robyn

Hi G.B. I'm with Kaz type of "monkey see monkey do" if she's left with other chicks and sees them eating, and Mum doesn't come for a while, maybe she will give it a go. even overnight, so she can feed with others at early morn' pick?

Hi all, I am trying to decide what I might get by pairing these two birds: This one or with I think Mum of pied might be mauve not grey. birds 1&2 are brothers. Would it be possible to get any clearwings with this pairing? If not can anyone say what might throw clearwings. I'm still all at sea with genetics.

Thank's ratsy, it was just something new that I hadn't noticed before, I keep watch to see if I can work it out.

Hi again, As G.B. said particle board or m.d.f will swell it could crumble after it dries out. It might see out the clutch you've got now. If it stays o.k. you could reuse it depending on how bad it is. If you can get rid of the mildew it would be better, as I don't think it would be good for the birds. See how it goes over a few days and take it from there. Hope this helps a bit. Cheers

Hi. just reading post, if you have sprayed nest box's maybe they are absorbing the moisture, the black spots could be mildew e.g. If your box's are m.d.f. or chipboard it may not be good as it would be permanently damp for chicks. The humidity inside could be a worry.

Hi G.B., Have you taken any more pics of your lacewing yet? How is it looking now? :rofl:

Hi and welcome, I had friends who used to take their bird with them. They had cage between seats when traveling and hung cage in annex when they camped. If you have annex etc. to keep predator's out should be o.k. but if birds were in caravan while you were away, (bush-walking etc.) you would have to watch for heat stress if they were shut in. Enjoy!!

Hi Ratsy, I haven't given mine bread but I suppose multi-grain or whatever would do. It's getting close to first egg due now isn't it? Couple more days or so. Have you got some wood shavings etc. on hand to add to breeding box after chicks hatch. My dad's went mad on green food spinach etc plus extra seed when they started to feed chicks so that's good to have as well. :rofl: for...

Hi All, For the last few days my dark eyed clear hen has been sitting "flipping"? her wings. It's like she's going to fly but doesn't. Doing it repeatedly out in flight or in aviary on perch. Is this a sort of breeding behaviour or what? I haven't noticed any others do it. :rofl:

We kissed and made up days ago....none of us are at odds with each other :laughter: Bravo!!!

Good question Kaz , maybe it's just birds of a feather. Mine seem to have chat sessions, forage sessions, play sessions etc. Maybe learned behaviour as my young ones seem to be leading my older birds. I put chicks out in flight, gave them new foods etc from fledging, whereas my old birds didn't seem interested in those things before chicks started.

Sorry to come on so far down the track, BUT, I presume that birds are similar to race horses, only one in a million becomes a champion. As a complete "backyard breeder". I will probably never (to 0ld to start now) go into show birds. I nevertheless bought from a show breeders cull. Just to improve my pet types into better looking and sized birds.I am having fun trying to work out what I can breed to MAYBE get e.g. clearwings, pieds etc. JUST FOR THE FUN OF THE EXPERIMENT. My only intention was to have an aviary of pretty budgies I can enjoy and if I choose to breed a few more to sell to "the Public" pets have to come from somewhere. DON'T TAKE YOURSELVES SO SERIOUSLY, guys and think back to why you started your hobby??? in the first place. Now let's all kiss and make up and blame it on the weather eh!!! Talk about mountains and molehills. Least said soonest mended etc. :laughter: JUST MY OPINION, MIND.

I have a mix of pet types/show stock birds. Certain times of the day it's like "o.k. everyone on the floor". Usually late afternoon, they forage around, have a poo pick as I call it and go for whatever seed heads vege's etc on floor. I've tried hanging veg'e etc but they just toss it all out and go to ground. They just seem to have a social get-together on the floor, through choice I think. But none "live" on the floor. All come in from the flight to roost of their own accord to the perches so I now leave door between open, so first light they can get out if they want or chat, indoors.

Looking back at first picture she looks like she has pin feathers coming "ingrownFeather" maybe? Can birds get that, like ingrown hair in us?

Hi all, Have been following this and I'm with Kaz. If this particular cyst was caused from a seed it shouldn't be "in the gene's" should it? I think I'd risk breeding from her if she comes good. If it was a seed it would be like getting a festering sore from a thorn e.g.? Shame not to breed if she's a good bird. Just my opinion.

Don't worry about candling then Ratsy, just keep check. I was shocked with my first time Mum's last year, one laid 8 a second one laid 9, they raised 7 and 5 chicks.So there could be more to come!!

It works for me, so far Splat when I'm not up on genetics, it helps me identify what I have bred. l.o.l.

Hi G. B., back in Nov I posted about my last lot of chicks. They were all feathers also and advice was, I had doubled up on long feather gene? I had four, 2 look pretty good now, last 2 are still "loose" feathered and one has short tail as if it's moulted out AND one has a very distinct loud chirp.They were very slow compared to others coming out of nest and very clumsy fliers as well.Their feathers arn't still growing like the pics of mops I saw. Maybe yours has a similar problem? Mine aren't for show so I don't mind, I just watch if I breed from them. Hope yours turn out o.k. (my parents were both big show stock olive cinnamon & gr Cinnamon). Thought this might be a clue.

Do you record all pet types or only show? I have a small photo album of each pair I bred last year, pets only. Then added a picture of chicks, after they flew the nest. It's easier for me to check out their colours, what the parent's were and what they might be split to etc. I have a nest box card slipped in with each pairs pictures. I have coloured rings for each nest as well to keep track. Keep other info. on comp. worming, medications,any problems etc.

Right on target, every two days.

Hi Ratsy, Great picture of Marigold, I wouldn't go worrying about adding nesting stuff now, If she starts getting stressed she'll go kicking her eggs around and you'll end up with addled eggs and no chicks at the end. Mine kicked all nesting stuff out every time I put it in. UNTIL CHICKS HATCHED. Then she didn't worry about it.After they started to hatch, you could gently put in some, wood shavings, rolled oats etc. (only $1 or No Name quick or rolled oats) etc. enough so the nest box isn't slippery for the chicks to get a hold on. Marigold will keep her eggs turned and tucked in under her until then. She looks like she's "on the job" and mother knows best. Great job so far!!

Sounds like things are progressing normally now Ratsy, as you've only got one pair breeding, it will give you the chance to observe the whole cycle without it being a lot of work for you. I suppose your back at school now, so you will be pretty busy I imagine. Keep up the good work .

Don't know about a 12mm gap Rodiss, but years ago my kids came racing in and said a tiger snake was in the toilet. It was an outdoor country "dunny" and it was coiled around the beam above the door!! they don't have legs but can still get in high places. Hanging perches could still be at risk.

Hi Ratsy, Just started reading your post. Great news about your first egg. Now don't get tooo... anxious about things just let Mum and Dad do their thing. I know it's very exciting but you have to be patient. She should lay every 2 days or so but as it's your first clutch? (I think) try not to be overly intrusive. Make sure you keep your records, dates etc. so you'll have an idea when first chick is due. Good luck with it all and keep posting with any problems. . Your off on your breeding adventure.

Thank's 'maesie' I thought if they eat carrot the seed might be o.k. BUT I remembered they can have apple but not the seed. So am a bit wary.( p.s. Hubby pulled them out before I could try them, so it's a wasted exercise now) But would like to put in memory bank for future ref. I'll still use sunflower.