Heathrow

JB - If you are talking about taking photo's at the Young Bird Shield, i'm not sure there is a protocol to follow for taking photographs at these shows. Very few people take photo's at these shows other than the official photographer for Budgie News Magazine. My suggestion would be to talk to the Show Manager, to seek his approval. My guess - no photographs until AFTER the national team is selected, No flash and to take the photo well back from the cage. This show is a selection event for the Nationals a week later, anything that jeopardises a birds placing in the Victorian team would be disastrous. Are you planning on being at the Young Bird Shield??

Congratulations!!!! :hooray: Thank you Liv

I'm not going this year, poor excuse but we are expecting a baby not long after the Nationals. So my budgie travels are restricted to essential stuff only!!!!

Like i said Pearce they carry more Feather. Feathers around the legs isnt that desirable. Great Facial features, but i would like to see pictures from other angles. I friend of mine visited Danile Lutolf, in April 2007. I have a cd with about 500 photo's from that visit, photo's were taken at different angles to give a better perspective of the overall bird. Very Interesting!!!!!!!!!

Pearce I'm not sure the english birds are that much bigger, maybe slightly bigger. They definately carry more feather. It's always hard to determine size from looking at a picture over the internet. Even pictures in show cages can be deceptive, there show cage are not the same size as ours!!!

Thats a bit harse Macka - We have all heard the comment " got better birds at home" But fortunately birds are not judged at home. The current system of each state/zone entering 2 birds in each class is fair and equitable for all. Whilst you are technical correct Macka, that the stronger states 3, 4 or 5 bird could be better than the smaller states 1 or 2 birds. That is not the way the show operates. A bird placed 14th the National Show is 14th best bird in the country, no question!!!!!!

First picture is a normal wing pattern, second picture is an Opaline - thats why body colour is in the wing.

Yeah i thought Janice had made that comment, wasn't sure and didnt want to misrepresent Janice. I think Jeff Attwood made comments similar a couple of years back. Also Mark Bridgeman judged at the BS show last year, he's made comments that our top birds are up there in comparison. With respect to Liv's comment about too many bloodlines, it would be very interesting to know the origins of the top breeders in Australia. I suspect that the top breeders have a similar bloodline (ie Mannes) Interestingly there were very few Mannes birds imported into Australia..

The English/European Birds have been widely accepted as the best in the world for a long time. Since the importation for birds from England in the late 90's the quality of birds have rapidly increased to the point that our very best would be very competitive the their best. In last few years we have had a number of International judges, judge at the Nationals. Their comments suggest the gap has reduce significantly overall, in some varieties our birds are undoubtly better. The advantage they have is a greater number of breeders in the hobby and therefore greater numbers of quality birds. JB - In a couple of weeks, the very best young birds in Victoria will be shown at the Young Bird Shield. The show is also the selction for Victoria to compete against other states at the Nationals held the week later. At this show you will see many birds that will be successful at the Nationals. I encourage anyone with an interest in budgies (beginner or experienced) to get to this show, you will get a chance to see in the flesh some of the VERY BEST exhibition budgerigar in the country.

Greywings and Dilutes are causing so much conjecture at the moment. At a Victorian judges meeting on friday night majority of the night was taken up with a discussion about the AOSV class which is where Dilutes should be exhibited. In Victoria there a lot of birds being wrong classed from AOSV class, ie pale greywing or poor variety blackeyes. Pearce i still think its a pale Greywing, regardless of variety still a nice baby. Only way of telling if it is Cinnamon would be test mate her.

Pearce love the Grey Green cock - Very nice I'm interested in the Cinnmaon Greywing Sky Hen - why do you say cinnamon???? To me looks like a pale greywing. Whats the background??

These look fertile.

Pearce I have a hen doing that at the moment - i am putting the eggs into the nestbox, she is sitting as normal.

Pearce hang in there - There would not be a breeder in the country that has not had a majority of the ailments you have listed. This is what makes breeding any form of livestock a CHALLENGE. I have days when i want to open the flight doors, but when i turn my brain back on i realise that most problems can be overcome with minor changes/adjustments. My grandfather used to tell me that "when you breed livestock and also get dead stock" great bit of advice.

I'm not sure about Renee, but Rob does go around to different clubs giving lectures from time to time, this is an opportunity for him to consult. You used to be able to send dropping samples and that would suffice as a consult, but i think the laws have changed since then.

Doxy is a S4 medication and cant be bought without a consultation.

Megamix it really citric acid. Rob has formulated it into a liquid. Im also waiting for the new book to come out, was originally coming out 2 years ago. But im told its going too be a must have. The Budgerigar Medicine book is also essential reading. I think its out of print at the moment, but an excellent book covering not just medicine but feeding. Mine is very well used.

I have been using Rob Marshall products since 2003, best gear going around. Great people to deal with, ring up today delivered tommorrow. I also use some vetafarm products. If i had Cocci i wouldnt be mucking around with sulphadim, there are heaps more effective products.Daz- try the turbobooster, and KD powder.

Vast Majority of birds have AGY. AGY only becomes a factor when birds are stressed though our management!!!!! Good management greatly reduces ALL disease pressure. There are a number of avian vets who have written articles recently questioning the treatments offered for AGY.

I'm with you Daz - i stopped using it years ago.

Any suggestions for the specific type of repellent? Renee - I just use Dettol cream, works a treat!!!

Renee - I wouldnt dream of moving chicks until at least 4-5 days old. From my experience they rarely survive and in actually fact i have probably killed them, just by handling them!!!! Generally the first time i TOUCH a chick is when ringing them, and only after using hand sanitiser. I see lots of posts with pictures of babies being handled at a very young age and cant help but think is it really NOT necessary.

I dont think the plucking is that bad, sometimes hens will pluck feathers out of boredom. The area she is plucking will have no problems regrowing. When the plucking on the back of the head, top of the wing area starts to occur then this concerns me. I would not intervene, with this type of plucking. Try rubbing the area with a antiseptic cream, hens hate the taste and give up real quick.

I agree with Liv - waste of time and money feeding canola

Hi Heath Sorry here is the back. I thought I got some shots but didn't. The ventilation holes are actually two sheets of ply. I used the 3mm White Plastic Ply Wood on the inside but used a 6mm ply on the outside. I drilled and cut the holes on both sheets while temporary clamped together. I then used a 10mm rebating bit to cut a rebate in the 6mm. The mesh was then Silicone in to the 6mm and the sheet glued together like a veneerer. Doing a dual cage side by side would be easy. Would you like me to do the plans? Yes daz - that would be great. The reason for me building a smaller version of your cage, is im not sure if a 4 compartment cage would fit into our car with my tribe of kids. 2 compartment is better suited to the use it would receive at my place. Thanks Daz