Grey Budgie

[catsnkeets]

I went to petco after work and saw something I'd never seen before--a gray keet. His stomach was light grey and his back and wings were light and dark grey. The only color he had on him was a tiny bit of yellow on his neck. When I seen it it took me a moment to realize that it was his feathers, it looked as if he had rubbed up against something a couple days ago and it was just now coming off. He was so adorable! If I wasn't leaving this fall and if my other birds were in the better health, I would have bought him.
My question is: Is this normal? I've never seen an all grey budgie before. In fact, very few of the ones I've seen have any grey at all in them. Does anyone else have an all grey budgie? or have you seen one?

[Angie]

Like this?http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j268/Kolkri/Pepper006.jpg
His face is dirty. Not sure what he got on it but he has yet to take a bath even though I keep offering one to him. May try to mist him today.
His wings are grey with brown trim. And he does have a little white on him. But for the most part he is that grayish/blueish color.

[Babyluv12]

It is not abnormal for them to come out that way-my Stormy was a weird gray one too but after the first two molts a tint of blue/gray came out and her head turned yellow- The pic is not good enough for me to see what is on his beak but try and take a better one- from far it looks like scaly face but like I said the pic is not clear enough to tell..either way adorable.

[jae]

i also love grey budgie! its very natural color

[Kerry C]

How about this grey hen that took 5th place at the 2006 Grand National Budgie Show in Arizona?
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/278496378_0358c40964.jpg

Three grey chicks in this flight pen.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/94/243265367_04d05ca7d4.jpg

Here's a grey hen and a cinnamon light green who got in with the Barraband cock.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/91/243277567_f27014fcae.jpg

Grey is a common color. Many don't like it because it is a dulling factor if one is trying to produce bright colors. Personally I like it. The only thing that really detracts from it, is if one puts golden face on a grey. The yellow from the face "bleeds" into the body color and it's not a pretty look at all.

I remember one Bird Mart many years ago I found a little American hen that was really butt ugly with all the color combinations some breeder put in her. :mad: I bought her because I was intrigued to try and unravel all the mutations she had. My other budgie breeder friends thought I was off my rocker. Maybe I was....too many feathers in the brain at the time! :D She did produce pretty chicks, but I could not unravel all of her mystery.

[X Inplosion X]

There are many mutations when it comes to budgie colors. There are some that look from another world, I found some very interesting ones here http://www.budgieplace.com/colorsguide.html
This explained to me the different pattern and body color mutation. It's very helpful.

[pal0m1n0]

I agree with Babyluv, Angie, try to get a better picture because scaly face was the first thing that popped into my head as well.

KerryC, do you have a picture of the "butt ugly" hen?

[pinnkmoose]

my budgies a greyish colour with blue on him, he looked more blue when i bought him but hes beautiful either way. Jen x

[Kerry C]

KerryC, do you have a picture of the "butt ugly" hen?

No that was back in 1990 and I didn't bother taking pictures of my birds back then.

[Angie]

All that link did was confuss me. BTW it't peppers beak that is dirty not his cere. lol Just misted him when he gets dry Ill get some pictures with his face clean.

[X Inplosion X]

Budgie genetics are always confusing at first. It takes time to understand but you can benefit out of understanding your budgies color mutation.

[catsnkeets]

Well I guess they are not as uncommon. I had just never seen one in my entire life. (Not that I've had a very long life!) Except for the yellow on his neck he was completely grey, no white, no blue, just dark and light grey. I thought he was beautiful. True he wasn't as bright but he had his own beauty.

[pal0m1n0]

Glad to hear that, Angie. :) Scaly face can start in the corners, that is how I caught one case. There was something sticking up from the corner of the bird's beak. (see attached picture). And catsnkeets, looking forward to a picture of your beauty.

[catsnkeets]

And catsnkeets, looking forward to a picture of your beauty.

Actually, I didn't buy him. I wanted to, but my two birds are still recovering from whatever had them down. Also, I'm leaving for college this fall and it wouldn't be fair to my sisters to show up with another one for them to care for. If it weren't for that, I would have taken him home in a heartbeat!

[Kerry C]

Hey Catsnkeets....

Just wanted to tell you that at the budgie show this last weekend there were 14 normal grey budgies enterd by 11 exhibitors. One of those birds took 2nd place on the top bench out of nearly 300 birds

[Sabine]

Hey there,

I actually had a gray budgie before about 10 years ago when I still lived in Switzerland. I'm not sure it is normal but I've seen one before.

Unfortunately he escaped and despite putting up flyers we never found him again :(