Dave_McMinn

It is a good feeling isn't it?

so what is the secret to avoiding chick deaths that you are now utiising?

No Taylor, they are not opaline. The head markings are too strong.

I understand what you are saying here Kaz, and logically it all makes total sense. However I always come back to the biggest healthiest hen I have ever bred came from a pair that had 4 chicks in the first round but only 1 in the second round, and she was that one. It makes me think that when a chick gets all the attention, they prosper. I will try to candle today. There are some nests that require the eggs to be removed and to let the pair have another go. The question is do I pluck their bums before hand? What can I do o ensure that the same does not happen again? I do not want another nest of infertile eggs.

No news on Quiche. The attempt at breeding is to see whether or not he can actually breed (balance and all) and then after that, if he passes it on. I am really hoping he can breed. If no signs by tomorrow, I might need to cut up some thick dowel to help him and his hen perch more easily. We will see

It is funny Renee as once you have the first egg hatch, you wonder why the others have not hatched, so you want to check them. The more I disturb the hens, the more chance of damage, so I fight the urge to check them. I will eventually. If they are not fertile, then I have lost nothing by letting the hen sit on them. If they are fertile, the fact the hen has been sitting undisturbed is a good thing.

Yet to candle eggs, but it is important not to rush into things. Pair 1 - Caesar and GreyGreen Hen - they have their first chick born today - 4 eggs remaining Pair 2 - Twitch and Albino Hen - 2 chicks now - 5 eggs remaining Pair 3 - Son of Dumber (RIP) and daughter of Twitch - no chicks yet but both hen and cock spend time sitting on the 9 eggs Pair 4 - Dumb and Light Green Spangle Hen - they have their first chick born today - 4 eggs remaining Pair 5 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to Green Hen - this pair looks more promising every day. Pair 6 - Opaline Grey to a Sky Opaline Spangle Hen - this pair will be subbed out tomorrow - still deciding on replacements Pair 7 - Grey Cock to an Opaline Grey Spangle Hen - no chicks yet - 6 eggs Pair 8 - Cobalt Cinnamon Cock to a Sky Cinnamon Hen - 2 eggs - she is hopping off the eggs so I am thinking these eggs are duds - fertility? Pair 9 - YF Opaline Sky Cock to a Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick goring very well Pair 10 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to a Double Factor Yellow Spangle Hen - no chicks yet but 5 eggs - fertility? Pair 11 - Green Cock to a GreyGreen Hen - 7 smallish eggs - fertility? Pair 12 - Green Cock to a Grey/Blue Opaline Dominant Pied Hen - 1 chick and 5 eggs remaining Pair 13 - Grey Cock to a GreyGreen Cinnamon Opaline Hen - 3 chicks and 3 eggs Pair 14 - Captain Jack (Light Green Cinnamon Cock) to an Albino Hen - 5 eggs Pair 15 - Violet Opaline Cock to a Grey Hen - 6 eggs Garage Pair 16 - Quiche (GreyGreen Opaline Spangle Cock) to a DF White Spangle Hen - chirping happily with each other and hen checks out the nestbox regularly

Tess is getting better everyday. She is almost back to her normal playful self. Bird Update: Torrential rain today so i could not convince myself to go outside and walk through the rain to the breeding room. I will need to candle tomorrow, but more good news comes from today. I will candle eggs tomorrow and remove some that are not fertile, plus I am splitting up a pair. Shame as he was keen but she was not. Pair 1 - Caesar and GreyGreen Hen - 5 large eggs - no chicks yet - fertility? Pair 2 - Twitch and Albino Hen - 2 chicks now - dark eyes so no sign of cinnamon - 5 eggs remaining Pair 3 - Son of Dumber (RIP) and daughter of Twitch - no chicks yet - 9 eggs - fertility? Pair 4 - Dumb and Light Green Spangle Hen - no chicks yet but 5 eggs - fertility? Pair 5 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to Green Hen - I have seen the cock trying to mate with the hen Pair 6 - Opaline Grey to a Sky Opaline Spangle Hen - this pair will be subbed out tomorrow - still deciding on replacements Pair 7 - Grey Cock to an Opaline Grey Spangle Hen - no chicks yet - 6 eggs - 3 or 4 look fertile Pair 8 - Cobalt Cinnamon Cock to a Sky Cinnamon Hen - 2 eggs - she is hopping off the eggs so I am thinking these eggs are duds - fertility? Pair 9 - YF Opaline Sky Cock to a Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick . Mum removed the other egg today and it is cracked. Big looking chick. Needs to be rung tomorrow or Monday or I may be too late. Pair 10 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to a Double Factor Yellow Spangle Hen - no chicks yet but 5 eggs - fertility? Pair 11 - Green Cock to a GreyGreen Hen - 7 smallish eggs - fertility? Pair 12 - Green Cock to a Grey/Blue Opaline Dominant Pied Hen - 1 chick and 5 eggs remaining - fertility? Pair 13 - Grey Cock to a GreyGreen Cinnamon Opaline Hen - 3 chicks and 3 eggs Pair 14 - Captain Jack (Light Green Cinnamon Cock) to an Albino Hen - 5 eggs Pair 15 - Violet Opaline Cock to a Grey Hen - 5 eggs Garage Pair 16 - Quiche (GreyGreen Opaline Spangle Cock) to a DF White Spangle Hen - chirping happily with each other and hen checks out the nestbox regularly

Tess is doing well and is on the mend. I think I will get used to the shots morning and night. I am more distressed by it than she is. Bird Update: I will candle eggs and tomorrow and remove some that are not fertile, plus I am splitting up a pair. Shame as he was keen but she was not. Pair 1 - Caesar and GreyGreen Hen - 5 large eggs - no chicks yet - fertility? Pair 2 - Twitch and Albino Hen - 2 chicks now - dark eyes so no sign of cinnamon - 5 eggs remaining Pair 3 - Son of Dumber (RIP) and daughter of Twitch - no chicks yet - 9 eggs - fertility? Pair 4 - Dumb and Light Green Spangle Hen - no chicks yet but 5 eggs - fertility? Pair 5 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to Green Hen - I have seen the cock trying to mate with the hen Pair 6 - Opaline Grey to a Sky Opaline Spangle Hen - this pair will be subbed out tomorrow - still deciding on replacements Pair 7 - Grey Cock to an Opaline Grey Spangle Hen - no chicks yet - 6 eggs - 3 or 4 look fertile Pair 8 - Cobalt Cinnamon Cock to a Sky Cinnamon Hen - 2 eggs - she is hopping off the eggs so I am thinking these eggs are duds - fertility? Pair 9 - YF Opaline Sky Cock to a Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick . Mum removed the other egg today and it is cracked. Big looking chick. Needs to be rung tomorrow or Monday or I may be too late. Pair 10 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to a Double Factor Yellow Spangle Hen - no chicks yet but 5 eggs - fertility? Pair 11 - Green Cock to a GreyGreen Hen - 7 smallish eggs - fertility? Pair 12 - Green Cock to a Grey/Blue Opaline Dominant Pied Hen - 1 chick and 5 eggs remaining - fertility? Pair 13 - Grey Cock to a GreyGreen Cinnamon Opaline Hen - 2 chicks and 3 eggs Pair 14 - Captain Jack (Light Green Cinnamon Cock) to an Albino Hen - 5 eggs Pair 15 - Violet Opaline Cock to a Grey Hen - 5 eggs Garage Pair 16 - Quiche (GreyGreen Opaline Spangle Cock) to a DF White Spangle Hen - chirping happily with each other and hen checks out the nestbox regularly

This is something that a lot of people starting out breeding do not think about too much. I think all of us want to breed everything. We all want to breed good spangles, good clearwings, good dommie pieds, good recessive pieds, some nice fallows, and so on and so on. If we actually started thinking we want to breed good quality birds, then worried about types later, we would be in a much stronger position a lot sooner. I agree, buy the good bird with good features, then worry about varieties later. Unless of course you are an experienced breeder with $6000!!!!

Pair 1 - Caesar and GreyGreen Hen - 5 large eggs so far Pair 2 - Twitch and Albino Hen - 1st chick has hatched and 6 eggs remaining Pair 3 - Son of Dumber (RIP) and daughter of Twitch - 9 big eggs - not all fertile Pair 4 - Dumb and Light Green Spangle Hen - 5 eggs Pair 5 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to Green Hen - preening already so all looks promising Pair 6 - Opaline Grey to a Sky Opaline Spangle Hen - this pair will be subbed out Saturday Pair 7 - Grey Cock to an Opaline Grey Spangle Hen - 7 eggs - 3 or 4 fertile Pair 8 - Cobalt Cinnamon Cock to a Sky Cinnamon Hen - 2 eggs - she is hopping off the eggs so I am thinking these eggs are duds. Pair 9 - YF Opaline Sky Cock to a Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick . Mum removed two of the other eggs. 1 egg left in there looks infertile. Pair 10 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to a Double Factor Yellow Spangle Hen - 5 eggs Pair 11 - Green Cock to a GreyGreen Hen - 7 smallish eggs Pair 12 - Green Cock to a Grey/Blue Opaline Dominant Pied Hen - 1 chick and 5 eggs remaining Pair 13 - Grey Cock to a GreyGreen Cinnamon Opaline Hen - 2 chicks and 3 eggs Pair 14 - Captain Jack (Light Green Cinnamon Cock) to an Albino Hen - 5 eggs Pair 15 - Violet Opaline Cock to a Grey Hen - 5 eggs Garage Pair 16 - Quiche (GreyGreen Opaline Spangle Cock) to a DF White Spangle Hen - chirping happily with each other and hen checks out the nestbox regularly Quick Tess update - she will be home tomorrow but she now needs Insulin injections for the rest of her life due to damage to her pancreas.

I understand the thinking about not seeing the forest because all the trees are in the way. Important to focus on the positives

Hopefully Tess comes home today. In budgie news, 3rd chick hatched today to Pair 13. That means 3 chicks now. I will do a full update soon. Rushing off to work after a late Graduation Mass for Year 12 last night. Very tired.

I am yet to see any budgie chew through enough wood to make "wood dust" adequate enough to equal shavings or another type of product in the nestbox.

You said you used to breed birds and sell offspring and yet you are asking if you can do this as a job? Really? Did not the selling indicate the clear answer is no?

No more chicks have hatched today, so hopefully tomorrow. A lot of maiden hens so we will see. I dropped in and saw Tess today. She has lost some weight, both good and bad. She is more responsive and she ate some chicken this morning, her first solid food in 4 days. She is still on the fluid drip, but she is improving. Her sugar is down and she will probably be coming home Thursday afternoon. Mum will babysit her friday, then i am off for 2 weeks on school holidays, so i can watch her then. She has improved greatly though int he last 24-36 hours.

Geoff. Can't say I have really taken too much notice. I will look at it more carefully now to try to see if there is any difference. Good question though. Have others found any difference?

DF Spangle - the cere colour means he cannot be a lute.

I will eventually Splat, but at the moment, breeding takes priority, as does the rest of my life. My club meets on a Friday night. Not the best night for me, any time of the year, but especially not now. HSC marking is starting again, so that takes up my free time. Plus my birds are down for breeding.

I posted some pics of Tess, one of my dogs on here before. Anyway, she has been at the vet for two days with pancreatitis and high sugar levels. Good news tonight is that she looks to be on the mend. Now if we can get her eating, all will be back to normal.

Mothers often remove their own feathers off their chest to allow their skin make contact with the eggs when incubating, to allow the maximum transfer or warmth and regulation of temperature - so it is not genetic. I agree with the plucking theory that Neville proposed

So two chicks have now been born. Quite a few maiden hens so I expect the fertility in the first round to be lower than the second round. Here is how it stands right now. Pair 1 - Caesar and GreyGreen Hen - 5 large eggs so far Pair 2 - Twitch and Albino Hen - 8 eggs now - although only 2 or 3 are fertile I think Pair 3 - Son of Dumber (RIP) and daughter of Twitch - 9 big eggs - not all fertile Pair 4 - Dumb and Light Green Spangle Hen - 4 eggs Pair 5 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to Green Hen - just put in yesterday - pics to come. Pair 6 - Opaline Grey to a Sky Opaline Spangle Hen - Better signs as hen is checking out and spending time in nestbox - I told her she has 1 week Pair 7 - Grey Cock to an Opaline Grey Spangle Hen - 7 eggs - 3 or 4 fertile Pair 8 - Cobalt Cinnamon Cock to a Sky Cinnamon Hen - 4 eggs Pair 9 - YF Opaline Sky Cock to a Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick born today, and fed. Mum removed two of the other eggs. 1 egg left in there looks fertile. Pair 10 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to a Double Factor Yellow Spangle Hen - 4 eggs Pair 11 - Green Cock to a GreyGreen Hen - 7 smallish eggs Pair 12 - Green Cock to a Grey/Blue Opaline Dominant Pied Hen - 1 chick and 5 eggs remaining Pair 13 - Grey Cock to a GreyGreen Cinnamon Opaline Hen - 5 eggs Pair 14 - Captain Jack (Light Green Cinnamon Cock) to an Albino Hen - 4 eggs Pair 15 - Violet Opaline Cock to a Grey Hen - 4 eggs Garage Pair 16 - Quiche (GreyGreen Opaline Spangle Cock) to a DF White Spangle Hen - chirping happily with each other and hen checks out the nestbox regularly

I know that is it treatable. The biggest concern with Tess is that since the pancreas is responsible for producing insulin, which breaks down sugar, and the pancreas is the organ suffering, then her sugar has show up. It went as high as 28 yesterday, due to her dehydration and pancreatitis. Today it is down to 17, so that is good. Hopefully it falls to where it should be, in the 7-9 range. If not, she may be on insulin injections everyday, which is not nice for her. The vet texted me and told me she is much more alert today, which is a good sign. More interactive, which means she is returning to her old self. I pray that she will. In better news, the little chick that hatched yesterday has a full crop and her Mum (St Jude) is doing a good job. It is funny, as there were 4 eggs in there, 2 which looked fertile. Mum threw one infertile one out and ate the other one. Only 1 egg left. This is St Jude's second clutch ever and she only had 1 chick before. Not a very fertile mother, but a good foster mother.

Thaks for the pics, looks great!!!!

Pair 1 - Caesar and GreyGreen Hen - 5 large eggs so far Pair 2 - Twitch and Albino Hen - 8 eggs now Pair 3 - Son of Dumber (RIP) and daughter of Twitch - 9 big eggs - not all fertile Pair 4 - Dumb and Light Green Spangle Hen - 4 eggs Pair 5 - Lutino Cock to Albino Hen - removed new Pair 5 listed below Pair 6 - Opaline Grey to a Sky Opaline Spangle Hen - Better signs as hen is checking out and spending time in nestbox - I told her she has 1 week Pair 7 - Grey Cock to an Opaline Grey Spangle Hen - 7 eggs Pair 8 - Cobalt Cinnamon Cock to a Sky Cinnamon Hen - 4 eggs Pair 9 - YF Opaline Sky Cock to a Light Green Spangle Hen - 1 chick born today, and fed. Mum removed two of the other eggs. 1 egg left in there looks fertile. Pair 10 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to a Double Factor Yellow Spangle Hen - 4 eggs Pair 11 - Green Cock to a GreyGreen Hen - 7 smallish eggs Pair 12 - Green Cock to a Grey/Blue Opaline Dominant Pied Hen - 6 eggs - but one has a dent in the side but may be alright. Pair 13 - Grey Cock to a GreyGreen Cinnamon Opaline Hen - 5 eggs Pair 14 - Captain Jack (Light Green Cinnamon Cock) to an Albino Hen - 2 eggs Pair 15 - Violet Opaline Cock to a Grey Hen - 4 eggs New Pair 5 - GreyGreen Cinnamon Cock to Green Hen - just put in today - pics to come. Garage Pair 16 - Quiche (GreyGreen Opaline Spangle Cock) to a DF White Spangle Hen - hen checking out the nestbox. New seed, corn, spinach, water with calcivet today. All looks good. Should be a busy time this week. In off topic news, my little dog Tess is at the vet's with Pancreatitis. No guarantee she will come home. Birds were a good distraction.