robyn

If I may jump in here. I only have pet type birds for my own pleasure, I don't have the chance to go to many shows. I have bought a couple of show culls to pair with mine, for size mostly. This worked really well breeding one pet one show type, I have bred some lovely birds of good size, colours etc but don't know how they compare with "show" stock. But I have noted that the show hens only seem to have 3 chicks or fertile eggs compared to pet type hens bred with a "show" cock who have had up to 9 eggs but not a lot filled. Also bought a big grey pied show cock who ate the eggs !! My point is do you think the birds have been "overdone" so to speak with the mutations being played with for various points, long mask, broad heads, shoulders etc. (speaking out of the top of my head as I don't show) to the detriment of the fertility strength etc. ? Maybe throwing in some more "common" blood back into the mix may help? Just a thought.

Hi all, I am looking for a clue as to what is the problem with my bird. The blue hen is slightly improved but still not really upright on perch, I now have a second bird with similar symptoms.. Its alert, climbing around hosp. cage not fluffed or sick looking, he's eating, poop looks normal. But lying on perch more than sitting. BUT if it loses it's footing when climbing, it falls down to floor if it lands on it's side, it has trouble righting itself to get up, landed on it's back at one stage and struggled to turn over. When he perches has trouble keeping his balance. He's about 2 yrs old. I have soluble iodine in aviary water, reading up on Iodine toxicity, it doesn't seem to fit. Metal poisoning etc doesn't fit. No changes to aviary to cause this. one bird o.k but now I have 2 I'm at a loss. any thoughts as to possible cause? I have added calcivet to blue hens water.

Hi if you look at top of this forum there is a link "how to post images" . That should help you work out how to post pics.

They look great Amy if you have room for both. My hubby joined 2 garden sheds (very similar to yours) he pop rivetted the two together then cut a door from one into the other so you can walk through. Works well as shed, could be a way for you to join yours.

Ditto, Splat who can say the camera doesn't lie anymore.

Hi Dillster, we seem to have hi-jacked your post. Have you and Dad made any more progress on you aviary? Do you have birds for it yet or are you getting them later? That's the exciting bit actually releasing some birds into your aviary after all the hard work.

Sorry your still losing birds Splat, I suppose you can't wait for season to end and see what next season brings. But your first picture is a beauty, hope you end up with a few that quality.

This is new r.i.p. how do they work? I assume it's a thing for a bird to be able to fly free but with a "lead" so they can't disappear into the sunset? There is always something new on here, to learn about. l.o.l

Hi Dillster, we seem to have hi-jacked your post. Have you and Dad made any more progress on you aviary? Do you have birds for it yet or are you getting them later? That's the exciting bit actually releasing some birds into your aviary after all the hard work.

Sorry you lost this fellow Kaz . I thought he was beautiful.

That's bad luck, after things settle and worst of summer heat is gone you may have better luck.

Thanks Kaz i thought a cage would be the way to go Hi, we had a blind bird, years ago. It would walk the perimeter of the aviary, climb the wire to a shelf. It wasn't until we saw it fall off edge of shelf we realised it was blind. It looked normal so we didn't suspect at the time either. He was put in smaller cage where he lived quite happily. p.s. a friend had one recently and wanted to breed with her. queried this on here, advice was don't try to breed with it as there would be issues trying to feed chicks etc.

Hi, If her flight feathes are missing that would be why she can't fly far, I'd say her wing must be okay if she can fly at all, not out of joint or broken e.g. Holding her wing out maybe because she feels unbalanced? Maybe if she flew into something that broke her flights so she may have bruising. I think I'd cage her until her flights come in then see how she goes.

Yes I thought of that Kaz. the drawback with that is I have to keep numbers to 50 or so. With a lot more cages the temptation would be too great to have more # # ## darn it !!! If I go with 4 cages I end up with around the 24 mark each round and thats enough for me to be able to sell any surplus off.

Thanks Pji but that is what we were talking about on "my first aviary" post by Dilster. If we did this we would lose the view of the birds playing around on the ground, from our patio. On the plus side we have never had mice, or worse snakes, in aviary. when I had breeding section working I put mice baits down as birds couldn't reach them and none were touched. I also bought a trap were mice can get in but not out so you catch them live without dangerous baits. Nothing in it either only a couple of cockroaches. Touch wood it continues that way.

Hi Taylor, they are snapdragons they haven't yet eaten them but as far as I can work out they are okay. Now we have rewired the flight the piece under the door (potplant area) we removed the tin section and put wire so we can see them on the floor of the flight. Pot plants are now around the side. I also had a pot of geraniums hanging on side of aviary, they try to get them but so far haven't succeeded but they seem to be safe as well. I tried plants IN THE AVIARY big mistake lasted about 2 hours. Thanks Splat & Flip T., Have to sweet talk Hubby into making my new breeding box's for next season. The cages he made are great but my box's are past it, got him a you beaut slap- whatever, for the concave'swhich should make it easier.

Welcome June, I would nearly bet whatever questions you have will be answered on here.

Thanks Amy, we added branch, left a lot of the bark attached, hope that's okay. Hubby sprayed the leaves etc with hose and birds climbed all over it bathing in the water. I suppose now they'll demolish the bark off the branch, for fun.

any result from your dented egg? is it still growing or hatched maybe?

Thanks for that PJI, Looks very similar as well. I think I"ll still treat for calcium deficiency, if it's a case of either or I don't suppose it will hurt but may cure her. She doesn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort whichever it is.

Thanks Hezz, I don't know how old this hen is she was about my first bird purchased at pet shop. She's a very productive hen lays up to 10 eggs a clutch. Relly great Mum as well. She doesn't seem to have any swelling either in joints or abdomen. Reading Kaz reply I think that may be more on the money because she had a clutch of six of her own + 2 infertile, fostered 2 more so maybe lack of calcium could be it. Thanks for you reply though. Thanks Kaz seems to "fit" any time limit on when she may improve or how long to continue with treatment? Thanks Hezz, I don't know how old this hen is she was about my first bird purchased at pet shop. She's a very productive hen lays up to 10 eggs a clutch. Relly great Mum as well. She doesn't seem to have any swelling either in joints or abdomen. Reading Kaz reply I think that may be more on the money because she had a clutch of six of her own + 2 infertile, fostered 2 more so maybe lack of calcium could be it. Thanks for you reply though. Thanks Kaz seems to "fit" any time limit on when she may improve or how long to continue with treatment? Kaz this picture is exactly how my hen looks.

Hi everyone, Well up until now I haven't added my backyard aviary to bbc, only in dribs and drabs on other forums.I only have pet types so it's not very elaborate but works really well for my purposes. First picture is when I first started. Added Cages. Hens started fighting through cage fronts with free flying birds. SO... . We divided aviary in half Put cages in one end of aviary. Decided 6 was a bit if a squeeze so reverted to 4 cages. This worked really well for aug sept. breeding. While breeding this section is closed off from other birds who have half aviary plus flight. Once breeding is finished cages are removed to shed and birds have full use of aviary. We have now re wired the flight end of aviary as the wire had began to rust out. We have just finished it enough so birds can have full flight again. Just have to repaint exterior parts and "pretty it up' with a new blind. Added new branch and the swings etc. birds seem to be enjoying it again. Have to add the shade cloth for top of flight to take edge off sun, without it the birds go back into aviary. More later. .

Hi All, I have a little pet/type hen in aviary, she was leaning on perch and favouring one foot so I caught her to check, no blood, no wound, eased her legs in and out to check hips could not see any problem. She eats, flies, is chatting to her last mate etc. But every time she lands on perch she "lays" on it she grips with her feet on landing but it's as if her legs won't hold her body up. Adding pictures. Any clues as to what it could be? she reared 8 babies ( 2 fostered) in aug sept. Don't know if that has any bearing on it.

What a good idea Kaz. I have corregated type roof iron and channels filled with rolled wire to stop escapes. These fill up with spider web feathers etc. a flame gun could be great for ridding aviary of potential bugs.

( pssst) don't tell Greg Splat , but GET A FEMALE DOG !! problem solved.