Interview With Mark Hawke

[**KAZ** 0]

INTERVIEW WITH MARK HAWKE

 

 

 

Q1. AT WHICH POINT IN TIME DID YOU FIRST DEVELOP AN INTEREST IN BUDGERIGARS ?

 

A1. I first developed an interest in budgerigars when I was about 10 years old my father bought me a a pair in a small cage, That was alright for a while but I introduced a nesting box and that was it.

 

Q2. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST AVIARY/BREEDING ROOM LIKE ?

 

A2. It was a big old spare parts box with a flight build on the front with colony breeding.

 

 

Q3. WHERE DID YOUR FIRST BIRDS COME FROM AND OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME DID YOU CONTINUE WITH THESE LINES ?

 

 

A3. Funny that my first birds came from the local pet shop and wouldn't have a clue where they came from and would have some of there bloodlines from way back but being 20 years ago about 1%

 

 

Q4. ARE YOUR PRESENT BIRDS FROM THESE SAME BLOODLINES, IF NOT WHAT BLOODLINES HAVE IMPACTED MOST WITHIN YOUR STUD?

 

 

A4. Not really 1%,I bought a few birds off my old work mate Steve Draper, Then a few off Wayne Cusack and John Barden. But I really kicked of when I got a pair of Scoble rung birds and carried on with that line. I bought more of Steve Draper which carry the same lines.I then bought an outcross with Ray Welshman's bloodline off Dave Zammit. Steve once again helped me out with 3 fertile eggs which where straight out of Welshman rung birds. I paired one of them to my Welshman outcross, One to my Scoble line and one to my own line, Then crossed all the offspring together over the last 3 years and thats what I have today.

 

 

Q5. HOW DO YOU PREPARE YOUR BIRDS FOR THE BREEDING SEASON?

 

 

A5. I believe you have to give bird a good rest from the previous breeding season,First I spray them for lice and mites and worn them and repeat that process again in 2 week, Then feed them a variety of seeds and heaps of hulled oats with cod liver oil added,millet sprays, spinach,carrot,the odd orange plus the usual vitamin and minerals. I always treat them for psittacosis every year in the summer brake

 

 

Q6. DO YOU SET YOUR BREEDING SEASON BY THE CALENDER OR BY SIGNS OF THE BIRDS BEING READY ?

 

 

A6. By the calender and when the birds are in condition

 

 

Q7. WHEN PAIRING UP DO YOU GO BY PEDIGREE OR VISUAL APPEARANCES OR BOTH?

 

 

A7. Both

 

Q8. HOW CLOSELY DO YOU MATE YOUR BIRDS AND WHAT RELATED MATINGS HAVE BEEN

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL?

 

 

A8. I have paired Uncle to Niece and Aunty to Nephew but the most successful pairing has been Cousin to Cousin.

 

Q9. WHAT VARIETY MIXES DO YOU USE FOR IMPROVEMENT IF ANY OR IS IT BEST TO BEST?

 

 

A9.I pair Cinnamons and Opaline to there own variety as a rule so they don't over run my flock. I think there are to many splits around these days. We all keep records but when buying an outcross they are nearly alway spilt for something. I do have some splits but I pair them back to there variety. There are to many birds are getting opalescence though them in my opinion . I Love a good straight normal.

 

Q10. HOW MANY CHICKS AND ROUNDS DO YOU ALLOW YOUR BIRDS TO HAVE?

 

 

A10. 4 's a good number per nest and if they have more I foster them out and 2 rounds only.

 

Q11. WHAT FEATURES ARE THE HARDEST TO PUT ON A BIRD AND HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT ESTABLISHING THAT FEATURE AND RETAINING IT, THE DIRECTIONAL FEATHER, STRAIGHT BACKLINE, SHOULDER & LENGTH?

 

 

A11. Directional feather and overall size.

 

 

Q12. WHAT IS YOUR FEEDING PROGRAMME DURING THE BREEDING SEASON AND DOES THIS DIFFER DURING THE NON BREEDING SEASON?

 

 

A12. I don't feed my bird soft food, I worked away for years only coming home on weekends so I just could not do it so now I'm back home I still don't do it . I believe it's not worth my time and decease problems associated with it so it's just canary,french white millet, jap millet and hulled oats. Water cleansers ,vitamins and minerals and spinach and carrot once a week.

 

Q13a. PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR CURRENT AVIARY DESIGN, SIZE, FLIGHTS, BREEDING CAGE DESIGN AND NUMBER OF CAGES ETC?

 

 

A13a. I have to separate aviaries that where here when I moved in 2 months ago so I concreted the floors and fixed it up for budgerigars. The flight is 4m x 4m x 3m high the breeding room is 4m x 4m with a open front to the weather with a sink etc etc.

 

 

Q13b. WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR SETUP IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO DO SO ?

 

 

A13b.To many breeding cages, Less birds = more quality.

 

Q14. DO YOU USE PREVENTATIVE MEDICATION DURING AND PRE BREEDING SEASON AND IF SO WHAT AND WHY.

 

A14. I use Elenbee Bird supplies, Rob Marshall and Vetafarm. Coccivet for Coccidiosis, Soluvet for vitamins, Moxi-T for Yellowbelly

 

 

Q15. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE GREATEST ASSET OF BEING IN THE HOBBY AND WHERE DO YOU SEE THE HOBBY HEADING WITH SO MANY BREEDERS LEAVING TODAY?

 

 

A15 The Challenge of the competition there's nothing like it. The mate-ship and travel and just the love of budgerigars, As far as breeders leaving the hobby I have seen a few but it is strong in my local area as more have joined than left so it's all good

 

Q16. WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT VALUE ABOUT FRIENDSHIPS FORMED AND FELLOWSHIP WITHIN THE BUDGIE BREEDING FRATERNITY ?

 

 

A16 Trust

 

Q17. DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON HOW TO PROMOTE THE HOBBY TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR CLUBS ?

 

A17. I am the promotions officer for our local club ( Orana Avicultural Society) @ Dubbo, When we have a local show I contact the local papers and nominate one or two of our breeders for an interview and a photo shoot mainly because there sick of my ugly mug. Picture example at the bottom.

 

Q18. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A NATIONAL SHOW?

 

 

A18 To meet up with other breeders and be able to gauge you birds against others and obviously the competition.

 

 

Q19. HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT POINTING A NOVICE BREEDER IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO ENABLE THEM TO REACH THE TOP BENCH IN AROUND EIGHT YEARS?

 

 

A19. Try and buy quality birds off the one breeder that has been winning and stick to those lines not buying birds from every Tom , **** and Harry. Be patient only bring an outcross in that will improve your flock, Line breeding is the way to go as all of my birds are related.

 

 

Q20. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH BIRDS WITH FEATHER DISORDERS?

 

 

A20. I tend to cull them but if a bird has something special I must admit I have used them with success.

 

 

Q21. WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU THE MOST IN THE FANCY?

 

 

A21. There are 2 men Steve Draper & John Scoble

 

 

Q22. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR LOWEST AND HIGHEST POINTS IN THE HOBBY ?

 

 

A22. The Low -Losing Grand Champion when the other bird had 3 main flight feathers were missing on one wing and The High -Coming 2nd at this years Nationals with the same bird. A Light Green Cinnamon-wing Cock

 

 

Q23. WHAT IN YOUR MIND WAS THE BEST BIRD YOU EVER BOUGHT THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR STUD AND WHAT APPROXIMATELY WAS ITS COST ?

 

 

A23. A pair I bought off Wayne Cusack that he bought at the pet shop. They where John Scoble rung birds. Bad move Wayne!!! $50 the pair and 3 eggs off Steve Draper which the hen was laying when hatching chicks so they where never going to hatch and being the last round of the year and me being the only other breeder still breeding with my last pair sitting on eggs, Steve brought them over and I popped them under my hen and got 3 cracking chicks (HENS)they where straight out of Ray Welshman birds crossed them with the Scoble line and that is what I have today.

 

 

Q24. IF YOU WERE JUST STARTING OUT ALL OVER AGAIN AS A NOVICE IN TODAYS WORLD, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU DISPENSE BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT ?

 

 

A24. Listening to people who haven't got a clue, An expert is a drip under pressure.lol

 

 

Q25. WOULD YOU HAVE A PHILOSPHY TO SHARE THAT HAS HELPED YOU IN DAILY LIFE WITH YOUR BUDGERIGARS ?

 

 

A25. The Day You Stop Learning Is The Day You Stop Living!!!

 

Q26. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE MUTATION OR VARIETY THAT REALLY INSPIRES YOU ? AND WHAT VARIETIES ARE YOU SPECIALISING IN AT THE MOMENT ?

 

 

A26.I used to breed Lutinos but I sold the lot last year then I started breeding Albinos so it them at the moment. Only had to choose 1 or the other because you have to use your best birds to improve them and also to many breeding cages then your normals start to go backwards. My Varieties are Normals,Cinnamons,Spangles,Dominate Pieds, Opalines & Albinos

 

 

Q27. GIVEN ALL OF THE ABOVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER TIPS OR HINTS ON HOW TO IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN AN EXHIBITION BUDGERIGAR STUD?

 

 

A27. Buy more Scoble Birds.

 

 

Q28. IF THERE WAS ONE MAIN THING YOU HAVE WANTED TO SAY THAT ENCOMPASSES YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT BEING INVOLVED IN BUDGERIGARS AND CLUBS WHAT WOULD IT BE ?

 

 

A28. I have a saying ,

 

IF YOU NEVER EVER SHOW YOU'LL NEVER EVER KNOW!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's my two Birds

 

 

 

 

 

Here's my two favorite Birds

 

 

 

 

 

[shannon bird breeder 0]

well it looks like you know what your doing love to get sume birds off you one day

thank's kaz

[Mark Hawke 0]

You never know Shannon it can happen mate

[shannon bird breeder 0]

thanks it will be very nice if it can