renee

How very exciting for you! Best of Luck completing the quarantine program.

I really should get a close up photo like Kaz has done to show the quality of the seed ... but unless I have a breakthrough I'll have to wait till Kaz comes over with new camera and gives me some lessons. But getting back to the Golden Fields seed that I have switched to, my birds are eating it all up and I am happy with the blend. The deal I have is 2 x 20 kilos Budgie Mix + 20 kilos Finch = $100. And I am very happy with that. I don't know whether the supplier get the seed from WA too, I would assume so. The main thing is that it is clean and the grain looks full - not shriveled.

YES! I remember it only too well as it wasn't all that long ago. Running around trying to find second-hand breeding cabinets, getting appropriate aviaries and putting them on pavers, building aviaries, setting up the garage/breeding room, sourcing show cages and breeding boxes and putting them together and not to mention buying the breeding stock to get started .... ah those were the days! Thank goodness they are behind us now! If I knew what it took before I jumped in with both feet (as I am inclined to do) I don't know whether I would have Gotcha! Only kidding I wouldn't have it any other way.

Wow! It is all go at your place! Great to see your enthusiasm!

Beautiful birds Those Violet Spangles are certainly striking!

okay, as promised here is a photo of my seed mix. I did give them Golden Cob Supreme Budgie Breeder mix for the entire breeding season last year but now they are getting a 2:1 mix of Golden Fields Budgie Mix and Golden Fields Finch Mix. My supplier guarantees me the quality and to date I have been very happy with it. Overview: From I what I have seen the straight Budgie Mix is a 3 seed blend of Hulled Oats, and 2 Millets. There is panicum in the Finch Mix plus I think Jap Millet .... probably more but I don't know how to identify all seeds.

He is looks very nice to me and I would use him - definitely! Word of caution- put him to a tightly winged hen as from the photo is looks like me may have "heavy flights".

Congratulations Finnie! Your chickies look gorgeous! Yes, the first one does look like a Greywing but I'll leave it to the mutation/variety experts as I don't usually venture a guess till Week 3.

My birds are on the "off" season right now and I'm trying to get them to drop a bit of weight as some of them are definitely 'portly'. But I still give the young uns soft food daily. I am thinking that the shrinking seeds may also have something to do with your supplier. I got some plain budgie mix last week and was surprised how big the millet and hulled oats were. But who's to say they weren't even bigger in years gone by? I will get some more today and post pics for comparison.

The chicks look absolutely lovely! Good news about the Violet.

Lou Lou is doing well, swelling continues to come down. I will post some more photos later.

How big is it?

okay :emoticon112:

Oh, Hello Edie .... ummm I mean ultra0x :emoticon112:

In the end I haven't given either a course of doxy, they are still on probiotics. Lou Lou's eye is improving and Luvie is his usual charming self In fact I caught Lou Lou eating on her own yesterday. I think Kaz is right. Out of the 20 odd Health Shops I rang last week 1 did have Ionic Silver liquid but by the time I had talked to Belinda I was in no mood to ring all 20 again to find out which one had it ... :emoticon112: Besides, she specializes in Animal therapies and I knew I wouldn't have to take a punt on dosage - not that there is any difference but I don't know either.

Belinda's Natural Animal Therapies http://www.belindasnat.com/ Belinda Atkinson 03 6395 6165 PLUS post ? Naturally :emoticon112: I paid express 'cause I'm in WA .... so far away ... sent on Monday, arrived Wednesday You should expect it to get to you faster Julie, being in the Eastern States.

Belinda's Natural Animal Therapies http://www.belindasnat.com/ Belinda Atkinson 03 6395 6165

The great Cat vs Dog debate was carried out a while ago on another topic and got quite heated - I think Kaz was trying to pre-empt this topic going down that path :emoticon112:

No, it would be Di. But I get your point Renée is such a beautiful name in French and Spanish but in Australian it turns into Rinaiiiii. (yuk!) Renee would be Ren or Rezza cough, cough - I BEG your pardon?!

Bogans, you think it is just bogans Aimz? Actually for the first 6 months I used to stop someone after they mispronounced my name and firmly correct them - well that went down a treat I can tell you! :emoticon112: The look on their faces, "bloody foreigner, she's up herself ain't she?" So I don't do that any more.

Time for an update on Lou Lou's eye. It is looking lots better now and slowly but surely the swollen red inner part of her upper right eye is coming down. More photos .... Good Eye: Bung Eye: Yes, I'm feeling very pleased with myself as I seem to have figured out how to "fix" the photos .... La de da da da! :emoticon112:

Well I am no expert But I suggest you don't take photos with a flash :emoticon112:

:emoticon112: Welcome to the BBC! A great place to learn about caring for your budgies and to meet lots of budgie luvers! I sympathize with your difficulties in taking a 'good' photo ... Yes! I am convinced that they see the camera and think "Uh Oh, not posing now!"

:grouphug: Good job!

That why i dont get the whole naming of birds thing. Once you name a bird there is an emotional attachment, which cloud's the decision making process. Many of us haven't been in the show budgie hobby that long and are still Novices. I see our birds as rather expensive pets. We want to breed better and better birds but there is a lot more than that ... their welfare and comfort comes first. Perhaps with time I will refer only to them by ring number - but I doubt it.