Daz

It is a woven mesh for a company called Metal Mesh Australia. They have a full range in galvanized and stainless. Their Website

That brings back memories.... Just think in a few days/weeks/months it will all be finished.

Thanks Heath. I have based my spangle line on two hens from Dave Frampton. A cock bird from Greg and Jean Horrobin and a Cock bird from Kathy Krang. 1st year was very successful with Champion young birds of show and a number of CCs. I have expanded into Recessive and Dominant pieds through Dave Ganzer and Yellowfaces from a Yellowface Grey from a pairing of Childer and Dunk. Interesting now that Ken Dunk has won his first nationals. The Recessives have been strengthened by a Hen bird from Alister Holmes at last years auction. The resulting chicks have shown nice improvements in head features. The Spangle line is about to get a lift from 4 outcrosses from Gary Armstrong. As you can see it is getting a bit of a mishmash of birds. I even have a spangle grey cock given to me that is a Ken Seagrott bird. Last year the birds worked well together giving me 7 trophies at a March show this year. One for Best Young bird - novice and one for Best Any Age bird - Novice. Hopefully they will mix well again this year and I can take the next step up in quality. I am interested in the fact that you persisted with the lines. Many would have given up and not realised that some lines take a generation or two to "click".

...ah memories. They are looking good Nerwen. Well Done.

Welcome to the forum Heathrow. I agree that there are many in the fancy that go unnoticed. The Quiet achievers. Ken Dunk's first win at the national and also Dan & Brett Card. These can not be over looked. At Auctions the birds sell for what the bidder is prepared to bye for. In my opinion the Bob Smith birds that were sold at auction on Sunday went for a very good price. I expected over $3000 to $4000. I am sure you will see DrNat's name on the National list in the future Heath how have you found G & M Watson Birds? Have they worked well for you?

Mr Henry George South Queensland. 22 wins, subsequent wins in 2005, two (2). Total wins 24. Mr Ian Hanington New South Wales. 14 wins, includes 8 wins in the Fallow Class. Mr Kelwin Kakoschke South Australia. 11 wins. Mr Alan Rowe Victoria. 11 Wins. Mr Alan and Mr Chris Druery Partnership New South Wales. 9 Wins. Subsequent win in 2006. Total wins 10. Mr Bruce Sheppard and Mr Colin Flanagan Partnership Victoria. 9 wins. MR John Tanner (dec.) Victoria. 8 wins. 2005 Mr Gary Gazzard New South Wales. 8 wins. Graeme and Marlene Tuthill Tasmania. 7 wins. Subsequent wins in 2006, three (3). Total wins 10. Blair & Poole Holmes and Howard. Bob Smith (just entered the hall of fame with 5 wins in the nationals) Dave Ganzer 3 wins in the nationals in the last 4 years. Kalvin Kalkoski

Well I proved myself right. After the disaster of the start of the month, it was found to be my fault.

Well the birds like it. 14 pairs down. Many with eggs and half are fertile.

This was interesting to read. The nationals are over but due to a health problem I didn't compete. Many of the ideas I had are still correct. You MUST look after your birds. Nutrition and hygiene is most important. Your birds must be kept in the best condition at all times to be competitive.

yes.. I think I will

Maesie What are you like at Data input. I run a large Electrical Contracting business in Brisbane... We may be needing a replacement. I have been on holidays for the last two weeks and goung back on Monday maynot be a fun time. I belive that one of the girls in the office is not happy... Google my name in australia and you will find the business I'm in.

Looks like i'll be making some more travel cages. I made the one for Henry Georges birds to go to Perth but when more became available, they went in a bigger box.

Kaz... yes just past the Renticar section.. They are very good.

When we got to Perth to pick up the birds we then could give some lose seed. MB could be right in the fact that some states have different rules. I Queensland, you can't transport Banana Plants past a certain point. Just spoke to AAE (Australian Air Express) Brisbane to Melbourne. Millet sprays are fine, Water is okay (soaked on cloth not by it's self) but not a necessary. They really don't like lose seed as it goes everywhere. Cost of a 1 to 2 kg cage including the birds will cost $66.80au. Perth has different regulations to do with Seed and birds.

Live birds are transfered in Australia by AE (Australian Express). They are at the airport. The box you have is fine. You try to make the box as light as possible to reduce costs. Make sure you have your name on it as a sender and the person it is going to as the destination. Always put your mobile number on as a contact. The boxes at the nationals were great. Professionally made. Mark the box as "LIVE BIRDS" A shoe box size wooden cage will hold four birds for transport. No water is allowed on the plane so give them water with Sparks (Vetafarm) a day or two before the flight. Also no lose seed is allowed so place a millet spray in the box with them. Budgie don't need constant water, a trip from Brisbane to Perth is 7 1/2 hours. That is an hour at the airport both ends and 5 1/2 hours flighting time. add to that the time you put the birds in the cage and out of the cage. So it is not that long with out water. The SQ team was packed in the travel case at 6am Brisbane time and was in the holding cage in Busselton at 8pm Brisbane time. No worse for wear. Thats 14 hours.

I would leave it as is. The cock does the feeding at this stage so the only change is no hen. The chicks if 3 1/2 to 4 weeks old will be okay with the cock bird. They should be fledging in a week to 2 weeks time. I would start to give the chciks about an inch or two of millet spray in the nest box so they can start to practice cracking seed.

Well there were 5 classes at 14 birds per class so that was 70 live passengers per trip. :sad: You did a great job Kaz. The transport of the birds were spot on.

Ahh the back of the Hearse.... I remember that well. Been inthere most of the show, loading budgies

Great Shots Kaz. Gary is very good... Guys it was noted by Janice Al-Nassar that the Skyblue could probibly have won the Champion of Show at the BS Show in the UK. That would make it one of the best birds in the world. She also went on to say that many of the birds could have competed well against the UK birds. Australia, you should be proud. We have some very good breeders across Australia and their efforts have been truly rewarded. Elly that was one of the rare moments that I was on the other side of the camera. :hap:

Some photos from the Nationals 2008 - Busselton WA Australia The staging with the judges. There is 22 Clases in the Nationals with not only individuals but regions competing for the top spot. Best Recessive pied in Australia. 6th Position Fallow. That greywing again showing a bit better. Remember this bird is only 7th. Janice and Ghalib Al-Nassar A National Trophy. This one is for the Recessive Pied. There is 14 of the top birds in one class. From this the National Winner is picked. A collection of the the top breeders in Australia. In the back ground is some of the birds that were in the Auction. One pair sold for $2550. This pair sold for $1000.00 The judges. Janice Al-Nassar, Henry George, Derick Poole, Peter Glassenbury. This is where it all started from - The Bush Budgerigar OOOpps, Don't know how that got there

Shadow your just north of me. I'm at Strathpine. There will be some great shows and auctions coming here soon. I'll let you know when.

Thanks All. Kaz and I saw the best in Australia and After comments from Janice and Ghalib Al-Nassar, Probibly the best in the Both UK and Australia. I'll try and get some photos for you tonight.

Just flew in. It was great meeting Kaz and chatting over the last few days. I would have to say that was one of the top things of the nationals. I meet some great people and made some good friends. Talking about Dark Eyed Clears and Recessives with Ghalib Al-Nassar was great. Siting and having a few beers with Derick Poole and Roy Blair from the partnership of Blair and Poole. Discussing the health and wellbeing of the birds with Gary Armstrong. Meeting and talking Budgies with Alister Holmes of Howard and Holmes. There was many many others that I met and will miss. But I am now looking forward to Tasmania 2009. I've been on the road since 5:30am Perth time. It's now 9:16pm Brisbane time. So I'll now go and get some rest.

I see that she likes opalines.

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