Amy S

More pictures of my babies Chick 1 - couldn't get enough decent pics - most turned out blurry for this baby Chick 2 - managed to get a few decent photos without them being blurry Chick 3 - this one I seem to get the most photos from I've been trying to get some full body shots of them without my having to hold them, but they are rather curious and prefer to look and peek around at things than keep still hahaha

Gorgeous chicks and photos Finnie. You always have fantastic photos Chick #1 from Donovan and Finnie has a beautifully clear mantle! I love this chick

I missed this!! I didn't even know it was on - actually I probably did but baby brain has well and truly taken over Was it in the magazine Kaz? Those birds are stunning - LOVE the first cock. Congratulations on your achievements Kaz! That's brilliant - Your Cobalt is fantastic (I'm biased blue is my favorite colour ahaha) but in all seriousness - they are some fantastic birds!

I shall be getting some more photos tomorrow I can't stop taking photos but alot seem to look the same so I only put the best ones on here. Took the chicks out for a bit today as I thought mum and dad had been fighting. put dad in the aviary, and kept mum in the cabinet to have a little bit of respite - she had blood on her face and on her legs. I checked her over, it was a toe that was the main cause of the blood so on goes the pepper and so far all good. Turns out it wasn't dad at all but one of my other hens who had gotten into the breeding side of the aviary (aviary is split in half) and they had been fighting through the wire. I placed the rogue hen back in her side of the aviary. I believe it may have been my fault she managed to get into the breeding side as I missed seeing her slip through the door. Oops I then put dad back in with mum, topped up all three chicks until they were almost bursting, so they didn't harass mum and dad for food and then placed them back in the nest box. Turns out the chicks decided that they were absolutely dying of starvation and demanded to be fed or threatened to tumble out of the nest box Checked everyone tonight and all is well. Mum's wounds are doing okay, dad was doing fatherly duties with one chick and the other two chicks were hollering away waiting their turn

Ahh okay, no worries This makes heaps of sense and its good to know in case it happens with my birds

Oh gosh wow that's fascinating! How amazing to be able to track the genes back for so long and to have results from those genes come out now. It's lucky that RIP has the chick and understands the genes from it - instead of someone who may have had the birds and had no idea. hmmm does that make sense? Are there pictures? Would be cool to see

It is? Last time I checked with my husband he said I'm the one who has to deal with the bad stuff... What you're saying is something that is a stereotype. Out of me,my family and my friends that I know of, there has only been one person who's partner "copped it" and that was because she had Prenatal depression . If someone came on here and saw that you had written that, they'd be devastated - being depressed would be bad enough, but to think that you're causing someone grief would make it so much worse. it's not something that you can always control If a bloke was to cop it - there is usually a reason behind it - depression, Hormones, emotions, etc. No offence, but until you have actually experienced pregnancy (assuming you haven't because of your age, though I know it can happen), its probably not something you should say - even if it is meant as a joke because alot of people including myself take that seriously. Majority of us are nothing like that at all. Sorry if my post offends anyone at all. Hard and fast rules get people into trouble. I think the one above is a great example of a rule that could lead to trouble. Last breeding season I had one pair that had 4 good chicks and both parents did a great job. In the 2nd round they had only 2 chicks, one which I had to euthanase, so only 1 chick remained. Since both parents were there feeding her, she got the best and most nutrition she could handle, and thus she is the best bird I have bred, and the parents were both in good condition once she fledged. They were ready for round 3 when i stopped them. The point of my meandering story is that to ensure the hen does not overdo it, causing herself strain, it is best to leave the cock there if you can, in my humble opinion. Anyway back on topic: I agree with this. My violet cock has been a fantastic dad and partner - if he wasn't in there, then I think the hen may possibly do more than just pluck the chicks, no matter how gentle she actually is. With him there, she is relaxed and very easy going - and is not looking worse for wear with feeding and warming the chicks BUT if any of my cocks were to be a nuisance, I think if the hen was coping, I'd remove him to make sure the eggs get the best chance of hatching and hope she does well without him. I'd hate having a nuisance cock - I'm yet to experience it and I'm sure it will happen one day

Thanks Kaz I can't wait to see them fully feathered. They are so friendly, I guess they take after their mum. Chick 2 - All fluff and pins This one seems to be copping the plucking the most poor thing - I may take it out so the feathers grow better. Chick 3 - Pins and fluff Feathering up They're all blues (obviously with a Visual Violet dad and White DF mum) - Chick 1 is quite a lilac/lavender colour, Chick 2 seems to be colouring up as sky (I think) and Chick 3 looks to be cobalt at this stage. I think I have two hens and a cock, but I'm just guessing. Hi 5 if I get some hens. I know the assumed sky is Opaline. All are spangles. Anyone want to guess on colours? I know they don't show enough of their colours yet, but hey it's fun trying to work them out. All photos are taken without a flash and they are in natural light.

I haven't updated this for awhile so I thought I had best do so I have three chicks out of the 6 eggs they had. I did have 5 chicks and one DIS but sadly the two youngest have not made it. The youngest of all I ended up starting to hand rear, but after a week and a bit I realised there was something wrong as the poor thing had not grown at all ( not even a slight bit - was the same as when it came out of the egg) and felt the best option for it was euthanasia. So that left four healthy little chicks in the nest, peeping loudly for food. I check them morning and night. The next morning I went out to check them and all was well - four overstuffed chicks looking like they were about to burst. Later in the day I went to check, again all was well. Following morning I went to check and found the youngest of the four had passed away - crop was completely empty and it looked a bit dehydrated - the other three chicks were bursting to overflowing point so I think maybe it didn't get a chance to be fed over night? Not too sure as it had seemed healthy the day before. Sad but I guess it wasn't meant to be to have all the chicks. Least I have three gorgeous, inquisitive little bundles of peeping feathers which I handle every day to get used to humans. okay PICTURES!!! We all love them so here they are - Warning LOTS of photos Mum has been a bit of a plucker unfortunately but apart from that she has been brilliant looking after the chicks All four chicks Curious little one Couldn't resist a little cuddle Chick 1 - When it was still fluff and pin feathers Chick one feathering up I'll post pics of chicks 2 and 3 if someone can reply to the thread

You already know my thoughts on this. It's beautiful and I think you should go for it. In all honesty, what have you got to lose? Alot of your budgies, yes BUT You're going to have lovely fresh air, a beautifully old wonderful house, relaxation and RETIREMENT Plus you still get to have budgies. I'm 150% behind you all the way with this - I'd do it in a second if I could. I think it's probably one of the best things you could do *nod nod*

Ohh Finnie, I'm sorry to hear your little Finnie seems so unwell. I'm afraid I am unable to help with what may be going on with her, but want you to know I hope she gets better I was wondering though - if Donovan isn't feeding the chicks - could you possibly put them in with another hen and her chicks? Foster them out maybe? How did you try feeding them? When I first started feeding my littlest one - I used a syringe and dribbled the food into the corner of it's mouth. It sucked it up quickly and eagerly, but unfortunately I euthanised it as after a week it wasn't growing at all - it stayed the same size as when it came out of the egg. The other little one I crop fed but now it's back in it's nest box with mum. I'm sorry I'm not much help

I reckon a budgie :rofl: HAHAHA sorry I'm in a strange mood! When I first saw the pictures I thought hen with how pale the whiteish blue was, but coming onto a different computer - it shows more purple and blue around the cere. I say wait a bit longer until it matures more and then guess again :rofl:

I have the fifth and final baby pinkie Arrived yesterday and I'm pretty sure it's a little cock. Left mum and dad to it yesterday. Went to check on them this morning and found the littlest pinkie in the corner of the nest box cold and empty. I picked him up and blew on him, he came to life so I took him inside gave him a feeding (he has had 4 feeds now) At the moment he is in a measuring cup, which is inside an insulated coffee mug and down my top as it was the only thing I could find that maintained my body heat. He is finally peeping which he wasn't doing when I first picked him up. When he is a little bit stronger I shall place him back with mum as I hope she will look after him considering he can peep and squeak for food now. Here are some photos All five pinkies - can see the size difference between them Mum coming in to check on them, and huddle over them - she even liked a little cheek rub from me My little pinkie after I gave him a feed

I added seed to the nest box before there were even any eggs - the hen didn't throw any of it out at all and the babies seem okay with it. I didn't have any bran or oats so I improvised with the seed.

It was a dangerous thing to do, my looking at the catalogue - I have found 17 birds I am interested in!!! :sadsorry: oops

ooh ooh I think I might just have me a sneal peak at this I really shouldn't but well who can pass up on budgies? hahaha

awww shucks Kaz, thank you - when you put it like that I guess a lady can't refuse can she? Hopefully I can help you one day too You are a beautiful lady - Thank you for putting it into that type of perspective for me.

I have some spare breeding cages you can borrow if you like Amy Oh Kaz what a lovely generous offer, but I couldn't do that. I'd love to of course, but I can't do that - you have been more than generous with your knowledge and help and I haven't given you anything in return.....except for constant question asking and stuff May sound silly but I'm a giver not a taker and I really feel you have done so much to help me already. I could hire them off you though that would make me feel heaps better and could accept your lending them to me that way. Does that make me sound like a goose?

I knooooow it's wildly exciting Another pinkie has arrived today - very new looking, tiny and perfect, has been fed and is bundled up with it's siblings.

I can't help you with much but maybe you could refer her to this website so she can see all the information we have to offer I hope things work out for her

Early pinkie has survived the night and has a full crop - will try take photos later Also have another egg beginning to hatch - I think it's also a bit early but I am hoping it will arrive tomorrow or saturday.

Another pinkie has arrived...but I think it has arrived too early as it's belly is yellow Fingers crossed it will be okay though

Those two are my favorite pictures too Finnie Everytime I've seen them, they seem to do the same sort of thing - like twins! But not hahaha I have another pinkie on the way! Third egg is in process of hatching The two babies are doing well - being fed well to the point of almost bursting - I will have to take a photo of them both - they look to have grown too. Lots of mating has been happening in the other breeding cage - but still nothing in the way of eggs or nesting. I may actually get another breeding cabinet as I spotted my YF Sky Violet Spangle hen and my Cobalt cock mating.

We all love photos and I love taking them - gave me an excuse to see them again haha Yeah that was a baaad egg. Fingers crossed the others stay okay. So far so good.

Gorgeous chicks, growing well too :sadsorry: I quite like the little dark green surprise - very nice!