While I was at the vets today I met up with a very astonishing gentleman that bred Budgerigars and he ask me this question. I thought at first that he had a screw lose for asking but then he explained and it was like a light being turn on.

 

He ask Do you want to breed budgerigars or do you want to hatch chicks? silly question, I want to breed top show birds. He Asked what do you think is the most important thing about breeding top show birds? being in a vet and about to pay out $244au I said keeping them healthy.

 

He said You are on the right track. I thought about a breeder I know of in Western Australia. Gary Armstrong. He is a breeder that has his birds health at the top of the list of things most inportant. I saw his birds at the last auction. If it wasn't for a strong budget restraint, I would have bought all his birds. They were magnificent.

 

It was at this point that the breed asked again Do you want to breed budgerigars or do you want to hatch chicks? I said I wanted to breed budgerigars. ............ This was a revelation.

 

We went on to discuss my job, I started to work at the age of 12 selling papers on the corner after and before school. When I was 15 I got a part time job selling cloths at a department store. (David Jones ssshh). When I was 18 a took up an apprenticeship as an electrician. I worked hard and promotions came readily. I lost my job 9 years latter due to layoffs. I applied for a job with a company I now work for. I had two interviews the second one I was asked if I had any questions. i said I had none, I had done my homework and could tell the interviewer all about the company I was applying for. He said there was one question I hadn't asked and that was the pay. i told him that I wanted to work, was married, had a morgage. He told me I had a job too.

 

You may be asking your self what doesthis have to do with Budgerigars... everything. I will get there.

 

I worked hard and got promoted. The breeder asked had I asked for raises? No hadn't but they all way came.

This was what he wanted. He put it that the pay increases was a result of hard work and that I wanted to do a good job.

 

It is the same with budgerigar breeding. This is what Gary Armstrong knew. If you look after your birds, keep them happy, healthy and breed them when they want to breed the end product will be good birds. Don't worry about hatching chicks that will come. Be more focused in your bird's well fare and they will give you what you want in the end.

 

I have been given many opportunities in life that I didn't ask for. I just enjoy helping people. There are more peiple in this world that can point me out in a crowd that I know about. Because I like to help.

 

it is the same with the birds. I don't tame my birds but I do care for them. Derek was over last week and saw birds flying to me. i explained I didn't train them. This is what happens when you love your birds and care for them and give them what they need.

 

Do you want to breed budgerigars or hatch chicks........... I think I'd like to breed budgerigars, if looked after well, the chicks will come.

Thanks Daz... very interesting! I like it and thanks for sharing your story.

Wonderfully warming to the heart Daz....wisdom beyond words

excellent experience and thoughts Daz, I love reading it!

I will take that on board

Great post Daz.

very intresting read.

Very well put

Interesting.

Luck also plays a large part in breeding budgies too, hard work isn't the beginning and end alone.

No that is true and you have to have a good eye for pairing, but what I think the gentleman was trying to say is that the health and well being of the birds is paramount. If you have good healthy strong birds you are in a better position to breed than with tired sick birds. (extremes)

The good old saying "you only get out what you put in". Plus a bit of luck.

I agree with Lone on this one ... YOU ONLY PUT OUT WHAT YOU PUT IN ........

 

This shows, I am very thankful for this read Daz and for you sharing this with us,

It has made me re think alot of things .......

I had to read this a couple of times.

 

Yeah.......... Maybe that's where that riddle came from:-

 

What comes first? the chicken or the egg?

 

Daz ask for a pay rise!!!

 

Generation Y does, as soon as they get out of uni!! Knowing NOTHING!!

Great story Daz,I think the guy just let you know that you are doing the right thing!!Thanks for sharing!