renee

As Betty Rae says above there are variations and this is only a guide. I guess she based this on her own budgies...so show or pet ? Not sure...would have to ask her. I would say show. :rofl:

Kaz, are these measurements for Show budgies? :rofl:

Thanks Kaz, very informative! :rofl:

Could it be Pasty Chicks? Photos would help. A couple of months ago I had a 3 nests on the go, chicks being transferred between fosters, and all the chicks left with one hen in particular died at the 6-10 day period (or maybe even earlier, can't remember). They turned a really pale, greyish colour and died. I researched a bit and came to the conclusion that it was liver failure and was directly linked to the quality of crop milk the mother was feeding them. There are several remedies recommended but the easiest is to transfer to healthy hen to foster. If you can't do that, try giving the chicks a drop of olive oil to the beak once a day.

Congratulations - you've bought really well!

I'm so glad you had a positive experience! Budgie Shows are great fun and a wonderful way to appraise your birds and learn how to improve. If you can, try Stewarding. You get to accompany the Judge and many times the Judge on the day will "think aloud" and through their comments you get a 'fast-tracked' course in what makes a winning bird, ie. desirable qualities. Good Luck!

I feed my budgies Golden Cob Supreme Breeders Budgie Mix. I buy it through the club (which brings it in from over East). I pay $58/25 Kilos - if you live over East you'd get it cheaper. It has added Vitamin A, E and D plus Iodine and Cod Liver Oil so I don't have to supplement their diet with anything other than Soft Food and veggies.

Pair One: Lutino & Olive - 5 eggs ... I thought one looked fertile, and then I dropped it - twice. I've left that one in (although I've probably addled it) and chucked the other 4. I'm hoping she'll lay some more. Pair Three: Violet & Spangle - 4 eggs AND there is TWO fertile eggs!

Have you started candling yet?

Try keeping the radio on .... in the absence of budgie chatter from other pairs music helps.

Checked just before lights out and ... Pair One: Lutino & Olive - 5 eggs Pair Three: Violet & Spangle - 4 eggs AND there is one FERTILE egg! :laughter:

You should definitely enter your birds! It's really important to get show experience because you learn about preparing birds for show. You have to start somewhere and there's no time like the present! If someone has the temerity to criticize your birds just tell them to shut up! :hap: I bet they didn't start out with show stoppers, no one does. When I joined my club the President was doing a talk on the Blue Series and asked new members to bring along their blue birds. Well I turned up with my Pet Shop blue birds and was somewhat bemused that others were ******* themselves laughing at my birds ... They were blue, What was their problem?! However, my enthusiasm was rewarded when top breeders then sold me their birds that have gone on to win many prizes and formed the foundation of my flock. So, there you go: You've got to be in it to win it!

okay, latest update: Pair One: Lutino & Olive - 4 eggs Pair Three: Violet & Spangle - 3 eggs Still look clear ...

Yes, take your dead bird to the vet for analysis. Also add 2 drops cider vinegar/litre to the water of all your birds. If it is megabacteria that will help lower the PH in the water and help combat it as megabacteria is a yeast and sensitive to PH levels - too alcaline and the yeast thrives.

Thanks for your encouragement guys. I have a couple of theories with regards to these hens. They're not overly big and boofy but they are a nice size and shape show-wise. The thing is, as the size of your birds increases so do the number of issues you have with breeding. Many times you'll hear breeders talk about 'stock' birds vs show birds. The theory being is that you breed with the lesser good looking siblings of the show stoppers in order to succeed. The next theory is that because they are maiden hens they haven't quite got the hang of things. I've had a couple of top pairs give me plenty of grief this season. A case in point being a pair of maiden lutinos in that I had 2 clear rounds out of them and for the second fostered 3 chicks to them, (which they raised brilliantly!) and now FINALLY for the third round I have 6 eggs and 4 are fertile. But I've been persevering since JUNE!!! Any way enough of me looking at the glass half empty ....

They're gorgeous Kaz! The quality is certainly there and will put you in very good stead for next year. Have you started planning your pairings (I do with the good chicks!), will you buy in or put to Gary's birds?

Congratulations MB! I really like the look of the aviary and once you install some sort of security door it'll be fantastic.

okay, latest update: Pair One: Lutino & Olive - 3 eggs Pair Three: Violet & Spangle - 2 eggs I've had a look at them and they look clear so far ....

Great advice Neat! Yep, for those reasons I don't breed in the summer. My birds are laying their final round now. I also wasn't aware of increased feather plucking in the summer, but then I don't breed then so....

KISS! Why not just periodically give your budgie a eucalyptus branch to chew on?

Yeah, It's gut-wrenching - isn't it? Just had the same experience last week. Of course it was my best young to date. I wouldn't get rid of the hen, I suppose it depends on whether she's a good breeding type or pet shop variety. If you do decide to keep her just remember to remove her at week 3 and let the cock birds finish raising the chicks.

Me too! Golden Cob Breeders Mix.

Are they ALL fertile?! :party0011: Really Kaz, this is the most I've every heard of! Time to put your name down in the record book me thinks LOL!

Parasites! Lice, Mites, Worms. Treatment for birds and surroundings plus prevention. Natural versus chemical solutions.

okay, here's my update on our pairs. Pair One: Lutino and Olive - on 2 eggs. :party0011: Pair Two: GreyGreen Normal and Rec Pied - Hen did not bond with cock so we split them up and Kaz took him home. :bliss: Pair Three: Violet Normal and Greygreen Spangle - on 1 egg. :party0011: From my earlier post on the background of these hens you'll know that I have tried breeding with them earlier in the season. Both have bonded with other cocks and produced clear eggs .... so I'm not holding my breath. I'll wait a good few days and start candling the eggs. On the up side, both hens are young so hopefully .... My current concern is that the Violet spends a LOT of time in the nest box, but then so does the Spangle :bliss: WHO KNOWS!!!!!! :bliss: