Question about albino parakeet

[skyewolfe]

I've owned parakeets in the past, however, this is my first albino. I thought she was pure white until I examined her closely. While her eyes are the standard red/dark pink and her legs are flesh of an albino, her feathers have a very soft pink hue to them. The part of the feathers just above the ceres have a blush colour to them as well. I was wondering if any one knows what albino variation she is.

I was also wondering if any one knows of any specific health problems albino parakeets might get. I know all albino animals tend to have some.

They aren't the best pictures, I know, but Akastuki is new and a little shy right now.

 

[Laurasea]

Congratulations on your new birdie! Very pretty! I would think a bit of light sensitivity as with all albinos. I have parakeets too, and had them in the past. But there is better information on them now, so it's worthwhile doing some reading up on them! They can will and need lots of fresh veggies justine other parrots! This was new to me, so don't take offense if you already know that plus you are going to need a bigger cage, and different perch types, and few different size perches. They are so wonderful and playful, lots of toys too even if she doesn't go for the veggies at first don't give up, mine really like leafy veggiesije book choy, spinach, romaine and so on. Welcome to the forum!

 

[EllenD]

There are only 2 mutations that I'm aware of that occur in both of the Inos Budgies (Albino and Lutino), and they are the Lacewing mutation, and the Creamino mutation.

With the Lacewing mutation, the cinnamon gene comes through, so an Albino Lacewing would be all white and have light brown markings, while a Lutino Lacewing would be all yellow with brown markings. I don't see that here from your photos.

With the Creamino mutation, the yellow-face gene comes through, and regardless of whether the bird is an Albino Inos or a Lutino Inos, they are both white with varying amounts of yellow feathers. I don't see this in your bird either from these photos, but the photos don't show color very well. He could be a Creamino if he has different shades of yellow feathers showing through...

***That being said, both Albino and Lutino Budgies possess the Ino gene, and this Ino gene is what makes them either Albino or Lutino, as the Ino gene takes away all blue coloring and only leaves their base coloring, either white (Albino) or yellow (Lutino), with the possibility of one of the two mutations listed above being expressed; by-definition the Ino gene automatically deletes ALL blue markings, which is what makes the bird either an Albino or a Lutino...So if you are saying that your bird has ANY BLUE feathers/coloring on it's body, then it's not an Albino Budgie at all...

If you Google search "White Budgie" you'll see that most-all white Budgies have the orange beak, pink skin, pink or brown cere, and have red/pink eyes, which sometimes turn to black upon maturity. So the only thing that differentiates an Albino Budgies from a White Budgie is the total absence of ANY blue markings in the Albino. So if your bird has any blue feathers at all, then it's not an Albino Budgie, but rather just a white-colored Budgie. There are no Albino mutations that allow for any blue feathers/markings, due to the need for the presence of the Ino gene to make an Albino bird. I can't see the blue feathers that you're describing he has on his head/face in the photos you posted, but if they are there, then he's a white Budgie, not an Albino. I can tell you that I've bred many white Budgies over the years, and they've all looked just like your bird, but they all had at least a tiny bit of blue feather marking somewhere on their bodies.

 

[skyewolfe]

There are only 2 mutations that I'm aware of that occur in both of the Inos Budgies (Albino and Lutino), and they are the Lacewing mutation, and the Creamino mutation.

With the Lacewing mutation, the cinnamon gene comes through, so an Albino Lacewing would be all white and have light brown markings, while a Lutino Lacewing would be all yellow with brown markings. I don't see that here from your photos.

With the Creamino mutation, the yellow-face gene comes through, and regardless of whether the bird is an Albino Inos or a Lutino Inos, they are both white with varying amounts of yellow feathers. I don't see this in your bird either from these photos, but the photos don't show color very well. He could be a Creamino if he has different shades of yellow feathers showing through...

***That being said, both Albino and Lutino Budgies possess the Ino gene, and this Ino gene is what makes them either Albino or Lutino, as the Ino gene takes away all blue coloring and only leaves their base coloring, either white (Albino) or yellow (Lutino), with the possibility of one of the two mutations listed above being expressed; by-definition the Ino gene automatically deletes ALL blue markings, which is what makes the bird either an Albino or a Lutino...So if you are saying that your bird has ANY BLUE feathers/coloring on it's body, then it's not an Albino Budgie at all...

If you Google search "White Budgie" you'll see that most-all white Budgies have the orange beak, pink skin, pink or brown cere, and have red/pink eyes, which sometimes turn to black upon maturity. So the only thing that differentiates an Albino Budgies from a White Budgie is the total absence of ANY blue markings in the Albino. So if your bird has any blue feathers at all, then it's not an Albino Budgie, but rather just a white-colored Budgie. There are no Albino mutations that allow for any blue feathers/markings, due to the need for the presence of the Ino gene to make an Albino bird. I can't see the blue feathers that you're describing he has on his head/face in the photos you posted, but if they are there, then he's a white Budgie, not an Albino. I can tell you that I've bred many white Budgies over the years, and they've all looked just like your bird, but they all had at least a tiny bit of blue feather marking somewhere on their bodies.

She has no blue feathering, I stated that the feathering has a pink tone, that I called "blush" because it looks like her feathers are blushing

 

[skyewolfe]

Congratulations on your new birdie! Very pretty! I would think a bit of light sensitivity as with all albinos. I have parakeets too, and had them in the past. But there is better information on them now, so it's worthwhile doing some reading up on them! They can will and need lots of fresh veggies justine other parrots! This was new to me, so don't take offense if you already know that plus you are going to need a bigger cage, and different perch types, and few different size perches. They are so wonderful and playful, lots of toys too even if she doesn't go for the veggies at first don't give up, mine really like leafy veggiesije book choy, spinach, romaine and so on. Welcome to the forum!

Thank you, and I know I will, and I already have one. However, because she's new, I'm quarantining her first before placing her with my other parakeet. I just want to make sure she isn't sick or has mites or something.

 

[noodles123]

I don't know about birds with albinism, but in humans with albinism (true albinism), vision problems are often an issue...Just popped into my head...may not be relevant.


EDIT---couldn't help but Google it--apparently, they too can have vision issues (see link below---don't know how reputable it is, but it makes sense, so I shared):


https://www.avianreport.com/bird-albinism/


^Note-- this also mentions lutino vs. albino

 

[EllenD]

I apologize, I thought that it said "bluish" color, not blush...my bad. So if there is a total absence of any color, no brown markings, and no yellow feathering at all, then he's just an albino Budgie with neither mutation. Again though, I can't really see his coloring in the photos, but you didn't mention yellow or brown markings/feathers, so if he's just all white, then just an albino..

 

[Laurasea]

I've owned parakeets in the past, however, this is my first albino. I thought she was pure white until I examined her closely. While her eyes are the standard red/dark pink and her legs are flesh of an albino, her feathers have a very soft pink hue to them. The part of the feathers just above the ceres have a blush colour to them as well. I was wondering if any one knows what albino variation she is.

I was also wondering if any one knows of any specific health problems albino parakeets might get. I know all albino animals tend to have some.

They aren't the best pictures, I know, but Akastuki is new and a little shy right now.

I like the sand, I had read you could use sand as enrichment fir budgies but hadn't tried it yet.

 

[eliholtman]

I've owned parakeets in the past, however, this is my first albino. I thought she was pure white until I examined her closely. While her eyes are the standard red/dark pink and her legs are flesh of an albino, her feathers have a very soft pink hue to them. The part of the feathers just above the ceres have a blush colour to them as well. I was wondering if any one knows what albino variation she is.



I was also wondering if any one knows of any specific health problems albino parakeets might get. I know all albino animals tend to have some.



They aren't the best pictures, I know, but Akastuki is new and a little shy right now.

I like the sand, I had read you could use sand as enrichment fir budgies but hadn't tried it yet.

I like it too lol... I’m kinda worried ab some problems w them tho any that come to mind?


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[Owlet]

Albinism is a mutation. Like any mutation they generally come with health problems but with albinism it will vary from species to species. A general overall health problem is sensitivity to the sun. Honestly I don't support the breeding of albinism because of this, I can't think of any animal where it doesn't come with health problems. On the other hand, your baby is gorgeous and I've never seen pink tinted feathers (I can kind of see the tint on the feathers)

 

[Jottlebot]

Could the pink be the blood showing through the colourless feathers rather than a colour on the feathers themselves?

What a lovely looking bird you have