robyn

Great job!! Post some more pics later so we can see how "orphie" turns out.

Hi Annie, It's just about hatch time, don 't forget to keep us posted with any results.

Great chicks Kaz. I'm with Annie, couple of candidates for b.o.m. there.

Nice pics Kaz, mine do the same thing, if you try to mist them with a hose though, they duck for cover????

Here's one,( baby) not a good picture to show yellow.

Hi Crystal Rose, I am a bit further up coast from you, yes it's been colder this year I think. My birds are not breeding now BUT if I had nestbox's in they would. They are all excited and finding mates in aviary. I can't breed now because my aviary is not big enough for more birds. If your aviary is similar to photo posted, you would not have enough room for more birds. Once 1 or 2 of your pairs breed you could end up with another 10 or more chicks as well. So before I bought in more birds I'd see how many you breed up. Like me you probably have to sell some as your cage will be to small.

Cute pics, lovely chicks as well.

WOW, WOW ,& WOW.I don't know show birds Kaz but he's a beauty. I love the pied's.

Beautiful bird Neville, lovely colouring. I bred similar with Rec pied and Violet opaline hen. Beautiful colours from that nest as well.

Lovely picture Squeak_Crumble, congratulations, chick should be lovely when it matures.

I'd like to see a lacewing.

Hi Annie, I had some clutch's of 9 & 10. That's a bit much for birds to manage, I fostered out a couple, one pair still raised 8 on their own. It will depend on how many eggs are fertile, you may only get a few hatch or all. Either way they should be fine. :laughter: It's all a good experience for future breeding. One nest is easier to manage than a lot of them at once. :laughter:

Hi Naomi, If skin isn't broken there shouldn't be any infection, a few days should see bruising settle. Just keep an eye out for any changes so you can act quickly if need be.

Hi Daisy Girl, Mice can carry disease into your cage and seed. Is his breathing rapid, tail bobbing etc or can you hear any squeak when he breath's? Is he covered in cage or is it open, drafts can be a big worry as well. Others may be able to advise more with a bit more info. on symptoms. Can you put him indoors under heat etc or not?

Hi All, This is a bit off the theme but, my birds waste an awful lot of seed when raising chicks. I've watched them and they seem to rake it all out of feeders onto floor as if looking for particular seed. Does anyone know what is the preferred seed when feeding? I can't tell from watching them and thought I could add more of that particular seed if I knew what to add, if that makes sense? Anyway, Squeak _Crumble, we all make mistakes we could kick ourselves for. You had the g***t's to admit your's on here, good luck with your new routine I'm sure your birds can only benefit. I have never used a crop needle so can't advise on that, I suppose it's like riding a bike if you fall off, you have to get back on or you never will. Keep working on it and I'm sure you'll win in the end.

Hi Annie, As Kaz said six is fine. I had 2 nests of 9 & 10.( I did foster 3 of them to help parent's.) You will find as they hatch the tiny ones dissapear under the larger chicks with no problem's. They are tougher than they look.

Hi Annie, Can't help with what time eggs hatch. Mine seemed to hatch early to mid morn but that could just be coincidence. More abservant breeders may be able to tell you. I don't think you need extra blanket. Once chick is hatched and Mum feed's it she should cover it, that's all warmth they need. It's only if you get one hatch that isn't noticed and not covered you might have trouble. Adding wood shavings, oats etc. will help with warmth as well. Check as early as you can each day during hatching, if you find a chick in trouble you may be able to help if your quick enough. Warming it in hands, blowing warm air on it, I even gave one that I found gasping, a couple of drops of warm water and sugar from eye dropper, which it took, put it back under Mum and it survived.

Hi Annie, just caught up again,(visitors), sounds like you are doing everything you can, now it's up to the bird's. Mum will keep eggs warm. I'd just continue on and wait until eggs hatch. Which they will if mother nature says so!! Once chick's hatch, if they hatch overnight and aren't covered you may have a problem BUT one step at a time. It should be a bit warmer if they are in cages within aviary anyway. Don't worry until there's something to worry about. Know you did your best and that's all you can do. :rofl: Keep us posted with results. :question:

Hi, Is you aviary covered? Is your cage still within Aviary? With nest box's under cover I found the heat generated in nest box with a few chicks was amazing. Mine bred Aug. last year only lost one because Mum hadn't covered it overnight. If she's only just laid it will be into mid July when they should hatch. My theory is if Mum keeps eggs warm during winter she should also keep chicks warm. Since it's already in progress just take it as it come's I'd say. I added wood shavings when my chick's started to hatch. Good luck with it, I know you can get some hum-dinger frost's around your area, finger's crossed it's o.k. :bump:

Sounds good now A.boy. You will probably find his colour changes again after his first moult. About 3 mths. when he moults out his baby bars. Glad that he's definately eating so he's off to a good start now. Keep up the good work. :what: P.S "Banjo" sounds good.

"Things" as in worms? mites, sores? I presume you mean skin on bottom. Is he moulting, it's a bit hard to tell. If you could give a bit more information it will help. Is it bothering him, biting, pulling feathers etc. :what:

Thanks Dean, I have a skyblue opaline spangle hen, from a show breeders cull, I haven't bred with yet. Don't know about that pairing. Otherwise it would have to be pet/show hen.

Thank's Clearwing, I've been toying with the idea as his father is a very nice Olive Cinnamon, this one is bigger than Dad so I thought maybe worth a try. Just have to find the right hen now.

Thank's Kaz, I only have hanging seed trays and the seed loss is minimal. I have vacuumed up husk and blew it to see how much seed was on floor and it was very little. I was concerned about illness, if it is dry and poop lands on top of husk I suppose birds would still pick at it as they do now. I didn't think of hens nesting, I have seen birds scratching around in what husk builds up along wall now, like chickens, picking it over for waste seed I suppose.

Hi All, Does anyone use the "deep litter" method on aviary floors ( I think that's what it's called) Leaving husk on floor of aviary instead of clearing it away? I get a plastic bucket full of husk off floor each clean out, is there any risk and or benefit from this method? I though maybe it could improve warmth and sound proofing to some extent but would like others views. My floor is paved at the moment, I suppose you would rake it over like a sand based floor, and remove any old greens etc naturally. Any thoughts welcome.