First Breeding Journal

[Finnie 0]

Maddy, I'm very, very sorry for your loss of Gloria.

[**KAZ** 0]

maddy im so sorry to hear this

but i wonder why did you remove dad and bubbys

please if its not been more than 12 hours put dad n bubbys back in nest box and remove mum

the dad will feed better from the nest and chicks will call for food more than huddled on floor

 

mum should have been taken as soon as the egg was layed and put in a separate resting cage in-till a few weeks rest and supervision to see all eggs layed

im really sorry mate for your disheartened feeling

 

I agree with GB

[Maddy 0]

I've only just read your response GB, so it is past 24 hours now.

 

But I checked on them this morning and the babies are happy (and alive)

Leela has even discovered the joys of the swing, though how she got up there in the first place is beyond me

 

Don't be too harsh on me, I am very new to this. I will know for next time, even if I had to learn the hard way.

[GenericBlue 0]

im not bothered at all darl and not being harsh just letting you know

never remove the parent that has not attacked

always the one that does goes, as can stress out the whole clutch

your chicks would benefit from the nest box so if you have one put it in their they are still feathering up

and need warmth

also just you weren't going to breed this hen again so it makes sense to move her not all others

i do know you panicked though and understand your reasoning for moving dad and chicks

[**KAZ** 0]

 

 

Don't be too harsh on me, I am very new to this. I will know for next time, even if I had to learn the hard way.

 

 

I think you are doing very well as a newbie to all this. You are very good at taking on board suggestions and advice all for the better conditions for your birds.

 

What happened can happen to anyone. Birds can be so unpredictable, and sometimes the signs are hard to see when trouble is looming.

[amanda 0]

so the bird with blood all over its beak was the one who killed gloria?

[Maddy 0]

No doubt in my mind

[*Nerwen* 0]

how are they all going Maddy??

[Maddy 0]

They're going really well.

 

I havn't been able to get pictures because my life is being stressful and hectic but I will be sure to keep up with the thread

 

Its strange....it seems Potato is fully feathered but the others are not.

But I go out there and they are all sitting on the perch watching the birds in the flight across from them, and I barely ever see Leela off that swing lol

 

Doormat is finally getting the blood off her face.

She's sitting on 3 eggs (I just let her go) but I'm sure as she is by herself, that they are not fertile so I'll let her sit on them as long as she likes

 

The other pair I had in the breeding cage above them, I finally let back into the flight as I came to the conclusion that nothing was going to happen.

I had paired them on the 1st of February and I saw them mate but nothing ever came of it.

I will most likely try them with different partners and see if I have better luck.

[hilly 0]

Hi Maddy your hen can be fertile for a couple of weeks if the cock has mated with her.

Have you got any others you can foster them under if they prove to be fertile?

 

Cheers Jenny

[GenericBlue 0]

maddy if you stopped them from breeding as you felt her condition was down then it makes no sense for you to let her sit on eggs fertile or not

this is not going to help her pick her condition up

as she will be eating less and being on her own condition will drop more as not being feed so..... move the nest box out or her out

do not i repeat do not put her straight back into flight rest her in a cage alone with plenty of seed and fresh water for next two weeks at least then if all is well she can fly in the aviary till you are happy to breed her again

 

leaving her to sit till she wants in this case is really not to smart darl as its really not going to help her become fit enough to breed again in a month or two in which if you let her fully rest not sit she may well be ready to do since she was not that under condition

[**KAZ** 0]

maddy if you stopped them from breeding as you felt her condition was down then it makes no sense for you to let her sit on eggs fertile or not

this is not going to help her pick her condition up

as she will be eating less and being on her own condition will drop more as not being feed so..... move the nest box out or her out

do not i repeat do not put her straight back into flight rest her in a cage alone with plenty of seed and fresh water for next two weeks at least then if all is well she can fly in the aviary till you are happy to breed her again

 

leaving her to sit till she wants in this case is really not to smart darl as its really not going to help her become fit enough to breed again in a month or two in which if you let her fully rest not sit she may well be ready to do since she was not that under condition

 

I totally agree with GB

[Maddy 0]

I removed the eggs and the nest and put her in another cage as you said.

 

She kept laying eggs though and would sit on them despite being on a wire bottom cage. But I removed them as soon as I saw them.

Hopefully she won't lay any more and she can go into recovery mode.

 

I've put another pair down.

They seem to be in condition and all plumped up ready for breeding.

I caught them and gave them an ivomec spot and a mite spray before putting them in.

 

Its lucky I did because I proceeded to mite spray and ivomec the rest of the flock and found visible mites on another bird (couldn't see any on any others,

but that doesn't mean they're not there)

So that is something I'll have to keep a close eye on in the future.

 

For extra measures I sprayed the inside of the cage and nest box as well

[**KAZ** 0]

I removed the eggs and the nest and put her in another cage as you said.

 

She kept laying eggs though and would sit on them despite being on a wire bottom cage. But I removed them as soon as I saw them.

Hopefully she won't lay any more and she can go into recovery mode.

 

I've put another pair down.

They seem to be in condition and all plumped up ready for breeding.

I caught them and gave them an ivomec spot and a mite spray before putting them in.

 

Its lucky I did because I proceeded to mite spray and ivomec the rest of the flock and found visible mites on another bird (couldn't see any on any others,

but that doesn't mean they're not there)

So that is something I'll have to keep a close eye on in the future.

 

For extra measures I sprayed the inside of the cage and nest box as well

 

A forum member killed her canaries by using both mite spray and ivermectin. Its double dosing for the same thing. Not necessary. Try and remember that.

[Maddy 0]

I was a little worried about that....so instead of the 4-5 sprays per bird I only did 2. And I will do it again in a few days or a week.

[**KAZ** 0]

I was a little worried about that....so instead of the 4-5 sprays per bird I only did 2. And I will do it again in a few days or a week.

One or the other. Not both.

[Finnie 0]

If you have used spot-on ivermectin, there is no need to do a second dose. Once is enough.

 

I think some people may treat their whole flock quarterly (?) if there is a chance of recurring mites coming from wild birds.

[Taboo 0]

Just use the ivermectin and do twice a year.

I do my birds before putting them down to breed, just two drops on the back of the neck.

I have read that over treatment can cause infertility, and I do not like to over medicate my birds.

[**KAZ** 0]

To clarify how I use spot on ivermectin and mite spray.

 

If I find feather mites I use the spray...........only then.

 

Spot on ivermectin I use for all incoming birds and for any I find in the aviary that develop scalyface. I will use spot on for any that are about to breed.

 

I never use both at the same time. And I never need to do a second dose of ivermectin as a follow up over the weeks.

[Squeak_Crumble 0]

I applied a drop to two birds with scaly a few weeks ago, and the scaly hasn't cleared yet!? What am I doing wrong??

[**KAZ** 0]

I applied a drop to two birds with scaly a few weeks ago, and the scaly hasn't cleared yet!? What am I doing wrong??

How did you apply it, and what size are the birds ? The drop of ivermectin is rated to dose an average 30 gram bird. Some people apply it using a cotton bud. In my opinion using a cotton bud means most of the dose stays in the cotton bud.

Edited April 2, 2011 by **KAZ**

[Squeak_Crumble 0]

I applied a drop to two birds with scaly a few weeks ago, and the scaly hasn't cleared yet!? What am I doing wrong??

How did you apply it, and what size are the birds ? The drop of ivermectin is rated to dose an average 30 gram bird. Some people apply it using a cotton bud. In my opinion using a cotton bud means most of the dose stays in the cotton bud.

 

I applied ti to two of my show budgies, and I used a syringe. I lifted the feathers at the back of the neck, and my dad let a drop form on the end of the syringe, then gently shook it to make the drop fall onto the skin.

[**KAZ** 0]

I applied a drop to two birds with scaly a few weeks ago, and the scaly hasn't cleared yet!? What am I doing wrong??

How did you apply it, and what size are the birds ? The drop of ivermectin is rated to dose an average 30 gram bird. Some people apply it using a cotton bud. In my opinion using a cotton bud means most of the dose stays in the cotton bud.

 

I applied ti to two of my show budgies, and I used a syringe. I lifted the feathers at the back of the neck, and my dad let a drop form on the end of the syringe, then gently shook it to make the drop fall onto the skin.

Again I ask Squeak.........how big are your birds. If larger than the 30 gram bird they will need two drops.

[Squeak_Crumble 0]

I applied a drop to two birds with scaly a few weeks ago, and the scaly hasn't cleared yet!? What am I doing wrong??

How did you apply it, and what size are the birds ? The drop of ivermectin is rated to dose an average 30 gram bird. Some people apply it using a cotton bud. In my opinion using a cotton bud means most of the dose stays in the cotton bud.

 

I applied ti to two of my show budgies, and I used a syringe. I lifted the feathers at the back of the neck, and my dad let a drop form on the end of the syringe, then gently shook it to make the drop fall onto the skin.

Again I ask Squeak.........how big are your birds. If larger than the 30 gram bird they will need two drops.

 

I didn't weigh them, I would guess over 30 though. Sorry, thought you meant breedwise. Should I reapply one more drop them??

 

Sorry for the thread hijack maddy!

[Maddy 0]

Hah that's okay squeak, I have learnt something there in case the scaly face doesn't clear up

 

I've put another pair in a cage today.

I'm taking my time with determining the condition of the birds as they are look as either just into condition or just about to start going out.

However, I do recall when they were in quarantine (these are the birds I acquired for $10 each) that they started in condition but went out about halfway through, and it was obvious.

 

So by logic they must be coming into condition.

One of the hens I've been watching seems to have skipped the 'cinnamon cere' stage and gone to 'chocolate cere'.

So I may put her in with a male without a nest and see if they bond.

 

As the babies that started as eggs in the beginning of this thread grow bigger every day, I feel that I will post less and less in 'First breeding Journal' until I don't anymore.

But then I can start a new journal with my new found knowledge and rather than being a barrage of questions and mistakes, can be just a daily dairy of my birds