Dave_McMinn

This seems a strange post... but from all things we learn something. What did I learn from this? I wish I had a maid. (I think my inner monologue is broken)

Don't swap them now. I am assuming the pics you took are recent right? The reason I am asking is the colour of the hen's ceres. The YF Grey had a very dark brown cere, and the sky hen you said was almost ready had a dark tan cere. Hens should be put down to breed when their cere is starting to tan up, not when chocolate brown. That YF Grey hen is coming out of season, whilst the sky blue hen is at her prime, not approaching it. Just something to remember.

let's see here, 17 birds, 17 drops - done. Next -

Good work Osman, the post is 5 years old, ths the photo is older. Perhaps look at dates before commenting

Give the cage a really good clean. Wash it down with not soapy water, then rinse it thoroughly. I woudl not use any of the dishes, and I explain this in the section below here. General travel tips for budgies in a car. 1. If you are going to have any perches, they should be very low. The bird should be able to sit on it, but not halfway up the cage, low. 2. Put paper on the wire floor so if the bird is on the ground, it does not have to try to walk on those bars. 3. Seed will cause a mess in the cage and in the car. You are much better off providing things like millet and seed on a stalk for the bird. Loose seed will go everywhere. 4. Like the seed, water will go everywhere in the car. You are better off providing some food that is high in water, such as spinach, and you bird can get some water from there. Also when you stop to go to the toilet, stretch the legs, get petrol, etc. you should give the bird some fresh water, and then remove it when you take off again. 5. Try to sit the cage somewhere as level as possible. In a car, the middle of the back seat is good. Put a belt around the cage to stop it moving or tipping. 6. Cover the cage with a very light towel, even a sheet. THe darkness will mean that the bird will be more settled and that it will not "freak out" at every sight and sound. If you are stopping for a period of time, uncover the cage. Remember to keep a window cranked down if you get out. like any pet in a car, they will die if they overheat, so keep temperature in mind all the time. Good luck and ensure you tell us how you get on.

If she is intending to tame her and bond with her, getting her a friend is the worst thing to do.

too early for me to tell

So you have a real shark? Can you post some pics of the pets you mention in this thread? i would love to see the pics

Facing east is the best as the birds will get the morning sun. This means that they will be able to sit in the sun when it is not hottest. My avairy actually faces west, as there is no choice there, however the hot sun dips below the tress line at about 4ish, so there is respite there. It depends on the situation you have available. The coloured concrete should not be a problem. If the concrete is stable and ssecure, I do not see an issue with it. 2m is a good height as it will allow you yo get in and walk around in the aviary. What are the other diemnsions? No good having it 2m tall if it is only 1m long and 1m wide. Keep all the birdds together. Birds will form pairs, mate for recrreational pleasure, and feed each other, but when you seperate them for breeding (pleased to see you are not colony breeding) they will pair with whoever you put them with. A fully sheltered roof is a good idea, but a little bit where the birds can get wet with a wire roof is also good. 1m high colourbond on the bottom is a good idea. Skylights are not needed on an aviary. You can buy rolls of mice proof wire from Bunnings, large rolls. Very fine. You have asked some good questions and you seem to have a good idea where you are going. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

You need a hen with a wide cere, good directional feather, a longer mask, some good spots, straighter posture, a larger back skull, plus a few other things. As you can see it is not simply put this bird with that.

She will lay infertile eggs as far as I know

I am with Dean, what makes you say the clearwing part?

I read the topic heading and I agree with Kaz. You are far too young right now Ratzy and you should wait until you meet that right person.

Not sure what you mean with the legs. Can you upload a picture?

Welcome

Think of what it is that they are fighting over. Give them multiple food sources and seed dishes. Do they need a bigger cage, meaning are their fights territorial? Are there an uneven number of birds, so they fight over pairings? If you have three birds, they will fight over who pairs with whom. Are the fighting over breeding positions/nest boxes? Do not colony breed - simple as that. What are they fighting over? What is your set up like?

"Hi to Frodo" -

I am not sure who told you what, but dark brown ceres is a sign they are past their breeding season. You want to get them down in show cages when the hens ceres are just turning a tannish colour. This is the prime time when they are in season.

My dogs try to eat birds so I am avoiding the pairing

Why the rush to breed them? Maybe they need to settle in more? Plus all of Clearwing's question.

It might not have got the calcium it required as a young bird. If you have some calcivet, give it a drop to the beak every day. Keep calcivet up in the water as well.

my room looks good - very airy to go with the hot weather you have been having. not sure it can be bigger and better, council regulatons might be restrictive

I never understand why people find that this is a shock when they are breeding birds all in one cage or aviary. This is what happens in the wild. Survival of the Fittest is the term that Charles Darwin used to describe this phenomenon. Other people refer to it as natural selection. Everyone who comes on here and says "I always colony breed and I never have any trouble".... well, let's hope that stays true forever. Once you clean up one lot of blood, then you will see what it is really like.

I say just get my room ready -

When you leave the nestbox in there all the time, is not beneficial for birds to breed. What I think you need to do is to adopt this policy. You want these birds paired right, so remember the pairings you want. Do not leave them in the breeding cages paired, put them into a bigger space where they can have some room to fly. When you notice that the hens cere is starting to become tan, move her and her proposed partner into a breeding cage. The following day, attach a nestbox. You must ensure that they are healthy and ready to breed. The cere colour is the prime example that they are ready to breed. You must also ensure they are in good condition. Experience shows that just because they are in breeding cages it does not mean they will breed, and it often results in them ignoring the breeding box. You have done will so far with the seperation of birds into breeding pairs in cages. You are headed down the right path. It is all about timing now.