Daniel81

Kaz, they tell you to feed animals the products the dog and cat food companies commission them to sell... they attempt to scare you into buying some product they are flogging for a high commission. No better/different than advertisers telling us we need new tv's, cars, a bigger house in a nicer suburb etc. Tell them their wrong, tell them to stop trying to rip you off with rubbish products.

Lol, 15 degrees balmy! I moved my indoor budgies outside in August in a Tasmanian winter... they survived the sub 5 degree nights quite easily.

Looks a bit girly from where I sit, might explain why it's less active and less chirpy

Sounds problematic, 1 nest box in a flock of budgies is going to cause trouble/fighting - which may explain the feather loss and blood. Getting rid of the nest box would be a start, some people seem to think budgies need a nest box to keep warm and sleep in...

12... other died in shell. 3 of the 12 are out and fending for themselves in kindergarten. Other 9 making steady progress.

Its the condecending tone, I don't like.

Wow, doesn't half come across nasty. Clearly you've never made a mistake and learnt by it. I bow to your greatness. Get over yourself.

Crop feed, 15 minutes on and they are fine, so don't appear to have hurt them. Was mainly water and some honey (they'd be a bit dry after not being feed properly for a while, didn't want to shock their little bodies either), will give them something more solid in the morning. All 3 gave me a shake of the head when enough was enough. I learnt some lessons and hopefully haven't cost them their lives...

Was removed to avoid round 3. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Don't think the 6 were a problem a such, was more putting 3 in the cage and leaving 3 in the nest. Anyway, the 3 I removed seem to be eating on their own.

This is all true... though I only began to suspect something was a miss late last week and was away for the weekend and my brother filled in for a day or two. Crop feeding is a must learn. Won't make the same mistake with the nest that is 10-12 days behind this one.

6 babies, hatched in two groups of three. Mother was removed and eventually returned to the aviary after a nice break. Youngest 3 are just 4 weeks and the older 3 just 5 weeks. Youngest 3 have serious problems, all unable to stand on their legs - which aren't splayed and seem a little underweight. While the older 3 since leaving the nest at 4 weeks have been slow to develop compared to the previous round. Any how, I think the father was feeding the older 3 in the cage but neglecting the ones still in the nest (hunch) leaving them weak (only noticed this defect in them recently). So the older babies are now in an aviary with another recovering mother and my very friendly Rosella - hopefully they learn the ropes there. While the weak chicks are flopped on the cage floor in view of the father - who'll hopefully feed them a bit more and give them a chance. They could simply be lame and need to be put down, but I'll wait and see...

If God existed then budgies came from god, but as he's a figment of the laymans imagination (cause thinking is too hard) then we are left to find a real explanation - evolution may in part explain it - in fact the various mutations of budgies and selective breeding is evolution all over (strongest, fitter, bigger, particular colour). Do I come accross as atheist?

Have two pairs down at the moment, first pair, 2nd clutch, 8 eggs. Second pair, 1st clutch, 5 eggs. Moved two accross to make it 6/7. The first pair had a 10 day head start - so 6 eggs hatched before I moved the last two accross. Anyway 10 have hatched and babies all doing well (including the two I moved), last 3 all look fertile as well. Can I get 13/13....?

Cute bird, looks a little more she than he in that photo?

Hen laid a second clutch of 8 eggs, laid every 2nd day after the 1st egg was laid, she started sitting as soon as the first was laid as the 1st egg hatched as expected on Jan 3rd. Then the 2nd egg hatched yesterday (4th), making me think I had miscalculated and then today (5th) the 3rd hatched! All seemingly happy and healthy for now... Either I grossly miscalculated from the 1st egg being laid or the presence of 1st round chicks has 'upset' the balance (haven't been any present for a week now).

Major pet store down here, offers 5-7 dollars a bird regardless of age/type or quality as far as I can tell. Might offer more early spring when stocks are low and breeding is only just producing a few young. They sell everything for $25. Nice business if you can get it. Suspect I'll breed, stock up and then sell via the paper for 15-20 when pet shop stocks are down.

Yep, they sell fast. Noticed (here in Hobart) that most of the pet stores had got in a lot of new stock in the last week or so. Mostly young birds that had been through a moult. Clearly breeders looking to sell of the first batch of babies from Spring (and it was a later start I suspect as Aug and Sep were very wet). I just wonder how many survive their first 12 months in their new home...

I think Kaz is right, without the camera flash it appears as a very light grey wing marking. When I got it I was under the impression it was female, the blue has appeared more recently. So unless it's a very sick male... I think she is just a long way out of breeding condition.

Apart from a case of scaly face (just treated for), my in ability to fly (can glide down) and my unsusal tweet, what am I (besides a budgie...)?

Is alright Kaz, birds health and well being come first. Everything else is secondary.

Apart from wishing to pair her to another cock, which as people point out, can wait until nature is ready, there is no rush. I am slightly concerned her temperament (had her since she left her mum and dad and is a first time mum) may see her get bored or agressive (she's agressive toward me and other birds apart from while she has been breeding). Just needed to know when was a good time for the chicks to move her would be (if needed) and whether it was wise to put her down to breed again straight away. I think the it will be okay to move her back to the avairy but not down to breed straight away.

Dominant or recessive - dominant I presume. Have a young recessive pied hen elsewhere Anyway I put up pics of the parents later.

3 of the chicks have photos over in the breeding help forum. Not so convinced they will be blue (bit early for me to tell) if both parents have to be split for it. Possible...but probable?

On your advice I won't be moving mum, unless she turns nasty Baby 1 Baby 2 Baby 3 - showing some fight against the slippery table Baby 1 - from above at 15 days

Fair enough. There are plently of conflicting views out there, hence why I ask!