robyn

Hi Steve, going by the date of your first post, you had 6 eggs in a nest then, you must be close to some hatching? Let us know how you go with them, I found the heat generated in the nest box's more than made up for the chilly weather. Good luck with them.

I did get some split coloured rings for buds. from my local pet shop. There were 10 rings of one colour per "straw" as he called them. There is a little tool that spreads the ring and you lay chicks leg in it and slip ring on. Not sure of size though. They may have to order them in for you, I used them to colour code each nest. Just make sure they are for budgies not canary or finch as they are too small.

Hi js474, do you have a photo of the problem area? If it's a blocked gland, I shouldn't think it would need that extreme level of treatment (specialist etc). A feather cyst maybe, can you supply picture's so more knowledgeable breeders may comment?

Everyone has there own view Steve, I'm a fan of letting the birds tell us when they are ready!! Yours sound READY. You say you have paired them, are you cage or colony breeding? Hope you have a lot of healthy chicks arrive shortly. Let us know how you go. It's all a big learning curve isn't it.

Hi Sharky, I have bred all through winter here. First time I have done so, weather here is milder than Vic. I'd say, my aviary is open with no added heat etc. I have breeding cages set up in one end of Aviary. separate from other free flying birds. I have had 2 rounds of chicks and have 2 new pairs down with eggs now. I drop a blind down each night or in rain etc. I haven't had any problems due to weather. I think if you already have eggs and birds are settled I'd say leave them and see how you go. Thought I'd add picture so you can get idea of my set up.

Can't help with genetics but great pics. and pretty chicks.

This post started in 2005 ? I don't think we need say more? sorry, check the dates.

Hi George, Don't give up yet !! I don't think 3 weeks is very long to try to tame him. I have never had an indoor pet bud. My Dad had a beauty that said all kinds of phrases and songs etc. yet he never had him flying loose he just talked to him through the cage. He lived to about 14 yrs and Dad was so upset when he lost him he never got another. What if you just let him out and went about your usual routine, see if he calms down on his own and then maybe get curious about his surroundings in his own time? Let him come to you, maybe leave a spray of Millet on a desk e.g. to see if that attracts him. Good luck with him, I think I'd keep trying for a while yet.

Sounds like she may be ready to breed. Put a bit of wood shavings etc in box and see if she starts "cleaning" her nest out. That is if you want chicks, if not remove nest box.

Thanks B.J. I'll have to catch him again and see if I can find any evidence of mites. If it's feather mites I don't know if the Ivomectin will work, I read they are not blood feeders if so the Ivomectin may not work & I'd have to get a mite spray I think. Better than french moult I'd say. l.o.l

Hi, some lovely chicks there. If Sugar is laying eggs then I'd say the problem would be Spice, she is doing her bit but he seems to be lacking. Try her with another Cock bird to see if that helps. (I'll leave the genetics to someone else)

Thanks Dillster, I thought of french moult but as he's 14 mths old I didn't think it could be. All I have read about french moult it seems to appear from fledging etc. not an older bird. He's been completely feathered up until just lately. Hopefully it's mites e.g. etc NOT a breeding problem as I don't want it popping up in other birds.

Hi All, I have a pied cock bird about 14 mths old. I have noticed he had lost flight feathers, I thought moulting but he doesn't appear to be moulting normally. I caught him up and tried to get pics of wings. I'm thinking maybe feather mite? I have treated all birds a few weeks ago with Ivamectin, but dosed him again today. Hope pics may help someone to give me a clue as what it is. Also what treatment? a bit difficult trying to take picture and hold bird as well. Hope they help.

Any pics?

Welcome Paul, with a lot of reading on here, you can find out everything you need to know about breeding your birds.

Hi and welcome. I suppose the basics are the same no matter what part of the world you are in. We all adapt to our own environment and so do the birds. Good luck with your aviary.

one drop of Ivomectin behind head.(You can get bird strength from vet for about $9.00 enough to do heaps). Repeat in a couple of weeks if it is really bad and not responding.

Are these your first buds for Aviary Dillster? Great feeling to see your first birds after all the hard work.

I use Ivomectin every 3 months, 1 drop behind head (may be called something else in the U.States). If your birds come in close contact with wild birds I think it would be wise to worm them. Ivomectin also helps with mites etc as well as various worms.

Hi Biggles, just to add a comment. Being in Brisbane you could probably breed all year if you wanted. I am mid north coast nsw. I (for the first time) have bred from mid April and am on a 3rd round of chicks,( using different pairs), new chick hatched to-day. I have not had any problems because of weather etc. just a couple of silly parents. If you have a covered breeding cage area in aviary you should do okay. we have had some chilly o/night temps but birds were fine.

If he is about 7 yrs old and he hasn't had this before it could be a blocked ?/gland e.g. Pictures could help if you can post them.

Beautiful, would have been great to see it happen live.

Congratulations to you both Nerwen, she is beautiful. Love the name Madison Faith also. Guess the feathered litlle birds will have to take a back seat for a while.

yes because i broke open the eggs after removing them some where completely dried, other had chick growing and stopped and also smelled horrible egg yolk was brownish black, well the cock would go in nest alot also, she had 1 clutch prior to this out of 5 eggs 4 where fertile 3 survived and 1 got killed, the 8 DIS, would have been her 2nd clutch and know that she started to lay again this would be her 3rd, i was thinking of letting her lay the eggs and then foster them to a hen from another box that only laid 3 eggs of wich only 1 is fertile and let her raise the chicks, She looks to be coming out of condition thats what gave me the idea to foster the eggs and then let her rest Hi, just a thought. If your eggs were dried etc they probably would not be fertile so not dead in shell. If you had all eggs with semi grown chicks in them yes d.i.s. The dead chick would be smelly etc but maybe the other eggs were not really d.i.s.

Hi F.Panda, just make a note of date of first egg, expect next egg in 2 days. Leave nest box in position and only check every couple of days until she has settled in to incubating eggs or you may end up with no eggs/chicks by being overly eager. My thoughts only.