joy4me

I so feel for you trying to do your best - sometimes the Dad as a surviver will do a great job at teaching the babies how to eat. You say you're using 'egg & biscuit' - be careful about this because some brands are full of sugars and *** whereas babies need protein. There are some good products available, I get a lot of stuff from www.wildlifesupplies.com.au here in QLD. I've had to hand-rear lots of birds with syringe or crop needle feedings. I'm currenlty caring for a sick bird on a "First Aid" for birds formula. Good luck and even if it ends with fatalities hopefully, though sadly, wisdom will be gained.

I agree with Kaz, great cage but don't colonise, dividing top and bottom with a board to make separate breeding cages is great - no view from those above and no poop either! I have a similar design but luckily it provided an option to be one full enclosure OR two - with separating grate and pan. Good Luck!

OMG! I feel terrible hearing about the box and hole thingy. I'm new should I not have mentioned what I was told to do re the 'water and hammer' scenario?

Yes, sadly, whilst I'm not claiming to be an experienced breeder I have still had the worst experiences trying to 'colony breed' always with the hens being aggressive and downright violent. I know some people have luck straight away but it usually is a small group unrelated put in to a new aviary at the same time with a range of nesting sites. Interestingly, I've only heard about the early successes and no news later!

Thanks Kaz, I've only just worked out that this aviary design was started a couple of years ago and it hasn't gone smoothly. But a beautiful granddaughter has . I'm very happy for your family, I'm still trying to navigate this site but you seem to have a great 'family' here too.

I know I felt weird about referring to my 'cocks' it seemed ...? I don't know I'm old I think. But when I asked about this 'knocking on the head' business the fellas would try to tell me about how you kill sheep??? That lost me so they offered holding the bird under water and giving it a tap with a hammer on the head! Could you imagine the nightmares? I go out of my way to save sick or injured birds and when one dies I lose sleep over it - what could I have done differently?

Wow Kaz, how exciting to have such an amazing setup. Yeah, the waiting must be a pain but what you will gain in joy As a renter and a single mum I get so frustrated with my 'limits' although I'm very lucky to have understanding owners! I build my aviaries on my own and am so proud that I built one 1.8m * 1.2m * 1.8* , with roof and 1 side in ply, all by myself with my gorgeous 4 y.o son (who is autistic) holding pieces and handing me nails/screws. I was so proud of him and myself foir this feat! Woops again! I was commenting on your aviary not your beautiful Grandaughter as a 'great setup' I'm still learning how to navigate this site! She's gorgeous!

sorry my attempt to reply went 'awol'! I was going to say when I 1st met my club members I was an only female and the fellas would huddle together talking about their 'cocks'. I was very confused I'd always called mine guys and girls! I often felt left out when they would sit around arguing about who had the best 'show cock'!

Bean sprouts are great for birds, they provide an extra source of water content to those who don't drink frequently. They are also an excellent source of protein (amino acids) as well as vitamins & minerals. As pointed out mouldy ones are not good! Mung beans are a favourite but with my smaller birds I have to choose smaller seeds or lentils and alfalfa.

Hey 'SL26" what gorgeous bubbies you have there, congratulations! You must be feeling like such a proud 'mum'!

This is interesting to hear what people have said re culling. I was living 'outback' prior to here and was in a Budgie Club. I had some rather tragic events occuring to some of my birds' progeny and seeking advice I was told to "cull" them! I didn't understand and when pushed for further details I was told, quite specifically, to "kill 'em .. knock 'em on the head they won't feel a thing". Apparently, I was told they would never survive. I love my birds, animals in fact, I could never live with myself "knocking something on the head". As it turns out every bird I was told to 'kill' I managed to raise and become healthy despite their 'disabilities'.

I too, have tried colony breeding and with a big aviary and spread out nest boxes at the same height etc it still turned out the dominant females would attack other females nesting. Honestly it was a nightmare going in some mornings and finding the place looking like a crime scene from CSI! Yet, in saying this-I have known people to breed 'accidently' in this manner - i.e being new to the game just put in a bunch of budgies in an aviary with some nesting material available and they're telling me they can't stop the breeding! Sometimes it seems the more effort we put in the less we gain.

I know this might sound redundant at this point but I too feel so sorry for how you must feel right now - I have always stressed about what I could have done better -nevertheless, sadly, every tragic event is a lesson to take on. My worst was when I had moved during a time when I had Mum & Dad with one lot of bubbies out and a 2nd set of young coming. It was only a couple of weeks after my move and the eldest hen (1st daughter) attacked the 3 new bubbies in the nest. The eldest hen had her beak almost completely removed and severe head injuries - my Budgie Club fellow members advised - "put her down she won't survive". This was unbearable for me and I persisted and raised her on crumbles. The 2nd wasn't too bad - I just had to care for his wounds - butr sadly he ascaped one day - a beautiful perfect bird as he did! The tiniest baby died. I assumed maybe in the future a bigger aviary would work but my experience has been colony breeding hasn't worked for me. As a renter I can't build big enough aviaries and put in plants etc that pro's advise. Again, I truly feel for you.

I can so relate to this, I can't go to the pet shop without wanting to buy more. I moved here almost 4 years ago with a dozen Budgies, about the same number of Zebra Finches, 6 King Quail and about 8 Gouldian Finches. Since then sadly some have died, some bred and were sold and now I have 7 Budgies - 1 just died the other day, I'm shattered, his sister is sick in a hospital cage; 20 Zebs, 16 Gouldians, 2 Red-Faced Parrot Finches, 2 Orange-breasted Waxbills, 12 King Quail and 3 Rainbow Lorikeets; 2 dogs and 2 fish! I think that's all of the clan along with me and my son. By the way I am new to this and please bear with me I've never done this before.