Heathrow

Cheers H - just trying to draw you out of your cave! Bloody big cave too Pete - Newborn baby, as well as 5 other kids, working full time plus i've gone back too uni part time. Always thought sleep was way overrated anyway. So non essential stuff (like birds) has had to take a bake seat for awhile.

I keep 150+ birds. And I name mine either Keeper or Cull!. I'm similar to nubbly i know the breeding of most of my birds without looking up their records.

Very Funny Pete - I've breed a couple of Dilutes and never bred a Blackeye. My initial thought on the Photo was Blackeye every day of week, way too much colour for Dilute, in my humble opinion. As for the genetic side - No comment, reading the post of yours and nubbly i have come to realise how little i do know about genetics. But it is interesting question you ask about the size/quality issue of blackeye compared to cinnamon.

Is there evidence to support this statement such as a vet diagnosis or is it heresay ? Reason I ask is that the airtravel alone involved in getting birds to the nationals, ( in some cases two plane trips for some of these birds going to Tassie ) added to the fact all birds are in together with other team birds they have never lived with ( NO quarantine as is the normal practice ) and the known fact that a lot of birds that go to the Nationals get sick either there or on their return.STRESS, TRAVEL, CONFINEMENT, OTHER BIRDS POSSIBLY CARRIERS OF ILLNESS, NO QUARANTINE, CHANGE OF FOOD.....Tell me these things arent a part of a bird getting sick going to the Nationals.You're quite right in that it could have been any of those factors involved. I only have the information second hand as it was passed on at a club presentation night on the Tassie Nats. If Daz is around he may be able to add to this as he was there and I think he may have mentioned something about it once before. If the lucerne was truly the culprit for sick birds then wouldnt all the Nationals birds get sick not just ones from one team in one holding cage ? I think the SEQ team may have been the first penned. Again, will need someone else to confirm the details. Apparently they gorged themselves on, and werent used to it. Sickness can result from any change in diet. I find the lucerne chaff really good, birds love both the chaff and fresh lucerne.

I havn't contributed to the forum for some time, but i will for this topic. I totally support the above statement. For each breeder that is supplementing with very high protein levels, I could name the same amount of top show breeders who aren't. I know a top breeder, on a par with Cec Gearing who doesnt use any softfood or high protein additives. What he does use, are a wide range of fruit and vegatables to supplement his normal seed. I also think the debate, greatly underestimates the ability of breeders, to select and use correctly the very best bloodlines available. Like Daryl states feeding plays a part in the birds reaching ther potential ONLY. Meaning genetics has a far bigger role to play in becoming a TOP breeder.

My 2010 rings arrived this morning!!!!!... already used 10 of them.

Typical ring registrar But how are you going to ensure that all members will get their rings exactly on the 1st September or will you not post them out until that date? I expect there will be a big variance across the country - a day prior would be acceptable, anything more is not. The ring issue date is 1st Sept...........

Who has stipulated they cant be posted until after the 24th of August???? The 24th is a full week before 1st of sept, most postal deliveries only take 2-3 days maximum, meaning most breeders will recieve rings at the lastest 27th of August. I was always under the impression rings were to arrive as close to the 1st of Sept/Jan but not before....

Yeah Yeah !!! Im sure your birds will be more than competitive in Rocky - Hall of Fame 2011 -12 ????

I look forward to your contribution to the forum PT. Chookbreeder was extremely succesfull at this Nationals in Burnie, 5 birds selected in the team and to come away with a 3rd place, a 2nd place and 3 1st places is amazing. The two minor placings came in classes which he had already won. Keep up the Great work

Welcome "Chook Breeder" or should i say "superstar"!!!!

Renee I have a cock bird that blows up in the crop from time to time - similar to what you have described. Doesnt seem to be affected by it

Andrew Plunkett of "Plunkett and Tasi' they have had some good birds over the years - I think they won a National a few years back with a DF Spangle

Very Nice baby Gina - Looking at the first picture i would've sworn its was going to be cock.

I started using it a month or so ago. Cant see results yet but from reading some articles about this product, results could take 6 months or more.

Top price was $2800 for lot 47, another 10 or so lots went over $2000

Budgerigar Council of South Australia are holding there Annual Auction on Sat 18th July. Details are available from BCSA website

I use wood shavings in my Flights now, have for a few years. Gets changed about every 6 weeks. Previously i used Sand like Kaz mentioned, but had some disease problems from bacteria in sand. Henry George gave a lecture at the Caloundra Nationals on exactly same thing, any earthen product is an excellent source of bad bacteria.

Initially i thought Opaline Cinnamon Recessive Pied Spangle, until i seen the Parents. Im now not sure. Maybe just a poorly marked opaline Cinnamon Rec Pied - no Spangle

Brisbane BRASEA auction - July 19th Details are now online http://www.budgerigarrare.com/

I used to use Golden Cob, but found the quality of the mix deterioate - more millet and less canary, and a lot of dust and debris. I now mix my own, Golden cob is little overrated and expensive.

Kaz did you ever think it possible to get a Greywing/Dilute from this family????

Can and Does happen, depends on when the hen starts incubating the eggs. Just because she laid an egg doenst mean she has started the incubation.

I wouldnt be surprised if the top few birds went for $3000 plus, overall the average around $300- $400. Quite a few birds will be over $1000!!!!

He won in 05, so is 04 bred - 5 years old. Im with you macka, way too old for me to buy. I have 1 '04 bred bird, and he is on his last year of breeding. The other Opaline Cinnamon National winner would be worth a go for sure!!