from a pet shop - same pet shop - specially on the same day (or very close together) it is highly likely they are actually related

or even from a breeder, if you didn't specify you wanted birds who were not related.

a diet that wasn't high in vitamins,minerals, and calcium are good factors for deformities as well

It sounds like your chick has the human version of "club foot" - this is when a baby is born with their foot (or in some cases entire leg) Bent inwards (at least my daughters was inwards not sure if it can go in other directions and still be club foot) her left foot turned so far in it laid flat on the inside of her diaper. (she had a operation to correct it)

**Buttons the Quail** · 04-13-2009, 05:38 PM

The birds aren't related. One was bred, and the other was bought from a shop.

**BirdLuver09** · 04-13-2009, 06:27 PM

Then it's probably a birth defect that is either in one of their genes or from lack of something in their diet. OR it could of just been a fluke

BUT if you'd pair them to different birds and it happens again, I wouldn't breed the one giving you the babies with deformities any more because then it's most likely in that birds genes - the Adult bird could in fact be an inbred bird and the bad genes are being passed down.

**Buttons the Quail** · 04-13-2009, 07:10 PM

Yeah true.

**nascar** · 05-21-2009, 02:50 PM

true

**Show Dog** · 05-22-2009, 06:34 AM

Why did you bring up a thread that had been sorted out...?

**Melza** · 05-28-2009, 01:29 AM

...? this was from your old birds yea? you havent had the new ones 5 mins yet....

**Buttons the Quail** · 05-28-2009, 04:48 AM

I didn't revive the thread, nascar did...

**Melza** · 05-28-2009, 05:48 AM

that was my fault for failing to look at dates, it does fill in a puzzle piece for me though...

**Buttons the Quail** · 05-29-2009, 12:02 AM

How do you mean?

**Melza** · 05-29-2009, 01:09 AM

about your prior breeding "experience"

**Buttons the Quail** · 05-29-2009, 11:08 PM

I raised 7 healthy baby boys... All hand tame!

**Buttons the Quail** · 05-29-2009, 11:09 PM

As far as breeding goes....Not very much experience...but at least I know how to handrear...I did have the brains to look that one up before breeding.