robyn

Good job Anne, maybe expensive but a lesson learned for everybody. The end result is the main thing. Sometimes the smallest things are the biggest threat. Glad you Hen is o.k. now

Really sorry G.B., your little daughter must be a lovely little soul to care so much. It will help her to understand the up's and down's of life though. There will surely be another little bird or animal for her to care for soon. Lots of hugs to all.

Hi Ratsy, If your box isn't messy or wet etc from chicks being fed I wouldn't clean it out very often, I think I did it every week. Depends on how much mess is in the box. I only changed shavings etc. when it got a bit messy with droppings. I think I read some don't touch their box's until chick's are out. I suppose it's personal choice. Sorry your last egg hasn't hatched but 4 from 5 is a good effort. Keep up the good work.

Lovely eh' Ratsy. Still no news egg 5? I'd say it's getting a bit too late now.

Hi All, I am posting some pics , hoping someone can advise me about these birds. They were described previously as, "looks like you doubled up on long feather gene". Well I've read a bit about "is this a mop". also Show birds, general discussion, "what do you think of the tail less wonder's." I'm trying to decide which side of the coin these fall? Pics. as follows. This is the only hen of the clutch. This is back view of sorts of 2,3,&4. The last pics are the boys! note tails? Some "off line" to body as described about mops I think. They did have some tail feathers before they moulted this is what they have now. Hen seems fine. No 4 cock is very messy feather wise, can't fly much rest do o.k. I'd like to know if they are just affected by "long feather gene" or is it something else before I decide to breed any of them. Mum was Cinnamon light green . Dad is Olive cinnamon. Can anyone sayl what differences are, e.g. mops or tail less wonders. Looked up pics on french moult. They don't seem to fit in there. Any advice gratefully received. P.S no 3 has loudest call in aviary also.

Looking good Dave, I did read that a spangle can throw bigger chicks? if your trying to increase size, is this right or not do you know?

Love the little fellow preening, I had one a couple of days out of shell and it was trying to preen, marvelous what is "built in".

picture's not very clear. I am a complete novice at genetics but to me it looks like an opaline sky blue spangle cock. BUT DON'T TAKE MY WORD ON IT, it was just a stab.(p.s did you resize your pics)?P.P.S. Jeddo I think this one should be posted under mutations and genetics. More members would see it there to tell you his mutations. Hope this helps.

Really sorry he's gone down again Hannah, keep him warm and med's up and be on vet's door in the morning. Kep your chin up and finger crossed lovey.

If he's on treatment there could be changes, caused by the treatment. Great news that things are looking up for you. Plus I think Mum needs a great big hug for all her input into his recovery.

Hi Ratsy, About the egg. I would remove it in time but, what is the usual thing with Hen's? Do they toss an egg that is d.in s. say or infertile or do they just sit? I haven't thought about this before Ratsy but someone will know and they could tell the rest of us so we'll all know.

Look's great Lib, only thing, how do you stop birds escaping when you have to go into aviary? Do you have another entrance that we can't see in picture. Also breeding cages are they open at the front when your breeding or how do you access them without losing any birds?

Hi Ratsy, going back over your journal, I think Marigold laid last egg on the 5th. so add the eighteen or so days she is still about on cue so last egg could still be o.k. See how it goes in a day or so. Either way you've got a nice little family going there.

Hi, sometimes I've found they just chew them to pieces, for fun, I suppose. Other times I think hens may chew on them a bit more probably looking for calcium before they start breeding, they chew on everything else about then as well I found. Maybe if you have them in breeding cage they may be in breeding mode, if they are just sharing a cage with no breeding box, I'd say maybe just because they can? Liquid calcium in their water could be a better way of making sure they have enough calcium.

Don't know if ink would upset him, some chemicals can, maybe he's reacting to a new home etc. or noise of printer? If your worried it could be that, keep check next time you print and see if it has the same effect on him. Then take it from there.

Sounds like a great trip if you like to "go bush". Not many mod cons. but peaceful. :budgiedance:

Should have realised that Kaz, after Daz's comment about peacock's!! :budgiedance:

Sounds more promising, now you could have two pairs go down instead of none, if cock wouldn't settle maybe he just wanted to pick his own mate.

Thank's Daz that's cleared that up then. Do they just "do it" when they ruffle their feathers say, or under stress e.g. ?

Hi Liv, Just been reading up on your lovely little F.D's. So sorry you lost them, one of the quirk's of nature I suppose but they were lovely little things.

Thank's Kaz, trying to decide if I like them or not. Sort of remind me of one of the three stooges. ( the one with the basin haircut) l.o.l.

Thank's, I thought someone else might benefit from this as well. Just waiting now to see if he's fertile.

Hi Ratzy, Looks like your going for perfect score. Well done, now your officially a "budgie breeder". Hope to hear, maybe to-morrow last of your clutch has hatched.It's over to Maigold and Skye now to finish the job. Won't be long and you'll be able to tell us colours etc.

I think I know which one now. BUT not being a show breeder I THINK that's what they call the blow? Show breeders can tell you more.

It would be awful if one or the other attacked bubs, are they due to hatch about the same time do you know? You never know, you hear about dogs mothering kittens etc. why not birds, maybe they can co-exist. Here's hoping.