renee

I have always used some form of calcium supplement for my breeding pairs on a regular basis. Last year I trialled another source of Liquid calcium other than Calcivet at the time of the first deformed chicks (the ones you helped euthanise), it was something I picked up from the pet store, I think it was called Liquid Calcium Supplement. At the beginning of this breeding season when I had my second batch of deformed chicks I was using Calcivet in the water. For the past couple of months I have been using Calcivite Plus from the Knox Bird Vetinary Clinic which is a Calcuim, Vit D3 and Magnesium supplement. I put it into the soft food every day and into the water a couple of days out of 10. Personally I don't think the calcium has any bearing really .... Remember the chicks you saw, they had huge bodies and thin, twisted little red legs .... not normal splayed legs at all. Maybe their legs had broken but I was more inclined to believe it was because they couldn't support the weight of their bodies. Early on when they were about 7 days old I thought they were going to be the best Lutes I had ever bred ..... but then their legs just didn't develop. Yes, in hindsight I should have taken photos - I hope never to see it again, though.

Where does she come from Kaz? Did you get her off Hans?

Day 15 - litter change and seed added Now they have some fostered friends

Oh it's really looking great! Have you finished the meshing now? Are you ready to do perches? Or will you do the pop outs/suspended aviary next?

Day 14 1/2 - forgot last night .....

Oh don't feel you have to apologize! I know the markings are atrocious, it's the shape of the bird I like!

Well you're lucky you caught it in time! Last week I had a hen scalp a baby that came out of the nest overnight and the little one had gone into shock and was dead by the time I found it in the morning .... first time this year, and of course it would be in the nest I hadn't removed the Dad early 'cause they seemed like really good parents ....

Today I culled out some birds .... at this stage I do it on markings and varieties that I have a surplus of or just do not care for. This guy was first on my list - As you can see he is a Clearwing but his wing markings are absolutely shocking! He was one of the first I bred this year out of a Sky Clearwing hen I got from Nubbly and a Normal Cobalt Jeff Lloyd cock bird who happily is split for Dilute. I was just loading up my birds when my heartstrings began to sing and before I knew it he was back in the aviary. This photo does not do him justice but he has a strong body colour, a decent mask and a lovely blow when he relaxes plus he is shaping up to have a nice long body. I know he has got his Dad's genes and will go on to develop into a nice looking bird .... So I have made the decision to keep him now but I need to assess the correct future pairings for him- And this is where all you Clearwing breeders come in! My options for him are ... a Dilute hen? Very clean winged Clearwing hen?

I Know! Both of them are taking the weight of their bodies fine and there is no evidence of splayed legs at all! I am so glad I decided to do this journal and didn't give the cock bird away (almost did) or put him on a spit He is only a 06 bird so I have decided to keep him and put him to a good Green or Olive hen next year .... I won't put him to another Lute hen though.

Absolutely gorgeous Daryl ~ Well done!

Day 13

I figured I would be banned from making early posts. I believe in people learning from figuring it out for themselves. I can point out an error if you wish me too but at this stage I will not. It can be a learning exercise also. I am away till Monday (escort job again....oh my that sounds suss don't it ). Gina I'll be in mobile range till I get to Wubin after that who knows. Cheers all and have fun. OMG and you don't sleep either Enjoy escorting all those big boys You can tell me where I've buggered up again then! (Although I think you are just a bit mean to not tell me now). okay anyone else going to give this a go? Good effort there Renee! Oooh ooh I reckon I know where I've cocked it up - Sorry Renee I've changed it a bit...... but you are on the right track there apart from one bit. Parents visually are: Normal cobalt cock Lutino hen Babies are: Lutino hen Albino cock Opaline olive cock Normal Skyblue hen So all I've changed just one outcome from Cinnamon Olive Cock to Opaline Olive Cock anyone hazzard to guess why? Oh so not fair! My original unedited reply would have been closer to the mark then? Sex Linked Varieties : If the Dad is split Cinnamon you would have Albino Cock split Cinnamon and Lutino Hen masking Cinnamon The Mum IS masking Opaline so the Albino Cock would be masking Opaline Blue Series: Lutino Hen is split Blue and so is Olive Cock. Green Series: Albino Cock and Sky Hen are split Green. okay, I think you get an Olive from combining Green with a Dark Factor bird, such as a Cobalt .... so I'll go out on a limb and say the Sky Hen is Split Cobalt

okay, I edited my post to reflect that .... But it seems too easy so I must be missing something

Well genetics is not my forte but in the interests of having a go ...... :camera: So forget the recessive varieties for which we have established in another post could be endless .... Sex Linked Varieties : Lutino Hen is masking Cinnamon, Albino Cock is split Cinnamon Blue Series: Lutino Hen is split Blue and so is Olive Cock. Green Series: Albino Cock and Sky Hen are split Green. okay, I think you get an Olive from combining Green with a Dark Factor bird, such as a Cobalt .... so I'll go out on a limb and say the Sky Hen is Split Cobalt Yayayayay! That's me done :ohmygod:

Day 12

Some nice looking clearwings you've got there! Be careful with the pairings ..... the wings DO get dirty when you outcross to Normals .... sigh

No, alas much worse than that .... the ankles end up around the head .... hard to explain but it's like the hips go backwards ...

Day 11 We are entering the crucial stage .... from past experience the problem happens in the next 10 days

Where's the Grey boy you got from me?

Not serious at all! Despite being quite deep it had completely closed over when we took the band aid off yesterday Is it very tricky to do?

Day 10 I don't want to celebrate too early .... but these little ones are looking okay

Maybe you could consider a 45 day flock treatment when you've finished breeding? I think it was ahead of my 2nd breeding season that I did the 45 day treatment for the first time and the results were outstanding .....

Well your chickies look lovely Splat, Well Done! Just out of curiosity, do you give your flock the 45 day Doxy treatment before commencing breeding - or any Doxy at all? I know some breeders routinely give their birds a 2 week treatment as they say it improves fertility .... the 45 day treatment basically cleans out any residual psittacosis chlamydia ....

I just love your posts Nubbly, the way you explain things is excellent! PS The chickies look awesome!

Anyone able to answer that one? Also, there was a cold snap and over 2 days I lost 4 chicks New Zealand is going through a VERY un-seasonal cold snap right now. Cant find my battery charger so pics arent very forthcoming right now hehe Just seen your question, sorry Dean for not getting back to you sooner! The Fussy Cat Litter (brand name) I use white and is made from Attapulgite (at least that's what it says on the bag), I found the Zeolite I purchased earlier in the year to be a reddish colour and smaller particles. The Zeolite was much more expensive than the Cat Litter. Sorry to hear about your chickies, have you considered running a heater in the breeding room for those very cold nights?