Black Doctor's 2011 Breeding

[The Black Doctor 0]

Following on from the topic I started a while ago : http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index.php?showtopic=29725&st=20&p=359490&hl=rocky&fromsearch=1entry359490 , I thought I'd just start another one in the right section of the forum - so here it is!

 

I put this pair down on 9/1/11 and they now have 2 eggs in the nest:

 

 

 

I'll keep updating the progress of this pair and others I put down this year.

[Amy S 0]

Gosh I LOVE LOVE LOVE the hen! She's gorgeous!

 

Congrats on the eggs Shall keep watching this for progress on them

[The Black Doctor 0]

Thanks Amy - both birds are from GenericBlue. The cobalt cock bird is a real character too. They now have 3 eggs.

[GenericBlue 0]

Thanks Amy - both birds are from GenericBlue. The cobalt cock bird is a real character too. They now have 3 eggs.

im sure you will get some nice bubs but she needs a cock with more frontal hold next time and more feather as shes very fine feathered shes good cobby hen with nice length in her mask

i suggest next time you pair her you use a different cock but then again that cock bird came from some good breeding so could really surprise

but id use a bird with length and maybe your mauve grey spangle cock bird :}

 

 

regardless good luck mate looking forward to following this pairing

[The Black Doctor 0]

Thanks GB. Over the weekend and we found a broken egg and a new one (unless the new one broke?). The hen does get rather flusted when we go to check the nest - maybe she got a bit edgy and cracked one. I haven't candled any eggs yet - waiting for the next one. They have been continuing to mate, so hopefully there are more fertile eggs on the way.

[**KAZ** 0]

Do you tap on the nestbox and give a gentle warning before you open the nest ?

[Dave_McMinn 0]

Are you sure it was the hen scrambling and cracking? Cocks often can be clumsy

[The Black Doctor 0]

Kaz - yes I always gently tap on the nestbox before opening it - the hen is now getting used to this. My daughter is doing most of the feeding and cleaning now and may have startled them. We're both much more cautious now when we're checking the nestbox.

 

Dave - you could be right, he quite a character and is younger than the hen.

 

Hopefully, the rest of the eggs remain intact.

[GenericBlue 0]

Are you sure it was the hen scrambling and cracking? Cocks often can be clumsy

also the hen was unused so its her first clutch

as kaz said make sure you talk and tap nest let her know your comming

dad could be right but if shes scampering out more likely her

i dont check nest box if hens jumpy i just cheak i see the hen twice day morning feeding and night

you can tell if shes stressed or got issues just by watching behavior

if she continues to scamper just monitor her not the content of box till chicks are due :}

 

if all eggs were not broken it will be an accident im sure if happens again id be watching the cock closely as if hens going break or eat eggs she wouldnt be sitting for you to make her scamper

[The Black Doctor 0]

GB - I think it was an accident. She doesn't seem stressed or anything, just a bit jumpy intitially when we were first checking the eggs. We're not checking as frequently now either, just every 2 days, and taking care when we do so.

 

I also took the violet opaline hen and the dminant pied skyblue cock out of the breeding cabinet a week or so ago, as I realised she's not 12 months old (try again in April/May, as she was born in March last year). I got her mixed up with another hen that was born in November 2009!

[GenericBlue 0]

GB - I think it was an accident. She doesn't seem stressed or anything, just a bit jumpy intitially when we were first checking the eggs. We're not checking as frequently now either, just every 2 days, and taking care when we do so.

 

I also took the violet opaline hen and the dminant pied skyblue cock out of the breeding cabinet a week or so ago, as I realised she's not 12 months old (try again in April/May, as she was born in March last year). I got her mixed up with another hen that was born in November 2009!

if weather here is same as their prob best to wait till march end of feb even as she will be twelve months by time she lays if you put her down say feb 13 /16

[The Black Doctor 0]

Well I've had the most disastrous week! After the first 'accident' with one of the eggs, 5 more were laid, however, another 4 ended up broken. I noticed some rat droppings on top of the breeding cabinet, so I'm guessing the rats may have spooked the birds and caused this. I've now put some more talon in the area where the breeding cabinets are and had intended to seal up some of the very small holes in my aviary and breeding area this weekend.

 

Then I went to check on the birds yesterday afternoon and discovered a carpet python curled up on the shelf in the aviary. I did a qucik check of my birds and noticed one of my best cocks, a gret spangle was missing! I caught the snake and when I was putting it a bag, I noticed two lumps in the snake not one. I did another check of the birds and much to my dismay the snake had also got my cobalt violet opaline hen. My kids were in tears! F*&($* snakes!

 

 

 

 

[Taboo 0]

Wow thats no good. Rats, snakes, cats are all killers of our beloved budgies unfortunately!

I wish you all the best with your breeding.

[GenericBlue 0]

omg

well it would been the rats that caused your first troubles few months ago one urinate and thats it

all it takes

i didnt think it sounded like cocci or megga thought maybe draft but

rats n snakes bang thats it your issue from start

best thing is to mouse wire whole flight (double wire

you wont have issues again

with either

 

pity the snake didnt eat your rat :{

 

we all go through a **** first year i believe its a test to see how devoted we are i guess

stick in their you still have birds their that will replace what you have lost quality in all :}

just about pairing choices now :}

lock the good ones up lol in till they produce for you he hee (just jokes )

[Dave_McMinn 0]

Wow, the more I read, the more I went, what bad luck!

 

I do agree with GB in a way though - breeding budgies can be a test of character. I have toughened up a lot. One of my first topics in here many years ago was called "Kind Landlord or Cruel God" and it was about throwing away some eggs form a bird that had started breeding in the aviary seed catcher dish. My thoughts and opinions have changed so much since that time. It does get easier, although some days........

 

I was impressed reading that you picked up the snake. You are braver than me!!!!

 

I hope you have greater success with your breeding from here on in.

[The Black Doctor 0]

Thanks for the comments guys. It's certainly been a testing week or so. I haven't got many females left and most are too young to breed with, so this year might be a very frugal one as far as breeding goes.

[**KAZ** 0]

How terribly disappointing and stressful for both you and your birds.

Top priority making the area safe and sealed for predators.

[The Black Doctor 0]

Well, the last egg got smashed as well. I think it was the young male, but I'm not sure. Both birds are now in the aviary and I'll wait for a month or so before trying to breed again. Hopefully some of my females will be ready by then, the memories of recent unsavioury events will have faded and my interest in breeding again will be renewed.