Kim6116

Hi everyone, I have a question about putting the hens in the breeding cabinet. Last year i only bred 2 x pairs who were already together in the aviary and so put them both in at the same time and all went well. This year, i have purchased more birds and am wondering if the cock and hen are not already paired, is it better to put the hen in the cabinet for a while by herself or should i put them both in at the same time? If i do put the hen in first, how long should i wait until i introduce the cock bird? I have heard that the right time is when the hen is spending a lot of time in the nesting box and i have also heard to wait a week and then introduce regardless of what the hen is doing. Thanks for the help

Hope you have a great time. Would you be able to tell me what suburb Garry Gazzard's is? I am in Newcastle also and would love to have a visit myself!!

I am so sorry for your loss. I know it is hard as i lost one of my girls babies from her first clutch after trying to hand feed the little guy for a day. Just know that nature has a plan and sometimes we lose something we cherished so much. Best of luck with the others - i so much hope that all is okay with them. Fly free little guy :angel1:

So happy everything is okay for you now. We also had no electricity (did u guys play charades the whole time like us?!) and was checking on the birds (that is how i am now on medication for the flu! the things we do for them) Congrats on the first bub - would love to see a picture of the "handsome" little guy (there's your "h" word) will keep you posted

Just a question, My little guys are all in breeding boxes and i have just been sitting watching the chicks moving around the breeding box, watching mum and dad and picking at seed and they seem to be at least trying to copy. I am wondering for the colony breeders out there, how the chicks learn to crack seed etc when competing with other birds in the aviary. I'm not trying to put you down or anything like that, its just another part of the learning for me.

I agree Splat, they are very hardy little guys. i have 8 now (excluding eggs and babies) and while i marvel at people who have so many budgies, i really want to keep it small and they all have names and their own personalities. I am so so so so attached to each and every one of them that i am sure sometimes i worry needlessly - and yet i just cant help it! i love my little guys and i just want whats best for them and their babies - and so thank you each and every person on this site who has replied or answered a question when i have been less than my normal self. You guys are tops!!!

Hi Kaz and Splat and thank you. I know that moving her is the last resort - i didnt think about the tree and storm killing the eggs - fingers crossed it hasnt. i guess one of my concerns which i have just realised i didnt put in the first post, is that they are now in our shed (no cars or anything), but because their normal home is unusable right now (will need to get a new one, its destroyed), and i lost the lighting/ heating etc i am also concerned about drafts etc with the hole that i cant repair without freaking her out. i suppose i could just cover the cage.

Hey all, As some of you may know Newcastle was hit with pretty bad weather over the last few days. Although personally we came out pretty well compared to others, a tree fell onto the room that houses my breeding cabinets. I have 3 pairs breeding at the moment (1 pair with chicks and the other 2 on eggs). My problem is that i have had to move the cabinets as the weather can get in until its repaired. Unfortunately a part of the tree branch hit one of the cabinets when it was coming through and broke a small part of the nesting box and cabinet. Luckily the eggs and mum are okay. I have tried to mend as best and quietly as possible her breeding and nest box, but without a lot of hammering etc, its not so great. the other 2 cabinets are fine. Her first egg is due to hatch in 3 days and she is a very placid mum - doesnt mind me checking in her box etc. but now i am really concerned that because i cant mend her box properly that i am going to run into some major problems. Is there any way that i can move her to a whole new breeding cabinet and nesting box or will she abandon her eggs. Would it work if i waited until 1 or 2 chicks hatch and do it then and maybe the babes calling her will make it all okay again? I am really concerned about her and the babies (when they hatch) welfare and want to do the best i can for her - i am really thinking her cabinet is no longer in a great state to house her and dad and bubs - but dont want to make things worse by moving them. Its amazing that i spent so many months researching etc before i bred and everything was going fine - i just didnt research what happens when a natural disaster happens at the time the hens are laying!! silly me!! Any advice and help is greatly appreciated.

Hi Norm, I also use eucalyptus branches and the birds love it. I had read on another site that the leaves are actually a medicine for them in the wild, so perhaps that is why your unwell bird looked better! Thanks for posting that site, it was a great read. The only thing i found on there different to what i knew was that you should feed eucalyptus to breeding birds. Does anyone know why that is? As i said i use it all the time, and i have a breeding pair, should i stop giving it to them?

Hiya Dave, Not sure about the time length - i have seen mine mate for very short times and longer and so far she has laid 2 eggs with another due tomorrow. I guess that you also need to remember that that times you see them mating may not be the only times that they are. As far as i know they mate each day after they start laying until the hen feels her clutch is large enough. I think the length between mating and laying is 8 - 10 days, although i borrowed a book from the library yesterday that says the hen can store the sperm for a couple of weeks and then release it when she ovulates. As for the perch - i suppose each pair have their own fav - but in order to help them balance, not too slim. In my cage i have round perches of varying thicknesses and also a square perch. Mostly i have seen them mate on the round thick ones, although others say that the square is better for balance. I am by no means an expert, and my baby is having her first babies now, but i hope i have helped a little with your questions and good luck!! Please let us know if anything happens Kim xx

Hi all My baby girl has 2 eggs and i know i am a little premature, but want to be organised. I have found great homes for 8 babies (i know she probably wont have that many but wanted to be safe) and i want to send them with a care sheet regarding cleaning, food (seed/vegies), interaction, toys etc and was wondering if anyone had a template they used that i could borrow/steal? thanks guys Kim

Thank you Feathers - i am almost sure its your aviary ideas that i stole that has put them in the mood! Good luck with yours also

Thank you Elly - as i have always found you are so helpful - thanks heaps

Hi all I am so excited! Puff has laid her first eggs - we now have 2. i will post some pics and then have some questions if thats okay Mum and her egg - there are now 2, but am yet to take picture okay now to the questions - sorry to be neurotic, but i just really want whats best for her and even after months of research, i dont think it prepares you for the real thing - the excitement, worry, sleepless nights (yes i have had them) etc. I really appreciate advice and help. Problem (if there is one) is that when i looked this morning and saw the second egg, it was out of the concave and i wasnt sure if i should move it back in or not. i thought i would leave it for a few hours and see if she moved it herself, but when i checked again, both eggs were out of the concave! should i be concerned or is she just moving them to the place that she thinks best? If i do need to move them back, is there a solution i should wash my hands in first or is just normal soap okay? Again thank you - i love my little girl and am here asking because i want her and her bubs to me okay thanks Kim

hahahaha Hommer, there's always one in every crowd!! (just kidding). Yep I am planning to breed them, hopefully they are planning to breed as well! More pics coming today i hope now that they are settled in their quarantine cage

Hey all Just wanted to post some pics of the new pair i got today. Got them from a breeder who lives next to my uncle and he is getting a little old to look after them. Pics in the travelling cage so they arent too great - will get some more ASAP Please let me know if you have an idea of what they are

wow guys really? its the one thing they all fight over and love so much - i cant keep it enough of it!!!

Oh Bea that is such a cool picture of the little one in flight - i love it!!

MMMMM Breakfast Mum, i know thats breakfast, but could we keep it to ourselves, just this once PLEASE, Puff whispers in my ear Hey Muffy, Is that Puff over there with our breakfast? Uh oh, I think they've seen me. I better make off with this one real quick - so much for the secret MUM! Well I'm taking this one before she gets it all! Every man/budgie for himself Come on Muffy, there'll be nothing left! okay one quick kiss but then its off to eat!! I've tried breaking the brocolli up, but they refuse to eat it unless its in florets they can destroy themselves! Little devils

Thanks Elly, I should have read better and i would have found the topic for food and nutrition. Sorry for posting in the wrong spot. I did find the topic you were talking about and some things members say are not good for them are actually in the lists saying they are. So i have deleted from my list all the things members say are bad and they are still left with loads to chose from. So today they will be trying some new treats. Thanks for your help

Hiya Memonty, That is one of the pages i was looking at that says iceberg lettuce is good, but i thought it wasnt? Its also the one that mentions onion arrgghh so confused!!!!

They are absolutely beautiful Hurdy. I have read here about people and their "list of budgies to steal list". i think i have just started my own "list".

Hi all, My guys like some vegies - broccoli, carrot, small amounts of apple, basil, corn, but i am wanting to try them on some new ones. One reason being that my hubby has a herb garden/small vegie garden and i thought i would raid it when he wasnt looking! I've had a look on the net to find out which ones are okay and which arent and have found some conflicting information, so i thought i would come to the people who would know for sure. Some places say onion is okay and some not? i am thinking they probably wouldnt like it, but if they do is it okay to give them? Is it all lettuce that will give them the runs or just iceberg lettuce? Some sites have said orange is bad for them which has scared me, because i did give them a try of an orange last week and although they werent fussed, they did nibble. Last, but not least, are there any herbs they cant have? Thanks for all the help Kim xx

Awww Bea they are sooo cute and such good children to eat their vegies!

thank you all so much. Stud will be so happy he got a mention - i will be sure to let him know. Poor old Taj with his "bad hair day" feathers. Have had him checked and he is fine health wise but could be pass this bad hair to his kids - not really worried - just more concerned that the kids could get the same bad comments as he does