Amy Smith

Thanks Liv :mallet: Sorry my capitons didn't really fit with the right pictures.......Bert (dark blue) and Ernie (Green) are the two boys.......They have the same face pattern and the black markings on their backs. Mildred (light blue) and Ariel (very light blue)......They too have the same face pattern(different to the boys) and lighter back markings. {Runs off to look at more pictures}

So I have been doing some reading in the genetics posts and although I find it a bit confusing, would like to have a go at my guys......Ernie and Bert are normal green and normal blue?? http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv215/A...28_edited-1.jpg And Mildred and Ariel are cinnamon?? http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv215/A...30_edited-1.jpg The one thing I found interesting was the distinctive face patterns of the birds.......... http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv215/A...25_edited-1.jpg Can someone explain the difference please?? Would love to know if I have it right or not??? Looking at the girls now they look more grey than brown.........Does that change things??

They are lovely, aren't they? So old and wise. I can't believe that the old person's home would not allow her to take them with her. She still gets regular updates from me and I really hope they enjoy their new life. I hope to learn as much as I can From what I have experienced so far, keeping budgies together is far more difficult than by themselves in a cage. They love each other so much (anthropomorphising or what?? ) that I wouldn't have them any other way now. Still a lot for me to learn though which is why I have put the whole breeding wish on hold for a while. I have two other sections of the aviary the same size and am wondering what other birds I could keep........I saw Bourke parrots at a local show recently and though they might be a nice mix..........

Hi everyone Well after a not so good start, I have some photos of my birds for you all. Onwards and upwards from here for tar little ones I'm worried though, that after reading and looking at your pics, my guys are a bit "scruffy". Do you think they are scruffy? Honest opinion please!!! I have been reading heaps and hope to make some wonderful homemade treats for them and get them all into tip top health. I have removed the nest boxes from the aviary and replaced them with a big eucalyptus branch. Any suggestions on their health would be greatly appreciated. The flock include: Mildred - A nearly two year old female - she lost her husband George recently and was left with 3 babies which unfortunately due to my being silly were attacked and killed by her sister Ariel (nearly 1 year old). Photo of Mildred (front) and Ariel together - Mildred developed funny orange stuff around her eyes whiles looking after the babies.......It's gone now. What could that have been??? And then comes Bert and Ernie - I got them from an old lady who was going into a nursing home and couldn't take them with her..........She thinks they are around 7 years old.......Bert (the blue boy) says "where's the ball" at any chance he gets and loves to sit on the end of your finger. His wings hang very low and I often wonder if that is from years in a small cage. Ernie is the quiet one of the gang and keeps to himself a lot. Neither he nor Bert seem very interested in the girls, much to their disgust!!! Ernie, Bert (having a moult) and Mildred. http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv215/A...16_edited-1.jpg After losing George and Ariel's sister recently, do you thing I need to boost things a bit with a few more.......I did read that having more males than females was the best situation - Bert and Ernie are more than happy with just each other and I don't think will ever like the girls............. Do you think I should introduce more cocks or just leave them to it for a while??

Very sad news at my place tonight :thankyou: I have lost the 3 babies. Not through illness but through my own stupid actions and I am so very angry and upset!!! Everyone was looking so good and healthy again that I decided to pop them all back in the avairy for some sun this morning. My other hen got to the chicks and killed them while I was inside. Too late by the time I found them and realised what had happened........... I almost didn't post because I am SO embarrassed and guilty about being so stupid!!! I didn't think it would happen!! So, I have decided to remove the boxes from the avairy, get reading and learning and try again another time. PLEASE anyone who is considering doing this without reaserching first ( I thought it was as easy as getting a couple of birds and putting them in together and away you go!!) please learn from my mistake...........It's too heartbreaking and I now have a poor hen who has not only lost her husband but her babies too. :star: I'm sorry little friends. You didn't get the chance you deserved!

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Okay. I'll see if I can get some Coccivet and switch over to that. I'll bring them inside and give the aviary a good scrub. You are right about the sulphur drugs (well from my experience with horses anyway) they are generally used as a broad treatment rather than specific. I have just been given the number of an avian vet in Wagga who is supposed to be very good and provides an over the phone consultation service. I'll give him a ring I think. Thanks again for your support.

Not straight away no......... So do I go back to the vet and ask for some Coccivet (if he doesn't have any, where can I get it??) I have already started the sulfaquin so will this impact on things?? I'm sorry to sound so stupid but I really don't want to loose any more birds and now I'm really confused!!!! I can bring them inside in smaller cages, no problem.

Just a normal vet.........We are rural so "specialists" are a bit hard to come by. Are you worried it might be something else???

Hi everyone Just a quick update. I spoke to the vet yesterday and he considered that due to the dirty bottom of the male bird and the sudden death, coccidiosis may well be a possibility. He said that even if it was not, dosing them wouldn't do them any harm. He was not keen on doing a post mortem........ not sure why??? So I guess I am still no closer to finding out exactly what it was but hopefully I can prevent more deaths now. Anyway, I picked up some Sulfaquin from the vet surgery on the way home from work yesterday and have added that to their water as per the directions on the bottle. I have added seed to the nesting box and will leave the hen alone now. She was getting very upset and the last time I opened the lid she really squawked and carried on. Poor girl!!! I have also reorganised the aviary. Lifted everything up off the floor and will now feed and water from dishes hanging on the side. I will do the best I can to keep the birds up off the ground and away from any dampness. Also got some cuttlefish and a mineral block for them. My partner was very cute yesterday and he has made me some canvas curtains to put up so that we can close them at night and keep the wind out. I really do want to say thank you very much to everyone for your suggestions and help. I will organise some pictures and properly introduce everyone on the weekend :lightbulb: Cheers

Done! Thank you all sooooo much I noticed a few little pin feathers and some down on the two older chicks this morning and they are very vocal so hopefully will be okay. I'll let you know how I get on with the vet. I have kept the body of the father so maybe they can do a post mortem or something.........

Yes, it has been raining here and things are a bit damp. I have had coccidiosis before with my chickens but i thought it was only passed bird to bird through feed or drinking water??? The aviery floor is concrete and I clean twice a week. I think I'll be back onto the vet first thing in the morning. Thanks Kaz.

Thanks for the welcome Daz :fingerscrossed: There are three babies. Two were born first and then the third about 2 days later. Yes, I'm VERY concerned that I have had the two deaths so close together and quite young birds too.

Hello everyone Sorry for jumping straight in with a question without properly introducing myself...............I will take some pics and post introductions soon :yes: I have just this evening lost the father bird of 3 less than a week old babies. Mum is still sitting on them but Im concerned that she won't feed properly without dad. This is my very first clutch (and the first for the birds too) and I'm not sure what to do........ The birds were inside birds that were introduced to the aviery at Christmas time to allow them to get used to being outside while it was still quite warm. 3 boys and 3 girls. They have been fine up until now and had paired up and were happy enough. The first to lay were the pair that had been caged togther before. They were quiet happy to get going and settled into their box about 4 weeks ago. Two days after babies hatched (Wednesady last week), one of my young females died. Nothing strange.....She had maybe been a bit fluffed up the day prior but it was a little cold so I though nothing of it...... Then yesterday the father bird looked a bit unhappy - Fluffed up and I noticed he had a dirty bottom. I spoke to my vet and was advised to worm them and keep an eye on him. This morning when I went to work he was in the box with his family and this afternoon when I got home, he was dead. Still in the box. The female is beside herself and very upset. I have left her alone with her babies and hope that she will be okay. I guess I have two questions: 1. Will the mother be able to feed the babies on her own? 2. What steps can I take to protect the other birds from whatever it was that killed their friends? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm very new to this and am happy to take on board anything that you might have to offer. I feel really guilty that I might have done something to cause this and I don't want to loose ay more of my birds :fingerscrossed: