jetrick57

Hi all, My flock has grown by 14 in the last few days with addition of some outcrosses courtesy of the NEBS Auction and Tender Sale along with a visit to a breeder from the club. I actually didn't set out to buy that many birds preferring now to settle on new birds from a few breeders, but as it happended the tender prices I offered weren't beaten hence some new additions to the family. Though in the light of day I am really happy with what I managed to buy,with many at less than Pet Shop prices which is a tragedy when you consider how much work goes into breeding good birds. Don't want to sound too old, but I paid $5.00 for a pair of Luts in 1969 which by today standards was quite a bit of money then! Thank you to any of the breeders on the forum who had birds on sale, they are much appreciated!

Hi there! This little one from my nest no. 8 emerged tonight for ther first time. Bred from an Opaline YF Hen x Cinnamon Grey Cock. Cheers Patrick

Hi Libby Yes working full time and keeping up with the extra work load breeding brings has been a big effort. I will have reduce the quantity I put down or find more time! I think you can view the birds from 7.45 pm and the auction begins at 8.30pm. If you miss out on a bird in the auction there are still some good bargains to be had at the open sale straight after on the night. Good Luck! Patrick

Hi Libby, Yes as he really stands out amongst the other chicks though I like them all. He has a sister I think, still in the nest. There is also an Albino pair of chicks that should be out of the nest next week. How are yours going? Cheers Patrick Hi Patrick my chicks are doing really well , all are in and out of the nestbox all day long their eating lots of vegies and nibble at seed. I caught the parents mating today so i'm assuming their going for round two.Will you be at the meeting Wednesday night? if so i'll introduce myself. Libby. Hi Libby That's great about your chicks and good about the second round if you want one. I was hoping mine would be over it for now and I was happy with the one round. So I will see how it goes, I may end up fostering the eggs of the better birds and give them a rest until the spring. I will be there on Wednesday so say hello! The Auctions are kinda entertaining. Cheers Patrick

Hi Ratzy Just for you! My Opaline Darkwing Hen and her first chick First of many I hope! Cheers Patrick

Hi GB Yes for sure, as you no doubt know the strugglers become almost more important than the rest. Great to see him turn out so good thus far. Have a good weekend! Cheers Patrick

Hi Libby, Yes as he really stands out amongst the other chicks though I like them all. He has a sister I think, still in the nest. There is also an Albino pair of chicks that should be out of the nest next week. How are yours going? Cheers Patrick

Hi Ratzy I will do that,but in the mean time this little guy popped out of the nest last night for the first time. http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx85/je...57/P1030012.jpg

Hi there, I mentioned in an earlier post I acquired some of Ken Yorke's Dark Wings earlier in the year. I am pleased to add a pair of them hatched their first chick today! Cheers Patrick

Since you mentioned that before I have been giving all the nest seed with great success. Funny you mentioned about chicks being silly the other day. I was putting some birds back into my main flight today and left them in a holding cage with the door open. I went back about ten minutes later to find not only those birds in the cage still, but with three other six months old chicks who had climbed into join them. By which time the cage had also closed on them all!

Hi Kaz Managed to get a picture right hey, Yes indeed one of the problems with a big nest I guess, the youngest pictured is 28 days today and the other 30 days. I have been putting them out,but they like to get back in with Mum. I am hoping to get them all out in the weaning cage asap as the older siblings are coping well and could no doubt show these two the ropes. I am so glad they have made it this far as seven chicks a month ago seemed a tall order to rear. Cheers Patrick

You would have thought my nest no.7 Hen would have had enough having just laid and reared 7 chicks, but she's back at it again before the last lot have left. They will start moving into the weaning cage from the 8/5 and I may look at fostering either the eggs or chicks to give her a well earned rest. She has done a great job!

Hello all, My nest no.19 is starting to feather up, with a couple more the same to follow, Don't you just love Pieds! Cheers Patrick http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx85/je...57/P1020982.jpg

Hi GB Yes it's a great hobby and it gives me and no doubt you a lot of joy. It's going well at the moment but I am always cautious of how quickly that can change. Last year I lost quite a few with a bug, but I am pleased to say this year things are good. I have 140 birds including all the newly rung chicks. That's changing by the day as more are due to hatch. I wouldn't say I chosen one particular variety,but the Lacewings are a personal fav of mine. Though I won't see that many in my flock until next year when hopefully all my split cocks will do me proud. Nice to hear from you! Cheers Patrick

I was lucky enough recently to acquire some of Liv's cull birds. This is a picture of them settling into a holding flight at my place. Thanks Liv!

All my young birds from last years's Spring round have turned six months on 1/5 and will therefore go into a larger flight today. I emptied it a few weeks ago in readiness cleaned thoroughly,new perches,and dishes etc. I intend introducing the Adult birds back in as well over a few days so the young ones can develop their confidence in the larger space and avoid bullying etc.

this good news how many cabnits did you set up again ??? whats chick count to date please Hi GB, While it's fresh in my head without checking my records! I put 20 pairs down,of which 15 laid 105 eggs. 13 nest were fertile and the other 2 have laid again since one of those being the one that hatched a chick tonight. The other 5 pairs had partners exchanged and are now all on eggs. 67 chicks hatched with 63 reamining. My nest of 6 Lutinos suffered 4 casualities I think due to something being wrong with the Cock bird. The 2 Luts remaining are doing well being raised by the Hen. Looking at the eggs that didn't hatch, only a few had chicks that didn't make it which was good to see. Cheers Patrick

My nest no.1 which laid infertile eggs first round hatched their first chick tonight. Just when I was hoping to end this quick season and start the weaning process.

You're right I 'd love to put another head on him!But as you say that could all change.He looks a little like a penguin which is kinda cute.There is five others just like him in the box.All about to leave the nest!

Fatzo it is then! No I think it's just the way it has rubbed its head against the box.

This is a picture of a couple of chicks from my nest no.7 checking out the new world, and also seeing if what Mum and Dad are eating is better than what they have been served!

This is chick from my nest no. 4 that ventured out from the box today. Bred from a YF Cock x Albino Hen. I went for this pairing as the Hen has only laid infertile eggs before and the Cock is a proven "egg filler" so to speak. Hence she has laid and hatched six chicks this round. I also read that the YF is good for a variety of pairings as they don't tend to bring down the quality of the other bird in the offspring. The six chicks are not as big as some of my others in this round but I will wait and see how they develop. This ones a little fatty!

Hi KazFunny you say that as I just picked up some extra large flight cages on my way to work today, and with what I have already should prevent overcrowding.My birdroom is going to change from a maternity ward to a kindy very soon!I had someone suggest to me recently an idea of placing a show cage in the weaning cage to familiarize the chicks with being in it.What do you think about doing that?

Hi All! This is a picture of 4 chicks in my nest no. 19, bred from a Dom Pied Cock x Opaline Green Hen. The eldest is 20 days and all four of them are very loud!

This is my nest no. 10 which contains a couple of Albinos . The Father is a Cobalt split Albino and Mum is Dom Pied and are also uncle and niece. As mentioned the larger Albino chick pictured is only a couple of days older than the other one. It's something of a whopper!