robyn

Hi All, Just a few pics of my babies 1st outing to flight, other birds shut away so they could test their wings. These 7 first in kindy cage. More Spangles to come. This one looks y.f. mauve? cinnamon opaline, so Dad's hiding Cinnamon as well Mum sky blue normal. Some more lovely pied's in nest. Last one is beautiful apple green, cinnamon. Her Mum was mother to long feather chicks last season. This one plus 2 still in nest look great. Other two look identical at this stage. Relly pleased with outcome so far.

Sounds strange SunshineE, Do you think parents could have "overfed" or been to rough with their feeding and ruptured something? It may have had a blockage in it's crop and no food could get passed, which I'd say without food for 3 days or so, if it stopped growing maybe it starved, it wouldn't take long for a young chick. I hope someone else has seen this in case any of us come across it. Good luck with rest of clutch and keep us posted if you find out what caused the first death. :laughter:

How long since you bought him/her? Maybe whatever the green was has faded and left stain on the feathers? Has it moulted since you've had it or has the green just faded. If it is new feathers maybe as others have said could be infection. :rofl:

I'll say Ratsy they are starting to look a bit frazzled!! Great parents though, after Aquarius's probs. and only a little hen they've done a terrific job. Hulk as well he's with first time Mum, pet type, both great parents. She toss's out babies droppings etc, make me feel my housekeeping's not good enough for her.(the 2 pied's are their's) hope to get more pics as they feather up more. :rofl:

Great picture, Lealotta congratulations. Your series of pics made a great little unique story. :rofl:

Hi Alana, If he's only six months old it may mend itself as he's still growing, provided it's not broken right through. If it's just a crack and he's eating o.k. he may be alright, but I'd be leaving him in so he' can't damage it further. Other's may have experience with this that can help further. Finger's crossed he mends well.

Hi Sean, Depending on the variety of tree you have, I don't think it would be much good in a pot. Does it give you size etc on tag.? They are native trees here an Australia. Not much fertilizer unless native plant type. Can grow into huge trees or smaller but still trees, not shrubs usually. If you can post variety etc someone could advise on best way to go. My birds love fresh young leaves and small branch's to chew.

Agree with G.B. now Anne, she's looking great heaps better than last picture. Funny how each Hen, or Cock for that matter, have their own way of doing things. Some are great first time and other's not.

Thank's again Kaz, Took them out again to-day and they both pied's have coloured patches on chests, 2 nearly identical as first pied picture. of Hulks others looking very pretty as well. Your trick with seed only is working, first one popped out of box Sat. 1 more to-day (foster nest) and 1 from Aquarius's own nest.Eating green'setc as well.

Hi Hayden, Birds will let you know when they are ready to breed if you look for the signs. If YOUR READY AND PREPARED FOR THEM TO BREED you will be sucessful, read all you can about breeding and what set up you need etc. there is heaps of information on this under budgie breeding/how to raise chicks etc. Only when your confident you've got things right then add your breeding box to your cage and take it from there. Keep posting to find answers to any problem's as you go. p.s great job learning how to post picture's, told you you could do it!!!

Thank's G.B. getting some pretty spangles from Aquarius, some are y. face others look like mauve/ greys cant tell yet. Also very pretty pied's from Hulk's nest.

Sorry you lost other eggs Anne. Maybe you could try hen again, I had one last season who was totally scatty, kicked eggs everywhere, etc. only hatched 4 from 9 eggs. This season she's terrific, she has my foster chicks (3) and her own 3 and this time can't fault her. First time Mum's might take a while to settle.

Hi Deb, do you know how long before eggs were due to hatch? Finger's crossed some will survive.

Great news Anne, If she's started to feed her I don't think she would stop now. Any news on other eggs?

Thank's Anne, Kaz's hint about putting seed in box seems to be working a treat. It's only four days or so and "she" I think is out of nest. I've added seed to others as well but they are a few days behind.

Look what I found this morning!! Aquarius's oldest chick, bit fuzzy but... not just out of nest but eating seed and spinach as calm as you like. Hatched 1-4-2010.( so 4 week's to the day.) These 2 are Hulk's chick's. Hatched 4 & 5th April respectfully. both have clear flights and seem to have solid body colour.

Hi, just asking if anyone has known hen's to break chicks out early on LAST eggs? Two I've lost were last of clutch, both overnight hatchings, Hulks chick still had a white membrane around it but had died. Aquarius's had sort of hatched but stuck to shell both a day early to my records. Not yellow belly looking just dead. Good luck with your pinky's anne. :hmm:

Hi mcmac. Sounds pretty normal for 2 week old's they huddle together like that but they would be too young to come out of nest box? I presume that's what you mean? Mum will go back and forth to feed etc but she probably will leave them "to stretch her legs" so to speak during the day. Leave box where it is and see that Mum and Dad are still going in to feed the chick's. They will start to poke their heads out of box etc soon. Are they nearly feathered? If so they should be fine during day Mum will still go in at night I think. Keep check and see how you go. Post again for more help if needed. :hmm:

Good luck with it Anne, Thank you to Dean, for his explanation of yellow-belly for those of us who haven't encounted it as yet. (touch wood) This will give us a clue if we see it. Hi splat, can yellow belly be passed from cage to cage or is it individual parent's that may pass it on?Would you treat all birds or just infected nest? :hmm:

Hi Hayden, To answer your question from whenever.... If you can't put perch/s in above or as high as breeding box. Just try to position them as far from the entrance as you can. Making sure they can still use perch. If that doesn't work just put them in and hope for the best. If it's just one pair the hen may not worry if it's only her mate that can look in. Still have a go at working out photobucket, it's worth it in the long run. Good luck with it and keep posting, so we know how you get on.

Hi Hayden, Don't give up on using photo bucket. Try, try, again. Did it let you join? If so that's a start. If not, can't Dad e.g. sign up for it and then you go from there? A bit further down the track you will want to add pics of your new chick's etc won't you? If you can't master photo bucket it won't happen. LET US KNOW WHERE YOUR AT WITH IT, so we can help more.

Hi Pika, Totally agree with Kaz on using AQUEOUS IODINE. Had big issue's with one of my bird's and this totally cured the problem. At least if it's in their water you know they are getting it. I now add it to all my aviary water so I know they are all getting it instead of relying on iodine bells etc.

Thank's Kaz, I've only been putting a handful or so into box but it sort of dissapears into shavings etc. so I'll try it seed only because Mum and Dad are working hard to keep up. Do you add gum, or bottlebrush etc to breeding cages? I gave mine a bit of bottlebrush yesterday which they demolished. Is there any harm to chick's while they are young? P.S. Love your baby picture's

Thank's Kaz. I have changed nest material twice this week, I have woodshavings in all nestbox's and change it every few days. This box seems to get more wet, muddy type mush in bottom than others. I've been replacing it with fresh shavings for little chick's benefit. With 7 chick's it doesn't take long to get messy. I added rolled oats one day but it seemed to make it worse. Mum keeps throwing out new stuff so, I think, she think's she's going another round. I've got new's for her!!. It's too cold now for another lot and after 9 chick's they have done their bit for the budgie population. By adding seed to box is it just to encourage chick's to forage or just for the cleanliness of box? I have added a handful or so of seed to box's for oldest but haven't shown any interest so far that I know of.

Ya!! finally got something in memory bank. Thank's Kaz.