robyn

Hi All, Last year I bred 4 long feather gene chicks Mum & Dad both look like they passed it to chick's so they got a "double dose". My query is would anyone recommend breeding with following cock? He has improved a bit on looks since this picture. his feathers are still pretty messy but he is a nice looking bird otherwise and huge compared to my pet types. I bred his sister, not as badly affected with long feather and she bred nice chicks, (she was paired with smaller pet type cock) If I tried the same with this fellow do you think it would be worth the risk? I am hoping it might reduce the effect of long feather gene but give me bigger sized chicks. Any advice welcome. .

There's a first time for everything they say!!! (It would make a great picture though.) Do you think it will get to the show bench r.i.p.

Yes, i agree. I haven't named my aviary birds but one male has earned the name Randy because he likes to chat up all the girls. I've got a Randy Andy as well. He practically wore out the little ball with bells in it out in the flight. Great pied bird as well but didn't have a spare cage to put him out of his misery.

Hi Dave nice birds, the opalines seem to be larger than others? or at least ones I bred are to some extent.( Pet types only mine.) With the blood line breeding, how do you manage a certain blood line without interbreeding? I'm still working on genetics but haven't got the blood line thing sorted either.

Hi Alpaca boy, cute little fellow you've got. If you want him as a tame house bird. i.e. will sit on your shoulder, maybe learn to talk etc. It is better he is on his own, not becoming part of a "flock" with your others. As long as you give him plenty of company. Check his seed dish for husks to see if he's really eating, if your not sure what others mean about his keel etc. he could starve if he's not cracking seed for himself. If he's inside and covered at night he should be o.k for warmth. Try him with a bit of soft food, mine were into fresh corn cob at that age, a little bit of greens etc to see if he's been eating those as well. Good luck with him and keep posting to see how you go.

Hi Judydun, pics are a bit small to see him clearly. Are both pictures of the same bird? larger picture it looks male but can't tell about his genetics.

Hi and welcome holden012. Cute budgies, you will pick up heaps of good information here.

Sounds like budgie p.m.t. sorry girls.

Well good to know everyone's birds like beetroot, my breeding birds got a lot of sweet corn Hubby grew, look's like I can raid his beetroot next season as well. L.o.L. sshhh!

No Rachelm, just pet shop split rings, so I could colour code nests so I don't pair up siblings or parent-chick etc. Also to know which pair had which chicks, to see what parents are split for. When I get it all worked out. l.o.l. Thats an excellent way of visually knowing who's related. What age do you put the rings on? Sorry Rachelm, I just got back to your query. I put them on from 3-5 days depending on chick, but being split you can ring them at any age I'd say. You get a little tool with rings to help with ringing. :rofl:

Beautiful birds Dave, as a point of interest, looks like you feed yours fresh beetroot? How long does it take to clean up their feathers does the colour stain them.

Hi Alpaca-boy, No's 5.6 & 7 are various shades of mauve? violet? whatever, very pretty soft colours. The camera dosen't pick up true colour in aviary. I suppose they will change at their 3mths moult. Princess's no 1-3 are still same shade of apple green. No Rachelm, just pet shop split rings, so I could colour code nests so I don't pair up siblings or parent-chick etc. Also to know which pair had which chicks, to see what parents are split for. When I get it all worked out. l.o.l.

I'd love to Kaz but I think 50 is about my max. But how do you choose!! I'll be keeping my good breeders though. Hulk, Aquarius and a couple of little hens, they bred the beautiful bubs. can't build on so I'll have to choose soon or not breed anymore, as if!! :rofl:

Hi All, thought I'd finish chick pics. ended with Aquarius no 4Now No 5and 6no78.No 9. has now totally recovered and in aviary.Now hulks'no 6no 7no 8 Will add rest later all are out in Aviary now but haven't taken later pics.adding rest of chicks so far.Pauline's.No 1no 2no 3no 4(really upset, lost this one transfering it from cage in shed to aviary.when startled it took off like an arrow, 1st flight. Haven't been able to locate.) ANOTHER LESSON LEARNT THE HARD WAY. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL I HOPE SOMEONE FOUND IT.No 5Have last one in kindy.No 6 very pale mauve cinn pied.(no picture yet) now Princess's No 1. (DAUGHTER OF QUEENIE) What else!!Won't add next 6 because they are all identical to no 1. :rofl: enjoy.

Glad you got your bud. back. Was he found or just turned up? Lucky you got the redback before it got you!! Oz can be a dangerous place for the unsuspecting visitor. L.O.L. :rofl:

Looks like normal behaviour Comet, even in kindy cage mine can still "huddle" when the human approaches. Try to observe them where you can't be seen and see if there is a difference in behaviour. Kaz has recommended removing all bedding and replacing it with seed only, when oldest are about 2 week's. This has worked a treat with mine, they seem to leave nest box earlier and are eating when they do so. Worth a try. :rofl: see picture.

Congrats Rachelm, Hard to say which is the cutest, bird or baby. Well done. :rofl:

Hi Jodie, I'm not up with genetics either but I remember reading spangle to spangle, you don't get all spangle offspring. I did breed a similar green cock sp. blue to a spangle,(split nearly-everything) hen and got some beautiful spangle chicks. Just found this it may explain better Spangles are another Dominant variety. They appear in all colours and varieties, and they have the same breeding pattern as the Dominant Pied ie., they produce 50% Spangles when paired to a non-Spangle partner and again they cannot be split for Spangle. In the Green series they have a bright green body colour, however, the wing markings differ from Normals in that the black and yellow wing markings of the Normals are reversed in the Spangle, they are yellow and black instead. The other peculiar feature of the Spangle is the fact that when two Spangles are paired together you get some of the young devoid of the normal Spangle markings. In the case of the Greens they are yellow all over, including the wings, whereas Blue series are all white. The correct definition for such a bird is a Double Factor Spangle

Hi Anne, Haven't been on much lately just caught up a bit. Glad to see "Kaz" is looking so much better than I saw last time. Great work, glad others a going great guns as well. Another little learning curve accomplished.

Great pics, it's a real thrill when one decides your not so scary after all.

Great looking birds Lib, Mine are eating green's straight out of nest as well. I think it could be from parents having plenty of greens when feeding chicks.

"WOW" lovely birds Kaz.

Hi G.B. I'm not up with show standards, they are great looking chicks from my point of view.

Hi Ashley, It sure is exciting to have your first chick hatch. Mum will naturally push chick under her to keep warm, they know by instinct how to rear them, you would be more worried if Mum didn't cover chick as it would die from cold etc. Your hen and cock as well, will look after them just enjoy and learn. Mum will feed chick it won't look like much at first just a bit of creamy liquid in crop. Day by day you'll see the crop fuller. Just give parents extra soft food and clean water as well as usual seed diet. If you haven't already, after all eggs hatch, you can add nest material, wood shavings, rolled oats etc.to nest box.