**Liv**

I don't know much about those antibiotics - I do everything i can to avoid them. The staining above the cere can also be a vitamin deficiency, an allergy, a symptom of psittacosis (sp??) or a respiratory infection (viral or bacterial) - Some of those need antibiotics (for very different time lenghts), but viruses, allergies and vitamin deficiencies will not benefit from antibiotics - this is why a vet is very important :hap: Good luck and let us know how you go.

What are you treating?? If you have an illness in your flock its best to take a couple of your sick birds to the vet and get it diagnosed. Wrong use of antibiotics can have horrible effects in the long run. It's not just the antibiotic, but its also the length of treatment that is vital too.

I use the grass that is growing in our garden bed as weeds - it is everywhere at the moment :hap: . Mown grass is good for nothing other than compost :hap:

That's how i feel too I know nature has it's ups and downs, but i even get a little teary when i watch a lion kill a baby antelope on tv - I am not against anything, i just feel for the baby who missed out on his life for what ever reason

Kaz knows this one :hap:

Trill has a lot of junk seed in it. I still use it occasionally but its expensive and there is a lot more waste

Yes, I just carfully pull out grass from our garden (that is chemical free) and give it as it is. I normally do it after a rain so the soil is nice and soft and the grass is as clean as it can get! My birds LOVE fresh moist soil from after a rain!

Sounds to me like you are doing everything right :hap: Perhaps add the sunflower seeds and hulled oats in another seed dish everyday so they can eat them if they want, but you don't waste as mush - some will eat them some will not. My inside birds have less weight than the outside ones too. I think its the artificial climate that keeps them thinner as they dont need the extra fat to keep warm.

I give my birds fresh grass with the roots and a big clump of soil too - they LOVE it and its really good for them - just got to keep them well wormed

WEEKS not years neat

I'm So sorry I hope you can sort out your bird minding.

Yes that staining is normal for a respiratory infection Here is a picture of one of my budgies who caught it this year - you can see the stain. He (among others) went to the vet and had a course of antibiotics.

Yeah, they said on the news that he had been put down - i hope it was humane. A big animal like that had to be hard to euthanise

Yes, but only one in each ear Do you have a morbid curiosity??

Budiges LOVE fresh branches (covered in young leaves) from gum trees. They will spend hours ripping it to shreds - just make sure you wash any branches and leaves first

I agree with KAZ

Colin

I am so excited for you. I cant wait to start breeding my birds again - this winter seems to be dragging on and on. I hope all goes well and thanks for your updates

Good news about your hen from yesterday - i am pleased she is doing better. I am so sorry you lost a hen today I hope you don't have any more injury or loss in your flock.

fixed

Might be worth paying him a visit and see if he is culling any nice "sterile" birds :P

They are adorable photos. I love their big play area - they are very spoilt birds. They would go crazy over some natural branches too

:D Sexing is not that hard really!!! - he must be a pretty lousy breeder to not know how to tell gender of basic types

Just an extra though out season 4 and 5. I was on and off set for about 2 years (but about 6 months of total work) . I Started with Nick and Tess' wedding and can be spotted all the way though to Harry's funeral.

I hadn't heard about it until now - Poor thing I can see both sides of the situation too. I just hope he doesn't suffer which ever way it goes