Possible Pied Eclectus Chick

[macawvic]

Hi all,

Tell me what you all think of this chick. I know he is severely feather plucked, but I pulled him this afternoon for handrearing. A little old for h/r but it's a risk that has to be taken. All you mutation gurus out there, tell me what you think the white toes and toe nails signify. :-)


Both feet have white toes and toe nails. As you can see on this feet, only one out of the four toenails are actually black. The right foot only has two black and two white.


Hmm, photos looks very similar to the one above doesn't it? :-) haha, but it is a different photos.


Chick certainly had a very strong grip. Caught my left hand in his right foot and literally tore my upper epidermis right off.


As you can see, the poor boy was near plucked to death.

[Smiley]

The poor baby... ..I have no idea about mutations in then..But I have seen a few different mutations in them..some are great..I hope is does well ....



Natalie

[fischer]

Hi Macaw,

The different coloured toenails would definatly indicate the pied gene in the bird, at the moment it's hard to tell what colour his feathers will be ;D, ;D but my bet would be a pied colouring.

Cheers Tony

[macawvic]

The poor baby

I was heart broken when I saw him. The nestbox is placed inside the aviary, making nestbox inspections very difficult. Mummy tends to get very deffensive of her nest and I still have battle scars to prove that. I wasn't expecting them to produce young as they are only 2.5 years of age. Who would have thought that their first ever egg laid would hatch out?! :-) No complaints from me. I will just have to pull all chicks in future.

The different coloured toenails would definatly indicate the pied gene in the bird, at the moment it's hard to tell what colour his feathers will be , but my bet would be a pied colouring.

I tend to agree with you. Being an ex-budgie and lovebird breeder, I kind of suspected that myself. If so, this may well be the first pied eclectus. Woa! Hmm, second if you class his mother. She has visual green flight feathers (should be blue). Fingers crossed.

[Smiley]

I can see one red feather on the chest...But is that one from the plucking stuck there?That is in the last photo...What I use for birds that are like the parent of him,is a motor bike mirror with the arm still on it and torch...I put the mirror near the entrance bonce the light off that.And it will light up the nest...If she does let you see the egg.You can tell if it is fertile..It should be a nice white colour...It is a wonder you did here them feeding him..Or had noticed that they where eating more food...


Natalie

[macawvic]

It is a wonder you did here them feeding him..Or had noticed that they where eating more food...

I actually knew that they laid an egg and was able to, every now and then, check on the chick. However, in the last month, the hen got decidedly more aggressive so was not able to easily enter the aviary, let alone check the nestbox. Once instance, I had to enter the aviary to sweep the floors. Well, did she try to give it to me. She jumped onto the floor of the aviary and attacked the broom and bucket. After she felt that she'd dealt enough damage, she targetted my left shoe. If I wasn't petrified of her, I would have found it hilarious. :-)

[Smiley]

PMSL sorry,

But I have been attacked in my time as well....Looks like you need to wear some armed plated clothing...lol....stop that (slap)...sorry i cannot help it..I wish I was there ;D....


Natalie

[macawvic]

Looking back in hindsight, it would have been a darn funny sight. I can remember shouting a few R-rated words at her during her attack. Reg, the cock, is the friedliest eckie around and was sitting on the nestbox next to my head. Wouldn't be surprised if he was laughing to himself.

Next time I have cleaning duties, I'll make sure to give you a call. haha.

[hillcresttiels]

Hi MacawVic, Pied or (AMD)as known is a recessive mutation where both parents are needed to carry the gene for it to be visual in the offspring.You mention mum is pied what about dad my suspicion is that the chick has displayed a light form of Pied similar to tick markings indicating a split gene being evident.In the pieds arn't all the toes and feet clear?Has mum got clear feet? cheers Frank

[Smiley]

No worries would love to....I bet the boy was having a chuckle or two..lol...


Natalie

[macawvic]

Hi MacawVic, Pied or (AMD)as known is a recessive mutation where both parents are needed to carry the gene for it to be visual in the offspring.You mention mum is pied what about dad my suspicion is that the chick has displayed a light form of Pied similar to tick markings indicating a split gene being evident.In the pieds arn't all the toes and feet clear?Has mum got clear feet? cheers Frank

Dad does not physically exhibit any pied markings. However, he did have several blue feathers on his breast. I have not seen these feathers since his last moult.

You're referring to a single factor pied? Like the rainbow lorikeet streakies. If that's the case mum would be a double factor pied.

Is it at all possible that the pied gene may be a dominant pied alike those from budgies?

No, in budgies and red rumps (just as examples) pied birds don't necessarily have no pigmentation on these feet. It is more common for pied birds to exhibit only a number of clear toes.

[hillcresttiels]

Hi MacawVic i was refering to recessive pied which is what i believed the Electus to be or am i on the wrong track here
Frank

[macawvic]

Hi Frank,

Well it is difficult to knuckle down what the true nature of the eclectus pied to be as there currently is no official precendence in aviculture.

[hillcresttiels]

Well good luck with it hopefully it will be pied and future test breeding can determine their true Pied genetics
cheers Frank

[macawvic]

Thanks a million, Frank. I will definitely be keeping everyone here abreast of its progress. :-)