robyn

Adding a couple more.

Real cutie, don't take it as gospel, I think they say if you want a bird to learn to talk etc. don't give it a mirror. Check this with others though! He look's right at home already.

:thumbs_up: Why am I getting red x's ? good picture Rachelm, funny the things they find to amuse themselves!!

Beautiful chick and love the sky-blue in background of this picture as well.

Pretty chicks, is Mum opaline or Dad? Look's like at least 2 are opaline. Pics are a bit small to tell.

Nice birds, glad your Cobalt? cock came good. Hope your chicks turn out well.

Thank you Pride, I've got some lovely pied's this year. Alpaca B. , I managed to get a few (6) show stock birds, 1 was lost from aviary, 1 died, 2 had long feather gene chicks,1 Aquarius had hormone problem (has 6 eggs again now) , 1 Is Mum to last 4 chicks.in post she is sky -blue spangle.( plus she is fostering 2) What I have been trying is pairing my small pet type birds with the larger show stock birds. I bought Hulk (Dad of first 8) at a pet shop. I think he is show stock and he has bred the beautiful chicks in first pics. His mate is only a small hen, but they make beautiful babies!! So I am going now on the past chicks each has bred, to give me a guide as to what each is split for etc. I'm hopeless at the genetic thing, so I'm just having fun trying to improve my birds colours etc. p.s. have 8 others nearly out of kindy. + 12 eggs so far from 2 box's.

Great result, What does it matter if you can't pick it later, a healthy live chick is better than the alternative any day!!

Thank's everyone, really strong colours from first nest Dad is a Gr Normal/Blue. (I think) and no 5 chick ( picture 7) is a clone of Mum.

Some of my new bubs. These 8 are from same nest. These 4 are from another nest not yet fully fledged. Pet bird's only but I'm very pleased with them so far.

Lovely chicks, I've got some very similar but haven't got to post pics yet.

To add to the confusion ,Waaaay back, you mentioned you gave your birds lettuce and APPLE-----I think if memory serves me right APPLE SEEDS are toxic so make sure you don't leave seed in when giving them apple.

An update on hormone problem. After reading Dean's reply I thought I'd give Aquarius another try. Paired him with a known good breeding hen, 10 days later 1st egg!! We now have 4 eggs. Candled eggs to-day at least 2 are showing veins so I'm keeping everything crossed on some live chicks. His cere is still showing partly brown some blue returning. He just finished moulting before pairing so wondered if cere changed during moult?

Hi Libby, just wondered if you have more fertile eggs in nest? If so can you post, just to see if hen decides to feed any new chicks or not.

Wow! when I started to read Kaz's reply I thought she was pulling Splats leg. l.o.l. (should have known better) I have never heard of this either. Thank's for the post Splat as G.B. said you learn something new every day. Another thing for the memory bank if it ever occurs.

Hi Erin, Sounds like everything is working out. Liv said little ones can get crushed, I worried about mine, I'd look in and count, one missing, pick up bigger chicks and there is little one under all of them, put it to one side for a bit of room, straight back in under the rest. Now I just leave them to it with fingers crossed.

Hi Glad your dog is o.k. I'm not up with sexing birds until they are at least, say 6mths, l.o.l. but it looks like you could have some white flights coming so maybe favouring Mum? Not to be picky, your third picture, chicks claws were pretty "gunky" if you can gently clean them off so it doesn't affect it's claws for perching etc. they can lose nails if they not cleared.

Hi all, Just urging everyone to check toxic plant list before giving birds new things. Sis with a few pet birds just e-mailed about her 2 babies and Dad dying overnight. The only thing they did was give them a BRACKEN FERN LEAF all parts are toxic on the list. Just pays to check. Sent on list for her to check next time, could save a lot of heartache.

Cheer up, Dean & Splat, better times ahead. Things seem to go in cycles don't they so maybe yours is on the upturn now. I just released 12 beautiful babies into aviary to-day only pet type, 12 more in nests I have had great season so far lost a couple of eggs MY FAULT and 1 chick so I am counting my blessings.

Hi Erin, are your birds pet type or show? I don't have show birds but I've had clutch's of 9 rared in one nest. Provided parents have plenty of food, seed soft food veg's etc. they should be fine.Do you colony breed or cage? that makes a big difference. You'll find littlies tuck in under bigger chicks and come to no harm.

Very pretty, should be lovely after first moult. When, going on mine, it will probably change again.

Hi, do you now have 3 or 4 chicks? If 4 then all your eggs were fertile I think? Bad luck with first bubs but looking good now it seems.

Hi S.& C, this may help with your query. This is a picture of my long feather gene cock bird Ratty, taken while they are feeding young, then no 2 picture with his partner Cher. Didn't know whether to breed him or not. They have rared 2 chicks of their own + 4 fostered. This is his first chick out of nest into kindy cage. I think it worked by breeding him to small hen it seems to have reduced long feather gene. What do others think.

I also had a nest with 3 splayed chicks. BECAUSE OF PLASTIC INSERT. I fixed all 3, after trying make up sponge (mine kept falling and lying on one side). With a bit of patience I used pipe cleaners, a loop around one led fairly snug so it couldn't pull foot out figure 8 stlye loop around other leg, tight enough to align hip's in position, I did mine around ankle but others say ABOVE KNEE so they can get around better. I left mine on for nearly a week I think, checking every couple of days to see if it was working as legs align you can tighten loop a bit to keep in position. Mine are now flying around have bred young of their own, you can't pick them from other birds. Depending on age and severity of splay, mine were nearly 2 weeks in one case and really splayed, it's worth trying if mine came good in my first breeding season anyone else could try before destroying possible great birds. Hope this helps.

Hi, have you bred any chicks yet or are you just starting? I have a pied very similar to yours I'm thinking of pairing her up soon. :hi: