Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 7/15/2007

Question
I have one single large male English Show Budgie, the females I have are moderately sized, will the pairing result in producing large head size as in show budgies?,
thanks

Answer
Hi, Sujan,

Are the females also English budgies?  English budgies are different than budgies/american parakeets (most people refer to budgies/parakeets as the same).  And English show budgies are also different.  So, the answer to your question depends on what subspecies of female budgies/keets you have.

If you breed English budgies to english budgies, the large head sized English budgies will be produced, as long as the English budgie in each of the adults is pure.  If either parent is a cross between an English budgie and a regular budgie/parakeet, then offspring could be both large headed English budgie, as well as regular budgie/keet or budgies/keets with moderately sized heads.  So you really need to know the genetic makeup of each of your breeding birds.  If you don't know, then all you can do is breed them and see what they produce.  Be sure to keep good, accurate, written records.

Chrys