robyn

no 6 chick hatched all five doing well, think maybe lost chick could have been due to "egg absorption thing" as Kaz put it or maybe because mum had pecked shell and let in bug? Would have been full clutch if it had survived.

Thanks all, Thanks Splat & Kaz for info. don't have any moxi T splat heard of it but don't know what it's used for. Do you give it to parents prior to breeding or only i there is a problem? If it's an vetafarm product I could probably get it from my pet shop as it's listed on their site for stockists. As to nest now have 4 chicks hatched, one to go, looks fertile as well. She laid 6 lost that one chick but others are all nice and pink fed, active etc. so really hoping it was a one off thing. It's the first time I've gone 2 rounds with any hen but she laid before others fledged. They are pair that had my nice violet/mauve spangles so finger crossed for more of the same. Thanks again for any further advice.

Hi all, I have a nest hatching, no1 chick arrived okay 2nd egg looked like mum had pecked eggshell about (little f. nail size) membrane still looked intact but dry, not pecked from inside so it had to be mum. I checked a while late there was a dead chick thrown out of nest box into cage. Chick looked okay ( was due to hatch) but dead except it's abdomen was yellowish. Would this be yellow belly I've heard about? If so is it contagious? another chick hatched today looking okay, fed etc. she still has 2 eggs to go. It's her 2nd round. any thoughts welcome.

Looks great Splat, glad I'm not cleaning all those cages. Is the radio for you or the birds?

Really sorry about Dalek but know he gave a lot of pleasure to a lot of bbc members. We feel for your loss but you have your wonderful little "picture stories" of him. May your next little friend be as wonderful as Dalek.

Looks like some nice chicks Splat, in spite of all your setbacks. Just keep plugging away, better times ahead.

Good to see more members, welcome. Sounds like you know you way around a budgie cage, good luck with new pairings.

Hi Pride, don't know if they are safe or not but the lemon trees I've had have some nasty thorns on them, you would have to remove those first I'd say.

Thanks Kaz, now I know what a couple of mune are. Have to add some pics for us when that happens.

Split spangle ? NO. Carrying it is also the same as saying split. Spangle is dominant. Either one is or isnt. don't want to hi-jack post Kaz but what would his mutation be? dom pied spangle? still one step forward 2 back with me.

Love the pieds, maybe he's split spangle looking at his markings & cheek patches,( mind you I'm only thinking out loud) Is you violet a normal ? Should make pretty chicks. Just re-read info. apparently he can't be split spangle because it's a dom factor but his chicks may show it if he is carrying it ( I'M STILL THINKING OUT LOUD) l.o.l.

I'd like to know what this mutation is as well looks different to what I've come across. 1. maybe sky cinnamon. 2 Cobalt normal 3??? 4 normal Mauve/Grey ? These are guess's only as I'm still trying to work out genetics as well. Others will know for sure.

Nice looking birds Mana, good variety to play around with.

Hi, don't know if I can help much, are the rings on your hens closed show breeders rings or just coloured split rings? If breeders, you should be able to get age of your birds from that. If you have two pair and cages I think I would put one hen in each cage, no nest box yet, worm them etc. check for scale if you think Cock has it. Treat that as well , when your sure all birds are settled really healthy, not moulting and in breeding condition. Then think about pairing them up see if they bond etc. then introduce the nest box's. . GO TO F.A.Q AND READ EVERYTHING YOU CAN FIND ABOUT HOW TO BREED ETC. ( while your birds are getting ready to breed) then you will be able to better manage them. Hope this helps a bit until some more experienced breeders advise you.

Looks very organised Maddy, good luck with some lovely chicks.

Thanks Mana, It makes you feel really guilty somehow. Adding pics for Dave, In aviary This is out of focus but is bird ABOVE spangle a Greywing?

I'll try some pics Dave, BUT I was really upset a couple of days ago, noticed hanging feeder had dropped down to floor, on picking it up one of my poor spangle bubs was dead under it. It would have been sudden as it held about 3kg seed. I'm still trying to see which one it was. One was really nice, sat up nice and big bab,y really hoping it wasn't that one.

Thank's Dave, they are all in aviary now, nice size birds, I don't know if the markings are good or bad yet l.o.l.

Your chicks in pics look promising Splat, at least you've got some positive results. Really hope you have solved the problem, if it is the seed maybe the hens wouldn't feed the young because of it. Fingers crossed that it was the problem.

Thanks Dave, have copied that for further study. I was only going on the wavy colouring going up her head and back. Looks like I have 3 hens and a cock from the nest then.

Well thanks Guys, SO I'M STILL LOST, what makes Him Opaline and Her NOT? I TRIED F.A.Q but the pics are gone. Hope someone can tell me the difference's.

Sorry pics turned out oversized AGAIN can't get the hang of p.bucket since it was changed

Hi Twisted, 1st picture is Dad. 2nd is Mum. 3rd was taken through nest box to show Dad's opaline, not good pics sorry.

Hi All, This nest of chicks,( now out in kindy cage) are 3 opaline spangles 1 violet normal. Trying to work out genetics. As I thought Opaline was sex linked, BOTH parents are opaline spangles Mum, Sky Blue, Dad Grey/mauve (my guess only). Where does the violet normal fit? Shouldn't all chicks have been opaline?

Gee that's disappointing Splat. Is your "stiff" little one still going, or improved?