Feathers

You can repair a hole in an egg with a small piece of other eggshell glued over it or by painting over it some whiteout ( liquid paper ). But you have to catch it early and not after air or germs have got in. Yep, I looked for the solutions but couldn't find it quick enough. I remembered the liquid paper, but that would be better suited to a crack, not a hole. So I covered it with a little bit of a sticky address label. The egg broke when the parents were trying to get the sticker off and I think they would have tried the same thing with a bit of eggshell anyway. Jewel did indeed lay egg number 4 yesterday. Today we will see if Jade is going to add number 6 to her pile. I have been candling the eggs and so far 3 eggs of Jade's are fertile as is Jewel's first egg. One of the exhibition hens that went into a breeding cabinet the other day wasn't eating, so she has gone back out to the flight. The rest are either not in condition or too young, so they can wait until around late June/July and I will put some more together then. Feathers.

Apple is so cute. I am bookmarking this as Pascale loved it. He started to whistle back, which is great. I can't whistle to teach him, so the video can do it instead Thanks for sharing, clever little budgie. Feathers.

What a great new cage, Rainbow, they will all be loving it. It is so good to see so many members here now have that style of cage. Lucky little budgies. Feathers.

To her the nestbox is just a retreat, somewhere safe and away from him. Definitely take her out. If you leave her it may become 'learnt behaviour' and she may never view the nestbox as a nesting place. Feathers.

That's no good, Neat. I hope he will be okay. Feathers.

I am very sad for Kamikaze. Doesn't sound like he will ever get back to full health Feathers.

We do indeed. Miss Jade (GF Cobalt Hen) & Bengey (Skyblue cock) have 5 eggs so far: http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q265/al...desEggs002a.jpg Their next door neighbours Jewel (GF Cobalt Opaline hen) & Beau (skyblue spangle cock) have laid 3 eggs, one of which was damaged (I think the hen accidently put a claw in it as it had a tiny hole). So they now have 2 left. I believe she is laying number 4 at the moment as she wouldn't come ot of her nest box when I tapped, so I left her to it. Most of the other pairs have either been broken up or had a partner change in the last 2 weeks or so. One of the original couples that I was considering taking out decided to give me a 10 minute budgie sex education show while I was watching, so they can stay. He is quite a buff budgie, so I will give him a vent trim to see if that helps. My albino hen x skyblue/ino cock I put back into the aviary as they weren't doing anything but I would really like something to come of that pair. When I put them in her cere was very light so I was hoping putting her in a breeding cabinet with a male may bring her into condition and while her cere was getting darker it wasn't as dark as I'd hope. Rather than leaving them to get bored I have re-flighted them and will try again when she is in breeding condition. So at the moment 5 cages have couples and the other 3 have a hen only. They will get a cock each within the next 3 days Feathers.

I didn't realise the mother was opaline, that changes everything. Feathers

Yep, that is consumer affairs, Elly

Yep DF X Normal = 100% Spangle, so you were right in that regard. The cock was obviously split opaline, so any opaline marked babies will be female, you could have some males split for opaline as well. Theoretically 50% will be dom pied also. Interesting, Kaz, the females will be dom pied opaline spangles or dom pied spangles or opaline spangles or spangles. The males will be dom pied spangles, dom pied spangles split opaline, spangles or spangles split opaline. Feathers.

I am sacking my two proof readers. Look what I just found... vegetables?? I will amend it now and upload a correct version Feathers. edit: done. They are now fruits, not vegetables Kaz: Would the petshop you sell to keep these to give to the buyers. It would help educate the new owners and also guide them to our website.

Bea, I am really sorry to hear that. They are a brilliantly designed cage. As mine is powder coated I have had absolutely no problems (It is slightly different too so probably a different manufacturer). Mine has been scrubbed so much in the 12 months I have had it, plus sometimes it is just dripping after spraying the birds and no metal shows at all, let alone rust. That is such a quick time for the cage to be experincing rust. I would phone consumer affairs and ask for their advice. Get photos of the rust spots and keep complaining long and loud. It is a product designed to be safe for birds and rust isn't safe. Feathers.

The female should have a dark brown crusty cere and a recessive pied male should have a dark pinky/purple cere when in breeding condition. It doesn't sound like the right time for them. Feathers.

Mine love eucalypts and peppermint even more. The peppermint is always totally stripped. Norm, Dr Marshall has clients right around Australia and most exhibition breeders use some of his products. He was in Perth last weekend holding a clinic for his Perth clients, but unfortunately I couldn't get there. Feathers.

Great news Shawna, and fantastic about the weekend pass. It will be so good for him to have that time before the radio starts. It will be so good for all of you. You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. *luv and hugz* Aly

Ahh, I just love that photo.. I love the way they all squish right up the back of the nestbox Feathers.

Congrats, well done Feathers

Hi, good luck with it. As you are the only bidder so far hopefully no one is chasing it. But beware the late bidder, I am the same as Norm, I bid at the last minute. It is an absolutely fantastic cage. My 2 "special needs" budgies call mine home. Prior to that it housed 6 very happy budgies. Heaps of room for flight space and toys. Feathers.

Lovely birds, Marlony.. I really like your white pied. hmm, looks at least an inch, doesn't it. feathers.

Yes, pine trees are in the safe list for budgies. Feathers.

Hi Elly, That is correct, as per the table that I posted the other day. Feathers.

I absolutely love them all. Kiwi is a stunning colour and little Weebie is a mega cutie Feathers.

My daughter's first budgie has had problems with wing feathers breaking ever since her first moult. The feathers grow in, but she loses them quickly and never seems to have a full set. She gets plenty of vitamin and calcium suppliments and has been treated for mites and lice yet the problem persists. She is now one of my 'special needs' budgies along with another runner budgie. Feathers.

Norm, I get ivermectin from my avian vet in a drop on form (1 drop between the shoulders). It costs $10.00 for the bottle and I have used about 60 doses so far and it still have a little left. Feathers.

Okay, you do have a male and female there. So my reply remains the same.. you can try the pair again (with the male albino), but trim around their vent area first, or try with different partners. Feathers.