Daz

So I take it your not going to try coloney breeding?

Hi Cindy, I have on few occsions replaced the nest box to a larger one. I have never moved the whole family, but I suppose if they are together, it could be possible.

Very Nice shots Zebra you look so happy

Paul that is a great idea. You have obviously had a good think about it.

Best of luck finding the paint. Make sure it's non toxic when dry.

Paul sound like a good idea. I wuld like to see more photos if you can put them up. How does the box attach to the breeding cage? What does it look like when the hen is laying?

Hi Zebra the metal is what we call colour bond. It is a zinc base that has been coated. The roof is the same. I didn't what the worry of metal posioning with zinc. I converted a shed in to the aviary. Cut out holes for windows and build the frame and cages.

Thanks Hath. I am always interested in how others set their birds up. I have heard one person selects his hens and places them in each on the breeding cages with out the nest boxes. He then places his cocks one in each show cage so that he inspect the birds for features and can hold each show cage up to the breeding cage to compare birds. Then when he is happy on the pairings he will take the hens from the breeding cages and place them in the show cage with the selected cocks. He leaves them there for an hour to see if the pairings are compatible. During this time he places the nest boxes on the breeding cages. After the hour those that seem to be getting a long are then both placed back into the breeding cages. A bit too much for me.

It should have dark eyes that will turn plum in adult if it is a fallow.

With Spangle I here the opersite is in reality the normal. I have read stories of offspring being of low numbers. Hope mine aren't like that.

He's taken sorry Cindy He will be with me for a long time.... I hope

Well yes ut the ones I use are plastic. Like a hard sponge. Scotch Brite brings them out. I'll see if I can find a link. The Metal ones dig into the paint, so I wouldn't use them. Something like this. Found Them

Hi Bea you do have the same one as me. I use a scouring pad. on mine which is dipped in some disinfectant. Not to wet though.

I might be onto something. In "How To Set Up A Breeding Cage And Manage The Breeding Of Budgerigars" I explaned that I set the hen up in the breeding cage 1st. Then placed the nest box in a few days latter and then a few days after that the cock. Well 9 days to the day we have the first egg. This is two out of two with this proceedure. I have usually place the Nest box, hen and cock in at the same time. More times than not it hasn't worked. I have spoken to some other breeders that do it differently. What do you think hath? Has it got merits?

I've got a lot of photos with them but none flying... I'll have to try harder.

Is that unusual? what do lacewing markings usually resemble???Daz that baby is beautiful, but I am confused as to how it resembles Raini lol - Raini being buttercup yellow with very slight wing markings! I have had another look the markings are fainter. I'll be interested when it feathers up. I took a look at the parents. This ones parents are opaline light green and a spangle grey green.

My poor old eyes do me wrong again...... Yep 50% Skyblue and 50% cobalt.

Here is a good link to help with your questions. Factors Affecting Hatching

From about 3 1/2 weeks old I place a 1 inch piece of millet in the nest box so the chicks can start to get the idea of cracking seed. They usually come out about 4 to 5 weeks but stay in the breeding cage until 6 weeks old and are feeding themselves.

Gess he reminds me of someone.. I wonder who that can be. This is mine possibly a Opaline Spangle Grey Green.

I should video him

No you can breed him against any colour or type but you problibly will not get the same bird. If you breed him to a Normal Sky blue Probibility is 25% chance that the off spring could be a Type II Opaline spangle sky blue but they will be female not male. Lets look at his genes. Type II yellowface is dominant in the blue series birds Also in greys. Opaline is a sex gene so the male chicks will be split to Opaline and the females will be Opaline. Spangle is a dominant gene. Half the chicks will be spangle, the other half will be normal. So if you breed him to a normal cobalt you will get half that is male and half that is female. Only the femals will be Opaline and only half will be Spangle. All chicks could be yellowface. Thats in the perfect world. If you breed him to an another spangle 1/4 will be normal 1/4 will be Single Factor Spangles and the rest will be Double Factor spangles. Now he could be split to Recessive Pied, Cinnamon, Greywing, Clearwing, Dilute, ino, ect which may or may not come out in the chicks.

Yellow face type II Sky Blue Opaline Spangle. Id breed to a normal posibly Cobalt blue to darken the body colour.

I agree with Sailorwolf. I've been using it for months and the budgies love it.

Good to see them eating right and what a great photo.