Dave_McMinn

I own Dumb and Dumber. I struggle telling them apart from each other, lucky Kaz can - Kaz has their sister - Schitzo - Dumba nd Dumber are going down to breed shortly. they are beautiful birds

I am with you Pearce. The game for "men in boy-sized shorts and jersey designs from the 70's" is not a gmae for real men. AFL is more for the ladies as I see it - good looking men prancing up and down and jumping around a lot. The Swans play a more league-centred style, with emphasis on tackling, and look how well that is going now. I prefer League over Union, Union over Aerial Ping Pong, Aerial Ping Pong over the A-League. BudgieBuyer09 , if you are out there I am sure you would have an opinion on this.

Hard to tell clearly from the photos, so there is some guesswork involved here. Pair 1 looks to be a Single Factor Grey Cock to an Albino hen. The offspring shold be something along these lines: 50% will be dominant pieds 50% will be normals 100% cocks will be split for albino I cannot tell if the cock is SF or DF grey, so it might be possible to get some blue as well as greys from this pairing, it all depends on the cock. The second pair look to be a Double Factor SPangle Cock and a Yellow face type 1 cobalt opaline hen 100% should be spangles 100% will be green, unless the cock is split for blue. 100% will be split for blue. The third pair looks to be a Light Green Clearflight Pied Cock and Yellow Face type II Greywing hen 25% light green clearflight pieds /blue/greywing cocks 25% light green normals / blue/greywing cocks 25% light green clearflight pieds/blue/greywing hens 25% light green normals/blue/greywing hens I not calculated if any birds carry the yellow face gene in these pairs as it will not matter as all birds will be green. I have not taken into any cosniderations such as the males being split for opaline or cinnamon. You cannot tell visually.

I am assuming that the birds that are sold at the nationals auction are the best of the best. I mean, the buyers there are the champions of their state, plus local spectators. I have never been to the nationals, in any capacity, so I am wondering what prices are like there. I figure that the birds are of top quality, so do they go for top dollar?

well done

It is not just bird people. I talk to my dogs like that. Sometimes when I feed them, I sit their bowls down, they sniff it and look up at me. I start saying things like "this is not a buffet you know, if you are not happy with what is served, you can go to bed without any dinner....." Only later when I look back on it do I realise that my dogs must hear like in that episode of the simpsons where Homer is yelling at Santa's little helper and all the dog hears is "blah blah blah blah blah bed blah blah blah blah dinner"

Yes, both birds must be split for blue to get a blue baby I do not see any opaline there either. The grey down indicates there is no opaline

great picture. You should enter it in the budgie of the month comp, one you have resized it to no bigger than 640 x 480. The 640 side is fine, but the other side makes it too big

okay, good on you then, looking after her til the end of her days. I suppose if she went to the RSPCA she would check in, but never check out.

Does the dove live in the hutch? And the hutch sits on the ground of your aviary? How did you end up with the Dove? Not to sound cruel, but why do you keep it? Could you not find another home for it where it could be with other doves?

I thought tiny was she?

how is that bent beak bird going? Any chance of a shot of the beak outstretched so we can see the change?

they are so cute. What was their father again?

Hate them - they ruin my washing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a very annoying Mulberry Tree in a neighbours yard that I often "prune". I have given the branches to my birds and they love it. I have not given the mulberries, as I usually prune it when it is nto in season, but I am not aware that they would be a problem.

Went to the home of a member of my club today who had some birds for sale. I came home with 5 birds, 3 hens, 2 cocks. They are all young birds, some jsut finishing off a moult. I would not put any down to breed until Spetember, but here they are, Day 1 of Quarantine 1 light green cock, 1 cobalt opaline cock, 1 grey green cinnamon wing hen, 1 light green cinnamon wing hen, 1 light green opaline hen

You know we are all anxiously awaiting the pics

I never said you bred 12 week old budgies, I know you are not that irresponsible. I said you saw things in a documentary. I acknowledged that. I know breeders who start with males younger than 12 months, but 12 weeks? NO. I am not accusing you of anything Pearce. I think you have misinterpreted me. There is nothing wrong with being a fencesitter, what is important is what side you get off the fence on - the rose garden of the daffodil bed - one causes more pain - :lol:I have been to other sites, and I know some breed birds younger, but the 12 weeks thing is ridiculous. They are lone voices if they are advocating that as acceptable.

Interesting debate that is going on here. On one side, people such as Daz seem to be making the point that our show birds are very different from the wild budgies, and they should nto breed young. Kaz, and many other experienced breeders agree with them. Dr Nat and RIPBudgies seem to be making the point that they have no issue with budgies breeding at a young age, with Dr Nat telling us all how she had a brother and sister pair breed at 12 weeks old, and how great the chicks were. Then we have the fence sitters, or the swinging voters, such as Pearce, who are reading what is being said, and can go either way. Perace is talking about things he has seen in a documentary and seeking to apply it to the regular breeding set up budgie breeders use, without duly noting differences, or at least not commenting on them. Here is my take on the whole thing. Budgies in the wild are very different to their domesticated cousins. Yes, budgies in the wild may breed as young as 12 weeks, but it is unusual and not the norm. Breeding seasons usually only occur every 12 months due to rainfall, and sometimes eveyr 2 years, so they do not normally have the chance to breed at 12 weeks. Pearce stated that budgies in the wild can hav emore than 2 clutches a year. Yes, that is true, but you would also not that the size of the clutch is very different. They do not have clutches where they lay 9, 10 or even 11 egss. 2-3 eggs is the absolute norm. Dr Nat told us that the youngest grandmother is 17. It may well be, I cannot find my freaky and distrubing facts web page link right at the moment. Dr Nat and RIP both go on to tell us that we do not always know best, and that nature will surprise us. It sure does. I mean, humans are a great example. I know girls that began puberty at 10. Are they ready to have kids? Their cycle would say they are ready, surely nature knows best. Come on, the argument that nature must be right is not always the strongest one. So we know that young birds can breed? Yes. We know that nature can surprise us? Yes. Do we know the mortality rates of young budgie mothers in the wild? No. Have budgie breeders experienced difficulties with young budgies seeking to lay eggs and give birth? Yes. Do you want what is best for your birds? Yes. Should you put them in a situation where they might survive, or they might not, simply because it is easier to leave the young ones in the aviary with the breeding older ones? That is your call. Personally, I say no. To the younger members of the board, I would look for what common opinion is amongst experienced breeders before deciding to breed younger birds. Just because 2 lone voices in the wilderness think somethign is okay, does not make it right. Surely this is something we have all learnt from the idiots on Jackass!!!!

so your sick bird came out of the flight cage?

I love this thread, and I love what you are doing it, but can I make a suggestion? try and get the same background, position each time. For example, it is harder to judge the difference in the growth of a tiny when some days the pics are from the front, other days the pics are from the top, etc. Even if you get a basic background on a table, something to allow us to gauge hieght/size, place tiny in front of it, then take the shots. Think mug shots and the theight things they have behind - :laughter: Keep up the good work.

Yes, I would love an update.

Maybe when he gets older, if it is still needed, it might be possible.

very cute little ones, as always Kaz. Any chance of an update of Dumd and Dumber's nieces? I want to show the boys. I am priming them for breeding season, getting then jealous of their sister - LOL

great story. Loved it. The way you tell it is awesome as well. You talk as if you are lucky to have Charley. From where I am sitting, he is lucky to have you.