The mere fact that you are visiting this site shows that you are interested in the Pied varieties, so we will take this opportunity to tell you a little about ourselves. We are the VARIEGATED BUDGERIGAR CLUB (VBC). We formed in 1969 and had our inaugural meeting at Alexandra Palace on December 6th. The VBC is the only specialist club catering exclusively for the Pied variety of Budgerigar. It is open for membership to anyone who wishes to keep, breed and exhibit any of the Pied Varieties.
We offer, to our members, the best patronages available. Patronage available to open and annual shows where classes are put on for Pieds. Four patronage levels are available: Supreme, General, Rosette and Promotional. Supreme which consists of 22 rosettes and 20 diplomas (10 gold and 10 silver) is available for shows that bench over 80 Pieds. General which consists of 12 rosettes and 20 diplomas is available to shows that bench 30 to 79 Pieds, Rosette Patronage which consists of 6 rosettes and no diplomas is available for shows that bench 1-29 Pieds. Promotional patronage has the members shows in mind and offers 3 rosettes for open competition. In addition, each Area Society is given a free patronage pack for its main area show consisting of 20 rosettes and 20 diplomas
With the ever growing popularity of the Specialist and Rare shows over the past few years the VBC offers a structured package to cater for these shows. Shows that bench less than 80 Pieds receive the General patronage pack with the addition of special rosettes for Best Dominant Pied, Best Recessive Pied, Best Clearflight and Best dark eyed Clear. Shows that bench over 80 Pieds receive the supreme patronage pack plus the 4 special rosettes. The VBC also holds its young stock show in conjunction with 'The Specialist and Rare Show' held at the end of June each year. At this show all pied class winners receive a rosette and diploma. Winners of the Best Dominant pied Any Age and Young bird and Best Recessive pied Any Age and Young bird receive an engrave Salver. The Society's' trophies are in competition for this show.
The VBC club show is held each year in conjunction with the BS World Championship Show. Among the specials on offer to fully paid up VBC members at that event are the 37 club trophies. At this show all pied class winners receive a rosette and diploma. Winners of the Best Dominant pied Any Age and Young bird and Best Recessive pied Any Age and Young bird receive an engrave Salver.
A further incentive for our members is the fact that Gold and Silver diplomas count towards winning prestigious Gold and Silver Badges of the VBC. Twenty diplomas are needed to qualify for either badge and these can be collected over many show seasons. When both badges are won, the winner's name is engraved on the VBC Roll of Honour Shield. The shield is on display at both our shows, all committee meetings and at the AGM.
The Variegated Post is the official journal of the VBC and is sent to all paid up members in winter and summer every year. It provides club news and up-to-date information about the club and Pieds.A yearbook is issued every May after the AGM which deals with club rules and regulations and items raised at the AGM.
The VBC Handbook is now published every three years in conjunction with the yearbook. This is a must for all Pied enthusiasts. The chapters cover the history of the Pied mutation, History of the VBC, Genetics and Colour Breeding of Budgerigars, Breeding with Pied varieties, Exhibition of Pied Budgerigars and the VBC rules. Club badges are available at £1.50 plus postage. The VBC Annual General Meeting is held in April, when old and new members meet to decide on club policies and exchange Pied chat.
There are four distinct types of Pieds, each having its own officially recognised BS Colour Standard. The most popular is the AUSTRALIAN DOMINANT PIED, which is distinguishable from the other varieties by its half-clear wings, broken colour on the head and lower chest area and having normal-type eyes, with white iris rings. Being a dominant character, it will produce some Pieds when paired with a Normal or another Australian Pied - although the latter pairing is not recommended. Constant outcrossing to good-type Normals will produce well marked Pieds of substance.
The DANISH RECESSIVE PIED is fairly easy to recognise as most of the clear areas are on the upper, front part of the bird, with the normal body colour below the chest. The chief distinguishing mark is the solid black eyes WITHOUT iris rings. The best pairing for this variety is a Recessive Pied to a Normal partner, which has come from a previous Recessive Pied to a Normal partner, which has come from a previous Recessive Pied to Normal mating. The theoretical expectation is 50% Recessive Pieds and 50% Normals split for Recessive Pied. Pied x Pied matings will produce 100% Pieds, but they will be subject to colour marking variation and of inferior substance.
CLEARFLIGHTS also come within the Pied range although they are far less marked, with only clear wing tips, tails and head patches - looking more like Normals in many cases. There are two varieties of these; the Continental (European) Clearflight and the Australian Clearflight. The former is as described above, but the latter has no head patch. Both kinds are becoming rare and are best paired with Normals to perpetuate the two different Clearflight forms. The Australian Clearflight has been partly absorbed into the Australian Pied character and occasionally crops up from certain Pied x Normal matings - with a head spot often appearing to add to the confusion! Exact records are needed to maintain a clear distinction.
Lastly, we come to the DARK-EYED CLEARS that are completely yellow or white (like Lutinos and Albinos) but without the red eyes. The eyes are solid and black, like those of Recessive Pieds. They are produced only from two generation crosses Recessive Pieds and Continental Clearflights and are comparatively rare. One paired to a Clearflight/Recessive will produce Dark-Eyed Clears, Recessive Pieds, Clearflight/Recessive and Normal/Recessive. Pairing a Dark-Eyed Clear with a Recessive Pied gives the expectations: 50% Recessive Pieds and 50% Dark-Eyed Clears. Pairing a Dark-Eyed Clear with a Normal gives the expectations: 50% Clearflight/Recessive and 50% Normal/Recessive.