Some Chicks

[**KAZ** 0]

Well since we moved house trying to breed the budgies has been terrible. I have had EVERYTHING go wrong. Birds that acted like they were ready to breed ended up not being, and any chicks I got previously were killed by their parents.

 

Only now do I have a small handful of chicks...........4 fledged a few days ago..........three greywings and a foster spangle. Only other chicks I have is 6 in a nest with a single mother ( watching her carefully and supplement feeding the babies here and there to help the Mum out ). No other choice.

 

Some of the greywing babies ( not a patch on Splats babies but they are greywings after all )

 

eldest

 

 

 

second eldest

 

 

 

 

and youngest

 

 

and the Dad

 

a foster spangle baby

 

and the single mothers 6 chicks

 

and the single mother

Edited September 27, 2011 by **KAZ**

[renee 0]

Commiserations from another breeder having a shocking season!

 

They are lovely chickies Kaz and well done you any way!!! I know that once your birds have settled in properly you will go from strength to strength.

 

Slightly off topic but how about some photos of the ones you got from Liv, Daz and the 8 Auction budgies from SWBC the other Sunday?

[**KAZ** 0]

 

 

Slightly off topic but how about some photos of the ones you got from Liv, Daz and the 8 Auction budgies from SWBC the other Sunday?

 

I will try. My other better camera is hiding someplace and the camera I just used for some reason is doing a slow shutter speed thingy...........a settings issue

[splat 0]

Sorry to about your bad season, I feel for you and know how you feel.

What does this mean....( not a patch on Splats babies.....

 

The chicks look good Kaz even though you only have a few.

Hopefully next season once you get your new birdroom built and

up and running things should improve.

 

I really don't know what it is but I have heard of a lot of breeders having a bad time.

[ahsanmeer 0]

Dont worry man, they look nice, best of luck for the next season....

[**KAZ** 0]

Good thing I have houseguests right now who are budgie people too. My friend checked the birdroom while I was out and saw the Dad to these babies pinning a baby to the ground and attacking it....saved it just in time. So, he moved the chicks into a cage of their own. They are all eating bar the spangle baby and it isnt far off feeding itself either so today was a good save I reckon. Thanks Rob

 

PS the mother has 3 eggs in her nestbox.

[GenericBlue 0]

kaz when you settle down and the birds are settled things will change you will see that last chick the youngest grey wing lovley

by way they are good for greywings remembering they are a hard to breed up nice long masks on them

[robyn 0]

Those bubs look nice Kaz, to a non show breeders eye, even if you only have a few.

If you and the birds are all in a new environment it takes a while to get organised, good luck with chicks and new eggs look foreward to next season.

[Dave_McMinn 0]

I am sure things will pick up.

 

Lucky Rob was able to save that little one.

 

Have you posted a picture of your current literal birdroom?

[**KAZ** 0]

 

 

Have you posted a picture of your current literal birdroom?

 

No....wont be happening for awhile. I have flu so tidying up the birdroom for a photo wont be a high priority.........hard enough just trying to breath without coughing.

[Dave_McMinn 0]

Sorry to hear you are not well. Just wondering if i missed it.

 

No rush, I am a patient man - LOL!!!!!

[**KAZ** 0]

The single mother is feeding her 6 chicks well ...................( four are hers and two are fosters ). I was hoping for some YF like the Dad that passed away but they all look to be normals so far.

Consolidated a nest or two yesterday.........tossed out some clear eggs and double up foster eggs in a nest or two to allow some of the parents to start again.

Hunting down my other camera as the one I am using seems to have a slow shutter speed issue, ...........not too determined right now though as I have the flu.

Edited October 5, 2011 by **KAZ**

[Finnie 0]

I hope you are feeling better soon. It's really hard to carry on when you are sick.

[splat 0]

The single mother is feeding her 6 chicks well ...................( four are hers and two are fosters ). I was hoping for some YF like the Dad that passed away but they all look to be normals so far.

Consolidated a nest or two yesterday.........tossed out some clear eggs and double up foster eggs in a nest or two to allow some of the parents to start again.

Hunting down my other camera as the one I am using seems to have a slow shutter speed issue, ...........not too determined right now though as I have the flu.

 

You poor , you must have a woozy , I hope get better soon.

Edited October 6, 2011 by splat

[**KAZ** 0]

It's a nasty flu, this one......came all the way from Victoria with houseguests

 

Anyway the single mother is still doing well feeding 6 babies. just thought I had better mention that she is a daughter of my best hen ( R.I.P ) Omelette......and she is a first time mother too.

Here's the 6 chicks....( 2 fosters and four hers )

 

 

and the three greywings and one spangle are now flying around a kindie cage.

 

 

 

 

one's a dilute

[renee 0]

Anyway the single mother is still doing well feeding 6 babies. just thought I had better mention that she is a daughter of my best hen ( R.I.P ) Omelette......and she is a first time mother too.

Here's the 6 chicks....( 2 fosters and four hers )

 

 

Single mother ... you mean no cock bird to feed her or help with feeding? Oh my deary dear that is a lot of chicks to take care of. How often are you topping up the little ones and is she holding her own condition okay?

 

Mind you if she's anything like her mother (RIP Omelette) this won't phase her

 

However, I have been finding that it is between week 3-4+ that the food requirements really increases, much more so than in the little chickies up until that age ie, 14 days.

[Dave_McMinn 0]

Why do you think you are having such trouble breeding the birds? Stress of the move?

[**KAZ** 0]

Why do you think you are having such trouble breeding the birds? Stress of the move?

Yes, and them getting used to a colder climate and smaller aviary spaces.

 

 

Single mother ... you mean no cock bird to feed her or help with feeding? Oh my deary dear that is a lot of chicks to take care of. How often are you topping up the little ones and is she holding her own condition okay?

 

Mind you if she's anything like her mother (RIP Omelette) this won't phase her

 

However, I have been finding that it is between week 3-4+ that the food requirements really increases, much more so than in the little chickies up until that age ie, 14 days.

 

 

Her cockbird died the day after two fosters were added to the nest. Nowhere else to put them. I try and do at least one whole feed per day, and a top up at night time plus seed and millet in nestbox, soft food by the bucketload. This hen doesnt want the softfood however and does it all on seed and water. I persist with the soft food.

 

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

I also have a shared breeding right now between the YF DF spangle hen of Livs ( 12th at the Nationals ) and a skyviolet normal cockbird of Rob Dunstans. Rob bred the father of the YF DF Spangle. Thankyou Liv for the lovely hen and her siblings

Here she is as a chick

 

and as she was around the time of the Nationals

 

Her parents

 

and here is her partner

 

He's better than the photo shows...he was amidst racing from perch to perch when I took the photo.

 

They currently are going for their third egg.

Edited October 6, 2011 by **KAZ**

[GenericBlue 0]

the sky violets nice

i do hope your better soon

vic flu is a killer

chicks you have look good great to see the new mum daughter of omelet(rip)

is just like the her

[splat 0]

Chicks are lovely Kaz, Vic flu is bad Greg had it a little while ago but I didn't catch it , I have no idea why but I was pleased.

[Jabberwocky92 0]

I think that single mum needs a reward once the kids leave, maybe a nice holiday to relax. It really is amazing how some birds can just have the strength to do that, and those chicks look lovely.

 

 

I would snap this one up in a second, just a beautiful colour and pattern, and the photo is a lovely one.

[Dave_McMinn 0]

Why do you think you are having such trouble breeding the birds? Stress of the move?

Yes, and them getting used to a colder climate and smaller aviary spaces.

 

 

Single mother ... you mean no cock bird to feed her or help with feeding? Oh my deary dear that is a lot of chicks to take care of. How often are you topping up the little ones and is she holding her own condition okay?

 

Mind you if she's anything like her mother (RIP Omelette) this won't phase her

 

However, I have been finding that it is between week 3-4+ that the food requirements really increases, much more so than in the little chickies up until that age ie, 14 days.

 

 

Her cockbird died the day after two fosters were added to the nest. Nowhere else to put them. I try and do at least one whole feed per day, and a top up at night time plus seed and millet in nestbox, soft food by the bucketload. This hen doesnt want the softfood however and does it all on seed and water. I persist with the soft food.

 

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

I also have a shared breeding right now between the YF DF spangle hen of Livs ( 12th at the Nationals ) and a skyviolet normal cockbird of Rob Dunstans. Rob bred the father of the YF DF Spangle. Thankyou Liv for the lovely hen and her siblings

Here she is as a chick

 

and as she was around the time of the Nationals

 

Her parents

 

and here is her partner

 

He's better than the photo shows...he was amidst racing from perch to perch when I took the photo.

 

They currently are going for their third egg.

 

She was the sister to the feather duster's right? Can she carry the gene?

[**KAZ** 0]

 

 

She was the sister to the feather duster's right? Can she carry the gene?

 

 

Yes she is..........I think 3 out of 9 ? were feather dusters. If her partner carries the FD gene I am sure we would see some in this nest. Hopefully he doesnt carry the FD gene.

From what I gather she is NOT a first time mother and has produced no feather dusters yet.

 

 

Here is the Supermum ....lone mother of the 6 chicks ( excuse her messy feeder face )

 

 

Edited October 6, 2011 by **KAZ**

[Jabberwocky92 0]

She was the sister to the feather duster's right? Can she carry the gene?

 

 

Yes she is..........I think 3 out of 9 ? were feather dusters. If her partner carries the FD gene I am sure we would see some in this nest. Hopefully he doesnt carry the FD gene.

From what I gather she is NOT a first time mother and has produced no feather dusters yet.

 

 

Is there a test you can do for the FD gene or is it just trial and error?

[**KAZ** 0]

I think that single mum needs a reward once the kids leave, maybe a nice holiday to relax. It really is amazing how some birds can just have the strength to do that, and those chicks look lovely.

 

 

I would snap this one up in a second, just a beautiful colour and pattern, and the photo is a lovely one.

 

 

Greywings are very cute.....but this one is my favourite out of the three ( well 2 GW's and a dilute )

 

 

 

 

 

Is there a test you can do for the FD gene or is it just trial and error?

No test that I know of....we just make notes on records and hope we dont pair up two carrying the fd gene

Edited October 6, 2011 by **KAZ**