Whipper the Mutant Parakeet

Meet Whipper, the mutant parakeet who lives in New Zealand.
This weird looking bird was abandoned at birth because of the way he looked - but we think he's adorable !
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[@Spottedfire25]

Super cute, but as a note to this who don't know: this is a deadly mutation for a parrot, and they rarely live longer than a year. The feathers continuously grow, and that uses up all the nutrients to poor bird eats and causes strain on the body. The gene for telling the feathers what length to stop at just isn't there.

[@Rostam.]

Spottedfire25 cant you just cut the feathers and everything will be allright?

[@Spottedfire25]

It wouldn't solve the problem - sure, the bird would be able to see and move better but the feathers grow no matter what. All the nutrients he gets from eating that should be keeping the bird healthy and alive are being all used to grow the feathers.

[@Rostam.]

hmm... ok. thnx for the info

[@Vyocae]

+Spottedfire25 Well, shit... :(

[@idgafx2k1]

my aunts is 7 so...

[@IsleenMilligan]

I have to say that, as a bird lover and owner, I feel bad for that poor thing. He must require lots of time and attention, and a whole lot of love to take care of. I can only hope he gets it. He is a precious looking thing, but I'm all too aware of how hard life must be for him, being the rare and debilitating mutation he is. I hope whatever home he's ended up in is a loving one.

[@ctofi6062]

He wasn't abandoned because of the way he looks, animals are not stupid, his mother abandoned him knowing full well a member of her offspring built like that would surely die with such maladaptive characteristics.

[@ChadDidNothingWrong]

You really don't think his looks were what tipped her off? ...and, I mean judging his build is kind of the same thing as judging his looks, least in my opinion.

[@peridotthepear1115]

@@ChadDidNothingWrong first of all, I’m late, but animals don’t abandon ugly babies, they abandon weak ones because they’ll require too much energy to care for and may cause the other nestlings to die. Second, baby budgies (all parrots and most perching birds, to be exact) are born featherless, so it definitely wasn’t the appearance that made the mother abandon her chick.

[@orangeseed3337]

This is cause by a lot of inbreeding. Usually they don't last long either. They cant see, fly and probably have hearing troubles. Poor thing.

[@lacymcduffie1684]

Ailia G U I agree. Not right.

[@mr.sunnydays]

Me too they are not deadly!

[@annalisa14]

They cannot even WALK. And you’re playing happy music for this birds miserable life. 😡

[@brantleyfoster021]

Anna Lisa Well Whipper was past 3 year's old here, he seemed to live a regular life span of a Budgie. It's part of the reason why he made headlines. Budgies with this condition don't normally live long, but there is some that do despite having it.

[@lovemustdie]

I love the noises Whipper's making! Personally, I think he's adorable. :)

[@Tjb140]

What this video doesn't tell you is how this mutation results in the parakeet having a very short lifespan... This mutation causes the bird's feathers to grow quicker than they normally would in an out of control manner. It eventually gets to the point that the parakeet requires more nutrition than it can even consume and it pretty much starves to death. Yes. Whipper and other "Feather Dusters" are cute, but this video is doing more harm than good. Its attracting the wrong kind of attention...

[@TheFlippyNioa]

That's what I was thinking. This mutation does not need to be romanticized. It kills most birds who are afflicted with it and we don't need people trying to sell these birds as a "rare luxury breed". It's not cute or funny, it's sad.

[@Mysikrysa]

I agree. They should inform about this problem in the video. This bird´s mother was in fact wise when she abandoned him. Animal mothers have excellent sense for recognizing ill individuals. Keeping ill bird alive is more cruel than to let it die or euthanize it as a youngster.

[@ChadDidNothingWrong]

Yes these birds should not be allowed to live. Kill them before theyre ever born, right fellas?

[@ChadDidNothingWrong]

@@Mysikrysa ermm....that thing's mother did not abandon it out of mercy.

[@Mysikrysa]

@@ChadDidNothingWrong No, mother abandoned it out of instincts older and wiser than human race. It doesn´t matter though, the result is important and in cases like this, the result is the population as a whole gets healthier if animal mothers abandon their defective offspring. People are supposed to be the most intelligent species but they often do more harm than good when they try to keep alive individuals with untreatable illness, or even actively breed animals with defects just because of their unusual looks, like satine guinea pigs who are illegal to breed in some countries because the gene responsible for satine type of hair is connected to osteodystrophy, which is extremely painful bone disease.

[@mikefoley3785]

They need to trim the feathers around his eyes so he can see properly.

[@MsMambazo]

No point as the bird is probably blind anyway.

[@justash2381]

Well, the breed of budgie this is it's feathers don't stop growing and no of course it's not blind are you dumb 😕😑

[@shizukagozen777]

Mike Foley That's what I was about too say. Poor thing... 😟

[@SQTXD]

Zainab's Art's & Craft's that doesn’t mean it’s blind though. Yes, the feathers are covering the eyes, but the eyes itself have no problems.

[@tidepodpadthai2633]

@@justash2381 It's a disease, not the breed, so you're the stupid one here.

[@actipton80]

I've seen this vid several times, and I just love his little chirp. He seems like a very sweet and friendly budgie even with that mutation.

[@charhusky35]

it looks like the bird just touched an electric fence lol

[@karennamsp5181]

charhusky35 😂 I laughed way too hard at that

[@GirtheAlienGoldfish]

Whipper is a handsome birb.

[@deadfire7088]

GirtheAlienGoldfish birb?

[@hollyyork3592]

F l O o F L Y B I r B

[@ShioriandAi]

sweetest most cute loofa ever lol

[@grungequeenlivingontheedge6225]

Looks like a parakeet with a perm :D .. even though it's a disability in some way , he seems healthy and happy and certainly is one of the cutest things I've ever seen ..

[@budgiebreder]

i've had 3 budgies with this mutation and i've met a further 6 or so. it's rare for them to live past 5 weeks when the parents stop feeding them, because they usually do not develop normally (mature correctly) and don't learn to eat to sustain their feather growth. they also do not make mature sounds (don't tweet) instead retaining their baby talk.

[@budgiebirdsalot4410]

@budgiebreeder that's probably why he sounds so cute. :)

[@tidepodpadthai2633]

@@budgiebirdsalot4410 yeah, but this is kinda serious...poor guy can't see or fly and these birds rarely live longer than a year because their feathers grow so rapidly that it uses up all their nutrients and they starve to death. sorry to rant at you, it just doesn't seem like you care and only care about him being cute.

[@budgiebirdsalot4410]

@@tidepodpadthai2633 yea poor birds :( I also know that he is cute but that's not the only thing I care about

[@ChadDidNothingWrong]

@@tidepodpadthai2633 ... surely you didn't read "no sympathy" in their tone

[@amyl.2217]

The chirp is so cute

[@TheFlippyNioa]

I think they dubbed it in.. >o>

[@amyl.2217]

:O

[@pageproctor1467]

Me: I love you and all your floofyness! Bird: Peep! Me: The lump of moving grass TALKS! Bird: Peep! Me: Awwwww....

[@jessicachan4807]

Whipper is so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😊😄😆😇

[@isabellechan8508]

This is so cool! Imagine this guy flying around your house?

[@graciep.6984]

All that floof! Whipper is precious, and so long as he's happy and healthy (he certainly seems to be), what objection could anyone have to the little guy. His uniqueness makes him cuter than ever. He's ever so sweet.

[@samalass466]

You don't know how dangerous this mutation is?

[@queencool45aj31]

Why do I feel like crying for this bird? Random emotions are so random. I love his tweet though!

[@kathleenmonsegue9700]

He is super adorable lol. He should have been named curly 😂

[@budgiebirdsalot4410]

I would've named him "dusty" due to his mutation

[@ClairDeSoleilV1]

He makes the cutest noises!!♥️

[@alexiagiannopoulos5018]

Poor thing. I wanna hug him so bad!! He deserves love and comfort considering all he’s been through. :(

[@parrots4life74]

How can this guy even see? I feel bad for him having to carry all that extra weight. Can't be a healthy mutation having to forcibly grow all those feathers non stop. :(

[@auntphibian]

+Mercifa Misuki He's blind

[@parrots4life74]

Preen Acres :(

[@auntphibian]

He's also probably not still around. They don't live that long and this was from 2008.

[@parrots4life74]

Preen Acres I have heard these poor birds don't usually live over a year old. Very sad...

[@jo5242]

+Mercifa Misuki they live for 10+ years

[@Renoide]

Cabbage burd

[@Smiley_Face0]

The voice. My heart. This poor little soul

[@v1c-was-her3]

Looks like a cross between a Silkie chicken and les Budgie

[@Ruciful]

Release the Kraken!

[@katlynnthehedgehog1628]

*Becomes the kacken* Woomy!!!! >=D

[@LinkaDL]

He was abandoned because he is a mutation with a short life span (from days to months) and parents don´t like them. Is sad because he is so cute, but the truth is that he has an anormal feather growing plus another serious problems. I´m glad to see that he is loved and has a good life. Those little guys deserve to be loved too.

[@fishsmellbad1862]

We get it, the bird's gonna die

[@ThePixelationWorld]

Fish Smell Bad leave the poor bird alone, it has no right to be treated so cruel >:(

[@ThePixelationWorld]

@Elsa Debroglie HAHAHAHA!!!!

[@mongeeses7112]

Look out magneto there's a new member of the X-men

[@alexiagiannopoulos5018]

His chirping is so sweet. 😍

[@newfiebullet6804]

How could the budgie even see

[@HectorConCarne.]

Abandoned it because of the way it looks? If anything steal it because of how cool he looks.

[@MsMambazo]

Parent birds abandon their young not because of the way they look but because they are sick and deformed and will not survive in the wild, or indeed captivity. It is called survival of the fittest as nature intended.

[@xXTobiXx25]

Can he see?? And the front of his face actually reminds me of a flower. Who would abandon such a pretty bird!!

[@Murakilok]

The squeaks he made were just adorable!

[@nuclearnikki1]

how can someone abandon such a beautiful animal im glad someone gave him a good life

[@Mrtrainfreak12]

Aww cute! I feel bad that he was abandoned by his mother just because he was a mutated baby. At least Whipper gets the compassion he deserves. A budgie like him is a pretty sight.

[@wolfpower67]

Who would abandon something so adorable?!

[@bethyjoyw]

oh this makes me want birds again! and hes so sweet too!

[@arachnophilegrrl]

@tobesograteful You are right. The poor thing can hardly move. I'm glad that it's got someone to look after it but I hope people don't start trying to breed birds like this. There's always someone that will decided that some crazy mutation is the new cutest thing. /facepalm

[@beautifuldurian]

Why does New Zealand have all the cutest looking birds and animals? Love to be a citizen there.

[@LadyTsunami]

He's so cute I actually started to cry...

[@SuperniusPL]

Bird + Afro = Wipper. Nice wideo, nice Budgerigar. Such miracles only in New Zealand!

[@GAMERBLOoReN]

abandoned?!!! I WOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT FLOOFY BIRB UNTIL THE END! I think that's not ugly at all. no bird is ugly!

[@1mustdrinkwater]

This bird goes to the salon to get its feathers wash and curled, and it lasts all day! I wish my hair would have looked as beautiful as its feathers after a curling iron. LOL Pretty! ;)

[@tineyjesickahful]

He is slow fluffy and adorable! Must. Touch. Him!

[@OceanbornAngel]

Oh my God, he's the cutest thing I've ever seen!

[@uzoouk]

Good job he found a new loving home!

[@kamille6636]

He dead quit playing..

[@vtvargo]

He's magnificent! Unique and beautiful...💜🌸💜

[@katlynnwoodward4450]

SO ADOREABLE!!!! I WANT TO HUG HIM!!!

[@Chompchompyerded]

This is a mutation which occures in most domestic bird varieties. Birds which have it are usually called "frizzles" for obvious reasons. Frizzling most often occures in chickens and geese, but as you can see, it occures in other birds as well. Frizzle geese are very popular as pets. Frizzle geese are almost always white in colour, and if crossed with another frizzle goose will always produce frizzle offspring, though the amount of frizzling greater or lesser. (continued next post)

[@Chompchompyerded]

To my knowledge know frizzles have been seen in the wild. They may exist, but because most frizzles have a difficult time moving around (at least in terms of flying, but also frequently due to an inability to walk well) these birds would not only have a very difficult time procuring food, but also would be an easy mark for preditors. That being the case, they may might not live long enough to be observed. The possibility also exists that for some reason frizzling only occurs in domestics.

[@VeryCreativeUsername10]

He looks so cute and the way he crips so cute

[@applesauceiloveyou]

It's adorable :) Good thing someone adopted it. With those curly feathers, I don't think it could even fly. Which would be why the parents abandoned it.

[@audrey1053]

The lady's shirt matches perfectly the bird!

[@Cassuttus]

Nope =) I think he's cute as hell. I'm so glad he found someone to love him =) This is probably my favorite feel-good youtube vid of all time. I smile every time I see this little lump of green fluff!

[@Ogre302]

That is a bird to be love, that's for sure. How well does Whipper see? Cute little voice!

[@Davezmaan]

The most fabulous looking parrot ever

[@RowBoatRowBoat]

The little sounds he makes are so cute!! I love it!

[@inactivechannel7439]

Awwww the little sound it makes is so cute ^w^

[@VoltinSportage_official]

Hes too adorable!😍😍

[@ashriu]

ITS SO FLUFFY!!!!! ^.^ and it makes squeak noises it's so cute ^^

[@yessumyecrad]

He IS very cute! The sound he makes is even better :D

[@maggiefoxx1371]

It brings tears to my eyes how cute he is awww lil' fellow

[@AnarchistsAngel]

Who would abandon this cutie? I love the feathers. I'm sure it won't be able to do some things normal parakeets do. Still he's so handsome.

[@garnetigress86]

oooh he is so interesting, how can he see with that mullet hahaha too adorable.

[@deidara846]

The bird is so adorable X3 But when I read that he was abandon when he was born I starded crying it's just to sad But I do love that bird He is just to cute X3

[@ultramaximusreviews]

Poor little guy - at least he found a forever home and mommy!

[@ChinchillaFaceVicky]

my heart just melted a little..

[@tisawatermelon6917]

That budgie is soooo cute 😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@pikkparis]

Can he see? He's amazingly adorable! :P

[@Cassuttus]

he has eyes, they are burried under his feathers, but he's blind because of his birth defect =( he probably won't live more than a couple years either, but he's getting lots of love for now

[@MatrixRefugee]

Wow, it looks like a cross between a shih tzu and a budgie. It's kinda cute!

[@verticitatem]

SO FREAKING CUTE!!

[@Aynette97]

instead of studying i'm browsing all of this cute video!!

[@smashbrolink]

I damn near died laughing at how cute it is!XD

[@laelandtom]

Whipper is fabulous!! (and lucky to have you, too!)

[@TheMostAwesomeMan2424]

i don't care about the way he looks he looks and sounds so cute!!!! :D

[@isa_er8449]

i could just pet and cuddle him all day he is so cute! ;)

[@Frostie3672]

Aaww poor thing but nice to know someone is kind enough to look after him.

[@gfcake2]

those eyes are just so damn beautiful.....i didn' t think owls could be pets......must be challenging

[@darkwingit]

He was abandoned by his mother, not by the owner. The owner actually rescued him by tending the little one all by himself. :)

[@francomaurin]

That's a mutation, called "Duster" appears in Budgerigars (in rare cases).

[@anne91276]

LOL, that Whipper looked to me like a green labradoodle with a cute beak. And he matches quite well with that green shirt, worn by this woman handler/

[@nariramzan9640]

It looks like green dust mop.. adorable!

[@chaaaaaannahc]

He's stunning!

[@M0th3rg00se]

whipper is the cutest bird ever

[@Azita500]

Oh my God so beautiful Bird .....!

[@ekosbe01]

WHIPPER IS ADORABLE!!!!

[@Linaeth]

That budgie is a rare mutant, called a "feather duster." It typically occurs in show bird breeding, where inbreeding is common. Their feathers grow constantly, unlike in normal birds where they stop at a certain length. All the preening in the world won't help them. But he wasn't abandoned at birth because he simply looks funny; it's because most bird parents will not raise a chick that has any deformity that would make it unsuitable for life in the wild, even in captivity. (Continued)

[@phoroz1905]

I think that mutant looks cooler than a normal parakeet.

[@IsabellaSleeps]

Awe, he's adorable.

[@DAgreytlika]

Thats not ugly thats beautiful.

[@TootlesOodles]

Dear Whipper, You are the most beautiful bird i have ever seen ;) your so fluffy and feathery its adorable you probably got a lot of smack talk in the pet shop and im sorry ur mother left you

[@pantharain]

Wow! I can´t believe it. What a cool little bird.

[@XxRockingNoodlesxX]

He is not weird. That is the cutest thing iv'e ever seen. >:(

[@Ketsuname]

Hm...I'm pretty sure I've seen pictures of this in my old bird book. They're very uncommon, but apparently they were pretty popular a long time ago to the upper class as exotic displays. Aw, but this little guy is so cute the way he looks and sounds. I can't believe he'd be abandoned...

[@tonileefaughnan6551]

He is a feather duster budgie,,,, they come in several colors...Way cute.

[@Luna-ej4mi]

That is one puffy puffball! **W** But so cute!! **W**

[@poppytheparakeet]

That little tweet is so cute!

[@Cassuttus]

Aaaahhh! My pot just chirped and pooped! Never getting my stuff from THAT guy again...XD