Squeak_Crumble

I spoke to soon One pinky in nest, I am fairly sure it is black eyed, mum was screeching. I normally use a glove to nudge her away, she was screeching heeps. Finally plucked her out, the baby isn't even 1 day old and is squeaking it's head off. I think the cock may be /cinnamon, or hen masking, because another chick in another nest may be there. i put three of their eggs in the nest, as mentioned earlier. I think the chick is looking Cinnamon Spangle Opaline (white down) (MAYBE cinnamon, was showing plum eyes) Blue or grey (grey more). So my better guess is (WF) cinnamon opaline spangle grey. Could be theirs???

Wow, lots of nests, lots of fertility and lots of jelly beans!

No way! I love her to bits. Her name is Violet (ironically enough). I am really hoping to get pinkies, (jelly beans ) , these chicks can hopefully make it to the bench.

Ah, Feather duster. Yup, poor thing. They spend all their time eating to sustain themselves.

How are they looking Kaz?

Update: No eggs hatching yet, still looking fertile though.

Update: Still no eggs hatching, it was a little warmer today. How do I know if they are still alive and not DIS?

What is a MOP? excuse my naiveness.

( I don't want a major fight breaking out so......) There are positives and negatives to colony breeding. Some people don't care well and mass breed, other are caring and love the brilliance of our birds. You need the right conditions and the right birds to be able to colony breed. Some people prefer it , and other don't. We all have our reasons. Does that summarise?

I agree there! It is possible, there is also such think as a galatiel, Galah X 'tiel.

Do you guys think lil Cookie ( I named her) is looking stunted, or growing slow? She hatched 3 days earlier the Kaz's little Samara, ( RIP ) And Samara was a premature chick. Looking at the new photos, Samara looks bigger, and more feathered then Cookie? Kaz's Thread: http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....40&start=40

Poor Samara. Rest in peace little, cute, miracle chick

Thankyou both I love the hen, she is top bred and a sibling of hers sold at auction for $180.

Hi All! I have a hen on 6 eggs, first one is due to hatch any time now. She is a Violet Opaline Texas Clearbody and the cock is a Grey-Green Opaline Texas Clearbody. First egg was laid on the 1st, and I am giving a few days leway because it is chilly right now. About 3-4 eggs look fertile out of the 6. Pictures! (they don't do her justice, like any violet bird) In show cage: ( I have had the cock being described as a "fluffy tennis ball" sometimes

Yup, It is raked and cleaned out every weekend, and sweeped (until I get to the base). My base is basically rock hard clay/soil, even mice or anythig can't get through. I just realised it must look messy! Sorry, branches are always put in before cleaning, so I can take away the shredded leaves. Droppings and seed are the only things there. Only reason I asked is because my old aviary was soil floor and rats dug in and got to some of the birds. Yup It's cool I am planning on getting a breeding room/ aviary next year or 2012, an it will have either tiles or concrete.

Photos! (they arent the best, artificial light)

I disagree with this totally as many a hen with infertile eggs in her nest has raised another hens babies or eggs fostered. The problem sometimes with the show breeding fraternity is the OLD WIVE'S TALES that get passed along, mostly by an older generation of breeders and much of which is nonsense. This is not to say there isnt good info passed along too Sometimes the "older" generation of breeders have valuable information, they are the ones who have built the society to were it is today Also, I thought you shouldnt move chicks under 5 days old, because of touching them, the hens won't feed or sit? Also, wouldn't the hen notice if the chick isn't theirs?

Thankyou rachelm and splat.

I agree, why cant the male just go in with the females if you want even numbers, or keep males and females seperate? That was the obvious solution.

Without getting into a debate over colony breeding vs caged in a breeding journal, I find that unless your breeding for show, it doesn't really matter about big birds or selectve breeding. I mean sure, you want happy helathy birds, but I am satisfied with the results I get, and the only time I cage breed the birds is if I want a specific pair to go together. I will be trying the opaline hen with the violet cock, to get violet fallows. That is just because I think they are pretty, and I MAY introduce it to my show stock, as both birds are poor show birds, but I love fallows. Also, the chicks do get cleaned and nests are as clean as they should be. They get the same handling and treatment as my other birds. I have tried a pair in the aviary, and out, and I find I get the same results really. I also dont have the spare cages, I only have 4 breeding cages, and they are used for show birds. I just breed the pet types every once in a while, and I suppose if I had a spare cage I would put the in. Where show budgies are more of a serious hobbies, I just love the unpredictable and beautiful little budgies, for purley my own enjoyment. Not to mention playful and cute

okay, Thanks Kaz. I did mention the last bit wasn't at you, but I didn't know you did colony breeding to start with There are some negatives, but I enjoy the positives also :hi:

Won't let me edit so, what I meant to say was: I don't mean to be rude, but I have been doing this for 3 years now without anything major happening, really the only reason the hen was hurt was because her foot was already injured where a split ring cut into her skin. No dramas here, and really, when you say "you should know better" that is correct, because, nothing is wrong with colony breeding as long as you have the right birds, the right conditions etc. it can be a functioning system. Some people just have a stereotype, or things that are meant to happen veiw, when some people haven't even tried it themselves. Not aiming the last bit at you kaz.

I don't mean to be rude, but I have been doing this for 3 years now without anything major happening, really the only reason the hen was hurt was because her foot was already injured where a split ring cut into her skin. No dramas here, and really, when you say "you should know better" that is kinda wrong, because, nothing is wrong with colony breeding as long as you have the right birds, the right conditions etc. it is a functioning system.

Hey GB, just wondering if you can show some picture of the pairs you are breeding now?

Ended up with 5 or 6 eggs ( I can't be bothered going and checking in the cold in my warm room ) And they should be hatching in about 4 days