BudgerigarDictionary

BARRED HEADS (UNBROKEN CAP ) Is the name given to a Budgerigar under the age of 3 months (approx.) or until they commence their first moult. In most varieties it is easily identified by the barring across the head and the lack of an iris in the eye. Also known as UBC or Nest Feather.

BLOOM Show ready, by regular spraying the feathering develops a sheen look.

BREEDER A show term for a Budgerigar with the current and previous years rings: eg 2001 / 2000, 2002 / 2001.

BUFF the name uses for longer and broader feathers, making the bird buff rather than having a tight appearance.

CERE - The section of a Budgerigar that is above the beak, the birds nostrils are also located here.

CLEAR The lack of pigment in the feathering.

CLEFT MASK - Birds with this give the impression that the mask is split down the middle.

CLOSED RING - In South Africa we uses the BSSA standard aluminium band of 4.2 mm with each breeders individual ring code and the BSSA logo. The ring colour changes each year for easy identification. These ring have to be put on each chick before they are 10 days old.

CROP - Food storage place before digestion

CROP MILK - Milk-like substance produced by hen necessary in rearing chicks

CULLING - Disposing of unwanted birds.

DEAD IN SHELL - Chick sometimes fail to break out the egg and dies.

DIRECTIONAL FEATHER - Term used when describing the feather on a bird's head. Breeders today endeavour to breed their show birds with head feathers growing outwards away from the head, this type of feathering tends to give the impression that the bird has a large head.

DOWN - The soft feathering on a chick before feather form.

EGG BINDING - When a hen can't pass her egg.

EGG TOOTH - Sharp hook on end of chick's beak helps chick to break out of shell lost shortly after bird hatches.

FEATHER DUST - The white dust from feathers of most parrot type birds.

FEATHER DUSTER - Name given to a budgie that has extensive feather growth these birds tend not to live too long.

FLECKING - Excessive spotted feathering on the head

FRENCH MOULT - A premature loss of primary, secondary and tail feathers. This is caused by a virus making it an infectious disease.

GOOD BLOW - Ability of a bird to puff their head feathering, again giving the impression that the bird has a larger head.

GOING LIGHT - A disease, birds tend to lose weight rapidly.

GROUND COLOUR - This is the underlying colour, white in the blue series, yellow in the green series, upon which all other pigments and markings are superimposed.

HEAVY WINGS - Used to describe birds with large secondary flights, also birds with long primary flights that fan out and hang down instead of being tight and follow the contour of the body.

HYBRID - Mule. A bird bred from breeding across two different species e.g. Budgie and a Turquoisine a very pretty bird, but sterile.

IDEAL - A picture or standard you strive to achieve.

LEG FEATHERS - In our endeavour to breed birds with more feather, we are now breeding them with feathers growing on the lower leg. This is unsightly to the eye and is regarded as a fault when showing, therefore, the feathers need to be removed by trimming with small scissors before exhibiting in shows.

LONGFLIGHTED - Tail & Wing longer than required length.

NORMALS - A group of colours not of the rare combinations.

MANTEL - The triangle area behind the head of opalines, zebra like markings.

MASK - Bib. The spotted feathers fanning out beneath the beak