english budgies and exhibition budgies.

[senn]

does anyone here know how to tell the difference between different varieties of exhibition budgies?

i read on some websites that all exhibition birds were english budgies. i have heard from forum members this is not so.

below is a reply i received when i put the question to the nsw budgerigar society.

I post it here as it is interesting reading. if people disagree with it it would be interesting to read their views.

Hi Simon,
Thank you for your email
English and european budgerigars were imported into australia
approximately
14 yrs ago in severeal consignments. These birds had different
caractoristics to the australian exhibition budgerigar. Some breeders
kept
the blood lines pure and others crossed them with aussie budgies.
However,
the australian modern exhibition budgies are generally full blooded
imports
of mixed origin. It maybe difficult to find a breeder with a pedigree
that
would go back as far as 14yrs ago.

(from Barry Ryan
Information Officer
Budgerigar Society of NSW)

please note this quoted letter is not my opinion. i quote it merely out of interest as it comes from a source with experience within bird breeding.

[fischer]

Simon, Generally speaking, there are 3 main types of exibition Budgies in Australia, and 4 in total if you count the wild bird.

The English Budgie, Its much larger than the Australian, with a larger head and more pronounced brow, and the chest is more pronounced too.

The English- Aust Budgie, Though still called English in show circles, Its the crossbreed mentioned, Its confirmation is much the same as the true english, but in actual size its slightly smaller.

The Australian Budgie, Much less common in shows these days, mores the pity, but making a comeback recently, Its size and shape is slightly larger than say, a Budgie you will see in a pet shop, with a slightly pronuonced brow and chest.

Most of the birds you see in shops etc, are more the type last listed, its fairly rare to see the first two types for general sale.
If you or anyone else is interested, I suggest you visit the next Bird Club Show, in an area near you and you will see the types of Budgie I have tried to describe.

Hope this helps everyone unfamiliar with Budgies ;D.
Tony

[senn]

ok. see if i got you right here.

if someone says they have show stock its more likely to be the anglo-aussie cross if anything.

thats more what im in aid of finding out.

[fischer]

Yes Simon, Thats quite correct, Barry Ryan is right, the pure English Budgies would be hard to find now, but pure strains would still exist in Australia. .
Tony

[senn]

ok thanks muchly.

not that it would really matter to me personally if it were totally english or english-australian but its nice to know.

providing the bird is healthy and amenable to handling the exact variety is probably academic. that would be my criteria for any pet.

[AussieBirds]

Very well explained Tony. In my opinion the pure English budgie is a rather deformed looking bird and by crossing it with the Aussie bidgie made it a much more desirable bird. You can see the pronounced brow on the exhibition budgie if you look at the bird in my Avitar, he was a champion before he was retired to stud. ;D

John

[senn]

so john,

the bird in your avatar has english blood somewhere in it or not?

either way its a lovely looking specimen.

[AussieBirds]

That's the way Tony explained it yes Simon and as i said it was very well explained. Unfortunatly some people look for size in budgies with the false impression that big is better when in fact this can be to the detrement of the bird, it can have trouble flying and in some cases that i have seen be stranded to a life on the floor of the cage.

Size can also alter the breeding capability of the bird and the inexperianced person will buy what they think is a good bird because of it's size whith the hope of breeding with it only to find infact that they get no results at all.

I will probably land myself in a bit of hot water here when i say this but be very carefull where you buy your breeder birds from. If you are inexperianced and just starting out NEVER buy from a pet shop, seek out a reputable breeder and buy from them, most of then will be only too happy to explain the in's and out's of breeding and what distinguiushes a good from a bad bird.

I have strayed from the original topic a bit sorry about that, I hope this answers you original question Simon.

John

[senn]

john,

no problems. youve answered quite well.

the size factor youve mentioned and the mistaken impression resulting in harm are indeed concerns in breeding any animal.

not looking to breed actually. just for birds that would be amenable to handling. i had heard english stock was very amenable hence the interest.

[AussieBirds]

Well Simon I have found that birds, and i will talk about birds as this is a bird forum, are like most people. If you are kind and treat them with respect they will do the same to you, you get back what you give, if you are aggressive then you will get aggresion in return. I have never, and I mean never, been attacked by a bird for no reason, the same can also be said about most people and this not only goes for your actions but your mental approach also.

I know people that could never have a bird because of thier mental attitude and for wan't of as better expresion they give off bad vibes.

I would never give up on a bird even if it was the most aggresive bird in the world and I would never give up on a person either, but i have to admit there are some that try my patience and whether i mean people or birds Ill leave it to you to make up your mind.

John

[senn]

i totally agree with you that some people arent suited to some birds and vice versa.

but you would surely agree that certain species of birds are more suited to beginners than others.

[josiedownunda]

Yes John I agree with you totally! I know of a few people that are just not bird people...no matter what they do or how much they know...or think they know...it just doesn't work for them. Personally I am not a cat person...I like them and respect them but for some reason we do not click! I am a vet nurse so you can imagine how frustrating that was at times.
Fortunately I admitted defeat and moved on to animals that were more my cup of tea. It just frustrates me so much to see people that are too stubborn to face reality and instead of saying ..ok maybe birds aren't for me...or dogs or whatever......they blame the animal or the breeder of someone else rather than themselves.
Working in an animal industry I have met all kinds....and on more than 1 occasion .....and just recently I must admit....I have very nearly told a person to give up and get a stuffed animal......I didn't though mind you.....LOL
Jo-Anne

[billspets]

Depends on what you are calling a beginner as we all are beginners when we start with a breed that we haven’t had before Simon I think it goes down to if you have the personality and confidence with all breeds of birds
I wouldn’t say one breed is better than another for some one to start with I would recommend that they take it slow and listen and be prepared to learn


also Personally I feel that there are two thinks that can pick someone’s personality on is a child and the other is an animal
regards
bill

[senn]

ok bill.

yes youre right about what you say re defining a beginner.

but im talking someone who has little experience with birds in general.

in this case i still think there would be bird species that were better suited to them than others. that is my opinion.

jo, re being a person for a type of animal. yes i agree. there are people out there who are better suited to a type of animal or bird. and some not suited to pets at all. yes some can be too stubborn to realise wether theyre suited. but sometimes people can click with one animal/bird where they havent with another.

and i would hope you both agree with me that researching an animal species prior to purchase is a sign the person is trying to make an informed decision.

this has all gone off-topic though as the initial question was about the virtues etc of a particular style of budgerigar.

[josiedownunda]

Unfortunately though for some people no matter how informed they are it really doesn't alter the fact that the animal may not suit. All the knowledge in the world about an animal does not ensure that it will be appropriate for a person.
As for this thread running off-topic ...it happens...look at a lot of threads on this forum.....it is part of conversation and happens.
I think you should leave it up to the moderators to decide when a thread has gone too far off.
Thankyou
Jo-Anne

[senn]

jo,

yes youre right that sometimes despite what they learn through research people sometimes dont suit an animal.

and sometimes by doing research a person can avoid purchasing a pet that isnt right for them.

nothing is 100% guaranteed ever.