melbournebudgies

So what year rings should I be using at the moment

BUT the aviary birds can't impinge on the space of the breeding pair, that is what this article is really saying. It is comparing cage laying hens in groups as opposed to hens caged singly, those hens are still within a few inches of each other in their seperate cages but they feel more secure presumably as they have their own 'personal space'

I have been doing some research today and thought I would add the abstracts to some of the journal articles I have been reading. These are only the abstracts not the full text (so no copyright issue here ) Most of the ones I have found aren't specific to budgies but they are still very relevant and definately provide food for thought I will provide a short translation afterwards for those that struggle with 'science speak' BACD198886031785 Author/Editor/InventorCUNNINGHAM D L [Reprint author].; VAN TIENHOVEN A [Author].; GVARYAHU G [Author].. InstitutionDEP POULTRY AVIAN SCIENCES, CORNELL UNIV, ITHACA, NEW YORK 14853, USA. TitlePOPULATION SIZE CAGE AREA AND DOMINANCE RANK EFFECTS ON PRODUCTIVITY AND WELL-BEING OF LAYING HENS SourcePoultry Science. 67(3). 1988. 399-406. AbstractThe effect of two cage population sizes (four vs. six/cage) and two cage area treatments (316 cm2 vs. 406 cm2/bird) were compared in a nonconfounded design while maintaining feeder space constant (8.9 cm/bird) for egg production performances and behavioral and physiological indicators of well-being of laying hens. Egg production rates were determined for all members of each cage group (palpations at 48 to 50 wk) and on a cage group basis (20 to 60 wk). Heart weights, plasma corticosterone levels, durations of tonic immobility (TI), and plumage conditions were compared for top and bottom birds in the dominance ranks. Significant reductions in egg production were observed for low ranking hens in the high density (4 and 6/316-cm2) treatments. In addition, high ranking hens of the 6/316-cm2 treatment produced fewer eggs than high ranking hens in the 4/316-cm2 treatment. When high and low ranking individuals were housed in single-hen cages, egg production was improved relative to performances in the social environments. Heart weights of hens, as a percentage of body weight, were increased in the low ranking hens and for hens in the smaller cage size. Plasma corticosterone did not prove to be a useful indicator of well-being. Low ranking individuals had greater durations of TI but differences in feather condition were not detected. The results support the contention that appropriate population sizes and cage space allocations can be determined that will optimize the performance and welfare of layers in cage environments. Translation by MB: By ensuring that birds are given an appropriate space for breeding away from the pressures of other birds we can increase egg production and also increase the health of breeding animals, well we all knew that already but it's good to see a scientic study that confirms it, even f it is for chooks

You lotdefinately haven't had enough sleep

Yeah I figured if at worst I could get a intake per unit weight then I could do the math and work it out, might have a chat to a bloke I know who has something to do with the breeding programs for birds at Healesvlle Sanctuary I have just discovered that I can still get onto the journal databases at my old uni, I've found a couple of articles that might help (nothing specific to budgies though) so I'll let you know what I find out

Does anyone have a link to what the recommended daily intakes are for vitamins and minerals such as calcium etc for birds, even better if it was budgies? I'm making an assessment of the supplements I am feeding and deciding which ones to keep using/stop using and whether there are any areas where their intake needs a boost.

When are they on? If they are on chrissy eve then go fish Are you JB again? (or has someone else managed to sneak into this topic)

We don't have any wiggles in this house at all, I hate them For that matter we have lived here for over a year and still haven't connected the video :bliss: They pottered around the garden playing with their basketballs, their scooters and on the swings, and also helped me a little. They had a sleep for about an hour after lunch and then Maxie (the little one) spent about an hour throwing the ball for the dog (which she thought was great!!), oh and then in an 'inspired' moment my oldest decided it would be fun to take off all his clothes and sit in the dogs water bowl (which is one of those colourful large party drink tubs) and for anyone concerned which I scrubbed this morning and put fresh water in so it was clean and then his brother wanted in so he got a bucket and scooped water into it and stood in it...in his clothes. That'll learn me for taking my eyes off them for a second to go to the loo

Your a classic JB Go Fish Have you put your xmas tree up yet?

The news is at some stage over the hols Elise and her parents are gonna get in touch and tee up a visit to my place to check it all out

My theory JB is that a couple of days of working my @rse off and then I'll actually be able to enjoy my backyard rather than just thinking about all the stuff that needs doing Tomorrow I have kids swimming lessons at 11am and I'm hoping they'll have a sleep when we get home and I'll mow the front lawn (which does really need the lawn mower to do), I also plan to sweep the rest of the concrete areas (a longish path and the area under the clothesline) and bang a few stakes in so that I'll be able to put some fencing up in the next few weeks when my government chrissy bonus arrives. Also gonna get some new sand for the kids sandpit as the stuff that's in there is looking pretty sad. The final thing I'm putting off is picking up the dog poop

Today I was up early, cleaned out all the aviaries including scrubbing the floors with a scourer and washing them down(5 large ones and I'd been procrastinating because of the cruddy weather so they were overdue), reorganised and swept out the garage(where two of the aviaries are), swept out the outdoor eating area, gave all the birds their fruit and veg and fresh seed, etc after the clean, 'mowed' the lawn(you know you're in Melbourne when you can mow your lawn with a pair of scissors!), sprayed the rest of the lawn with wetting agent and then transferred some kikuyu runners that had made their way into the garden bed into the lawn area in the hope they'll spread. Oh and somewhere in there I'm pretty sure I fed my children and ate something myself I feel like I achieved a lot but my back is really sore on one side so I think I may have pulled a muscle from sweeping so much

With a lawn like that I'd be camping on it It's taken me over a year but I've managed to expand the one patch of green grass we have from about a metre square to about three metres square, only about another 40m2 to go

Just my opinion and I'm only new to all this so if someone disagrees with me take their opinion :rofl: I think she's pretty good, how big is she as it's hard to tell that from a photo? Maybe a little long in the flights I think, if you were breeding her I would put her with a cock that didn't have long flights

Yes, but only royal galas and golden delicious :rofl: Do you have kids?

Ah ha, I know superbs :rofl: Thanks

On a side note I wish I had lawn like yours!!

What are barrabands? Do I just know them by another name?

You need to post them via photobucket :rofl:

Can you post a picture? It would really help Welcome

Awww what cuties

We need pics of Monty and Bella too

That's great, sounds like he's rehashed it since the last time I heard it

Can anyone confirm whether they have used sage? This list has it as toxic but the list Neat supplied in my thread has it as safe...

That's a great one