robyn

Good info Jenny, I'm making note of that as well in case the need arises. cheers Robyn

Great news, it's great things turn out well when your "stuck" for what to do. We live and learn, worth a try if it happens again.

Hi Maddy, sorry about your bad luck. Hope your up and running again now. As chick has been fed twice successfully I'd say you are doing okay. I haven't hand reared either but at 3 weeks or so it should be nearly ready to start eating a bit on it's own. It will call for food I'm sure. I hope the snake isn't around or it might make a snack of chick, instead of kitty's trying. I'd keep offering it hand rearing mix until it starts to refuse the mix in favour of seed etc.

You would be coming into winter, I've heard that a severe moult could mean severe weather coming, JUST A THEORY MIND, we on the other hand are supposed to be at the start of Summer, I'm knee deep in feathers also, so maybe we're in for a hot Summer? Time will tell I suppose. I don't usually give mine any different diet when they are moulting, just keep blind down in cool or windy weather etc. if they look really "ratty" I may add some vitamins to their water and extra greens but that's about it.

Looking at those pics Billy, looks like Phil is also male. Maybe Phillip now? l.o.l.

She is looking great Tania. Does your friend get a lot of F.D's in is birds? He may have to breed with different pairs to try to avoid them, unless he doesn't mind having the D.F appear, they look like sweet little birds even if they are short lived.

Is your aviary divided or are Rosella's free as well as budgies? The Rosella's could be territorial as well and harm budgies if they are in together and breeding.

It's great it lets you know it wants food, makes that problem easier, better than trying to feed an unresponsive bird. Good luck with it all and post some pics when you get the chance.

Sounds like it was not ready to leave nest, or if it was hand raised, not yet weaned. I'd say you would have to continue hand rearing formula, until you see it gradually eating more seed, enough for it to start refusing formula. I have never hand reared any myself but I'd say it would call for food if it's hungry, if no,t I'm sure there is a post on here on hand rearing. If you go to F.A.Q. you could find that to give you a heads up on what to do. Hope this helps.

He's a strange little fellow isn't he. Only other thing have you checked for any mites that may be annoying him? although I'd say it would be other feathers as well as flights if it was that. It may be just like an itch, once he starts he can't stop until it's gone. Once he has pulled them out does he then carry on like a normal bird or does he keep trying to pull at his wings?

I'd say egg found on floor may be addled anyway, she may continue to lay. Colony breeding, hens will throw out eggs or chicks or even fight and possibly kill hen/chicks, if she wants that nest box. If you have more breeding cages and want to breed I'd pair up birds in cages and remove nest box's from aviary to stop any more aggressive behaviour.

Lovely colour, I'd venture a quess at male also.

Sounds like a good plan, maybe by putting her in cage on her own she's realised it's better to be with the others. Even if she just tolerates the newbies at this stage. Like little kids aren't they, l.o.l.

If she's chewing and shredding paper etc still sounds like breeding condition behaviour. Could you maybe choose another Cock bird that looks in condition and see what happens? Add the cock bird and if things look promising over a few days or so, add the nest box again. Fingers crossed, she may fancy the next bird. l.o.l.

Hi, If you only bought the babies 2 weeks ago they really should still be in quarantine away from your older 2. Maybe because Mini has another hen in the cage she's afaid of competition for Albey? If she's in breeding condition, whether there is a nest box or not. It could be a type of territorial behaviour. Until the behaviour stops, could you have the babies out on their own and then the older 2 for taming etc, instead of all 4 at once? Covering them during the day would, I think throw out their body clock, so to speak. I'd only cover a sick bird in the daytime.

Sounds like a great vet. and sounds like Twitter is perking up a bit, great news hope you keep taking pics to show if his plumage improves. Good job. keep up the good work.

If everything was fine until they had access to the plants, I'd still be looking at that as the cause. If both got sick at once it's not like a virus passing from one to the other. See if you can find out the correct name of plants and check on f.a.q. toxic and non toxic plants for a clue.

I think it's trial and error. Good point Daz, I've noticed mine wasted a heap of seed in breeding cages until I added extra canary seed when chicks are tiny and hulled oats as they grew. Seed waste dropped a lot. When chicks were weaned they all went back to usual seed mix. I think it's a case of watch and adapt.

Just another thought if you have had him nearly 3 mths and he was about 8 weeks maybe he's just moulting? Has he had a moult since you have had him?

Everyone seems to be M.I.A. Daz, good luck with you new breeding rounds.

I have an aviary that is basically divided into 3. I put breeding cages (only 4 nests) in first section. close that off to other non breeding birds. Second section is an under cover aviary, next section is a fully wired outdoor flight open to rain sun etc. The birds fly from middle to flight at will while breeding takes place in 1st section.They are only caged during the egg/to fledged chick stage then released back to aviary with chicks in kindy cage for a while, to make sure they are all fully feeding etc then they are released in with adults, cages removed then all sections open for free flight throughout aviary. Works really well for me as a pet only breeder. See picture.

I only breed pet type birds but I usually try to breed a "pet size" with a "show type". The results have been a bigger bird than pet and very nice to look at. The spangles I have bred seem to take longer to fill out but they are lovely by their first moult. I have one that is still called d.f. but with suffusion, he is really nice but looks like he's wearing a mauve bib.

Celery, plus tops are good. Corn on the cob, mine will kill for that, silver beet or spinach, some of mine love cucumber, beetroot tops and beetroot cut in half and fed raw (beware the birds looking like there's been a murder) whole carrots, tops soil and all if you grow them. just a few of my birds favourite's.

That's great news Nadene maybe it will turn out like Mum. It seems to have small nostrils, is that male or female? Can't remember off hand.

Hi, is he pulling them out of both wings? Maybe because they were clipped he thinks they shouldn't be there. Or it could be a stress or boredom thing. Does he have a lot to amuse him and time out of the cage etc. it's a bit hard to tell. I haven't had this myself but maybe others have.