*Nerwen*

I agree with Norm plus chasing the hen from one branch to another is part of the mating/bonding behaviour. It would have been better (for easy of checking and cleaning) to have the boxes outside. I set mine up so the entrance is in line with one of the doors and hangs outside.

good idea Kaz, that's why I was giving her a few days before adding Poka too. She is showing all the signs of ready to breed chewing the bark of her branch within a few days and such.

If you use the cards on each box then you might not have to worry about marking the eggs, I think Aly didn't bother when using cards. If you want to do so as an extra step then any water based non toxic pens work (such as crayloa (sp?) markers) I got mine from Woolies as a pack of ten for about a $1 I think. I've seen people use pin (as in corkboard pins) to put up the cards and I tried that with mine but they would go in the wood.

Thank Bea, all is good Mother is feeding the baby. I am going to set up a new pair very soon. I got Connie the Yellowface spangle that lives with my friend and am going to try her with Poka, who in the aviary is already back to flirting with the wall or calcium bells rather than Ringo :(Laughing out loud): If things go well I will get some MORE spangles (just realised this would be the third cage with a spangle in it) and maybe even some cinnamons. So glad I love spangles. I'm giving her a day here (well half a day) then moving her to the cage tomorrow and think I will add him on sunday (he will be in a spare cage away from Ringo for those days as well. Unless you guys think I should add them together. I'm not worried with quarantine since she is an only bird and I have had knowledge of her heath and behaviour with visits (plus past stays with me)

I agree too, he may need some time to come into peak breeding condition.

Cage 1 5 eggs one is fostered from her sister (fertile) to help lighten her load I know of 2 that are fertile her first was clear. Cage 2 5 eggs all fertile and 1 bub! Sorry Aly no great Bum shots this time. :(Laughing out loud): She is very protective which is good. As you can see crop is empty I've left them alone and will check again shortly.

Will look forward to hearing how your breeding goes.

Since you have spoken about a brown crusty cere on this bird before would make me say you have a hen that is now out of condition for breeding.

Welcome Mick, we do love pictures here so I hope the instructions help you. it can take a while for the hen to warm up to the male, if they are both young and first time breeders then they have a lot to learn from the correct singing to win her over to feeding chicks, there is a lot that you need to learn too if you wish to try your hand at breeding. Read up on here and feel free to ask any questions.

The dark ones could mean fertile egg further along in development than the ones with veins. Since you are unsure I would leave them until after the due dates. Colony breeding is hard with all the in house fighting that can happen, it could have been the first lot of egg where laid because the hen was ready but had not bonded fully with her partner yet.

Look at this picture Norm it shows nesting material in with mum and bub. Looks like wood shavings.

yes that can happen too with recessive pied, what I was trying to point out was that often the double factor pied will still have the large pied mark on the head.

I wouldn't think the temp would be an issue Sandy. All the other breeders that I know around here are in full swing of breeding. Also are the hens maiden? or even the males? (as in first time)

also look at the head markings DF dominant seems to keep the ones towards the back to make a pied spot! while the recessive have the few at the front that disappear. But the best way to check is with the cere colour then the iris rings as some DF dominant may only get one ring.

Daz - I had to check back to the pictures the red isn't as strong in the second picture but it's not black, so two Albinos.

is is so so cute.

crested is a recessive gene Riebie. I don't know how the pins grow in for crested budgies sorry. Has there been any signs of attack in the nest?

Sorry to hear you have yet to get get any TCB babies. Your right that the ino gene is used to both help with colouring plus a ino father matched to a TCB hen will mean TCB sons. A fast way to get what the breeder is after. The fact that she laid six eggs sound to me that is is fertile and the issue with only two hatching is either from the males side or feathers getting in the way of mating. Would LOVE for you to get a Saddle Back. I was finally able to see one last year at a show after wondering for ages what it looked like (must say I wasn't that impressed) Buuzbee - a saddle back has brown toned marks on the saddle area of the back (around the v area), a dark wing is a modifing gene to make darker markings on the wings, it is best seen on a dilute, greywing,clearwing bird. BES is listed in the FAQ area.

he could be opaline But I wouldn't say dominant pied.

What makes you say that Lady? All I see is spangle markings and opaline.

I agree with others that area pointed out is not the vent/rectum area but the base of the tail and as Kaz said the preen gland area.

He is beautiful

I hope these two are okay if it is a mouse! Great shots.

I can see where the confusion is. A Dark Eyed Clear (which I think you where meaning to say) looks very much the same to a young Double Factor Spangle. However this is the offspring of a dominate pied and a recessive pied. You baby got both of the spangle genes (one from each parent) when older s/he will get the iris rings in the eyes and if male will get the blue cere.

Great that things are going well for the family. Look at the two middle tail feathers on a spangle they will be clear (yellow for green and Yellowfaces and white for blues) also the wings may seem paler when still feathering up.