fordmob

The bird's face is out of proprtion to it's body in the first photo, the second photo is much better. I agree with Taz the face is made so much bigger by the depth of mask. It does look like a fairly fit bird and it's body feather's sit tight. I would love to own it. This bird surpasses the standard in regards to depth of mask, does that mean it would get penalised?

No worries Peter you had your hands full mate. I am happy with what i have and the birds look better after they have settled, none of them would perch at the auction which probably helped me. Hopefully they throw me something that look like mum or dad. Digby loves being involved and I wanted to keep the auction rolling rather than waith five mins before someone puts in a $20 bid on a Gazzard bird. I will probably pop in to the aggy show, might see you there. If not might give you a call for another visit and see what you have popped out. cheers Dan

Taylor I went and that was my son Digby (11yo) bidding for me. Digby is my shadow and I am sure everyone will get to know him over time. He is mad about budgies!! We did a lot of bidding and we missed a couple of real bargains by the skin of our teeth. I really wanted PT's fallow/split but friends of mine started bidding and I couldn't keep going. The fallows went very cheap for what they were. The Albino that chookbreeder got was a steal and I had a crack at that. There were two grey greens, a cock and hen of Geoff Edwards that I had a serious go at but missed out. I am not a big spender at auctions, actually I am not a big sender full stop. We only had intentions of buying if we could buy what we wanted for very cheap. As it was we got three Henry George birds out of his Bob Smith line. All short in the body but with good feather and mask, two normal cocks which are brothers and a spangle cinn op sky hen. The hen was only hatched in Feb this year and has what you want in smaller form though she would still have some growing to do. I paid a total of $250 for the three. I have already picked out some bigger hens for the cock birds and will see what they throw. They will hopefully mix in well with what I have got here already. I haven't been to an auction for some time but it seemed to me that this was a good one to buy at as Chookbreeder says. Some solid birds went at around the hundred range and some better ones around the $200 mark. Was a fun day and Digby really enjoyed bidding. It will be interesting to see if it is a trend of lower auction prices or a one off.

No but maybe the hen trod on and broke the egg?

Depends on what it is made out of, does it have nestboxes, typpe of fronts, size etc? A new 6 cage cabinet would cost a couple of hundred in materials if made from melamine with good fronts and ply nest boxes. Then labour on top. It all depends on how good it is, it's like asking what should I pay for a car. Hope that sort of helps.

You are really on to something with your birds, it's not easy getting a line of quality birds that also breed consistently. Look forward to seeing your birds at the shield.

You've inspired me to start weighing my chicks. I weighed a grey that is 19 days old and that came in at 58 grams. It comes from big stuff and looks like it is wide across the back etc. I will be interested to see if the chicks that weigh more comparitively end up being the biggest. I am pretty sure that will be the case. I have a 16 day albino at 49gms, another 19 day old at 56 and another 20 day old at 58. Thenest of fallows, which are from small parents are miles off these weights having a 21 day old at 42gms. They are well bred and I was hoping they would throw me something alas it doesn't look like it at this stage. I will be interested to see how that dom pied finishes up when he feathers up and gets on a perch.

Yeah sorry GB, that iron will end up next door very soon. I have even had sheets under timbers on the ground go flying around like a magic carpet. Can be dangerous too. Better off using a 2 dollar tarp and some rope tied down to something.

It's a strong class but that bird has a super head and face. Its got amazing lift. The distance between the top of the head and the cere is enormous. It's hard to tell what the rest of the bird is like but it would have to get right up there if things go your way. Things must have changed then, back in the day open was easier than Intermediate. I wouldn't worry too much, it looks like the birds are good enough.

That light green spangle might just win some stuff I reckon.

The craic is right here.

awesome!!

I reckon from memory it would be the side closest to the fence. tip a bucket of water out and see which way the water runs. What you really need to do is check where the water is getting in. It will be the wettest spot. isn't it the back wall toward the fence? where does it first come in? And I think silicon is toxic. Good idea Taz. I would do it myself if I wasn't three hours away.

This sounds like a good idea GB. What is causing the damp to rise? I personally wouldn't worry about the silicone and just go ahead and use it. In the latest aviary we built we laid a base of sand about 20cm deep, levelled it, placed the cement pavers and cemented in between them so there were no gaps. Then we sprinkled Garden Lime (not builders) over the pavers and laid sand about 2-3 inches thick. We've never had an issue with illness and maintenance is a 6 monthly affair. Under the perches we have put a metal grid so that the birds cannot get to the droppings so easily. Also we have pegged clear plastic to the base of the aviary so that when it rains the spill off doesn't splash into the aviary. I dont think that will work well GB. I will PM you. I dont think it is necessarily rising damp, it is more gound water coming in on the low side. When it rains go out and check it out or tip a couple of bukets of water on the low side and see what happens. You need to find out where it is coming from and redirect it. Some pipe or even a trench and some gravel strategically placed might fix it.

I have never had a bird knock back seeding grasses...just make sure that it is not sprayed with weed killer. I have heaps available around me and you don't need to be in a rush to pull it out if you put it in without the leaves. The birds will shred it long before it needs to be pulled out. I might try and upload some photos of thier favorite varieties tomorrow.

LOL that cinnamon is nice....

Do they still sell Vapona strips, I thought they were no longer on the market after being shown to have various bad side affects. I would go and buy a $5 1 litre bottle of Garden Pyrethrum spray from the supermarket, cover up all seed and water and spray everything. It is recommended on the bottle that you shouldn't spray directly on humans or animals. Its virtually the same stuff as the pet stuff just more highly concentrated. You could save your expensive AIL just for the birds then. After breeding season I would let a couple of flea bombs go in the birdroom before I washed everything down.

That sky is a bit different to the others, the feather is longer and not as dense. it's going to push lots of feather up and out I reckon. Looks showy.

okay, what is it, where do you get it? Is it a cereal? I am using good old fashioned shavings. Answered my own question I think, a horse feed?

Doesn't look good, how long has it been like that?

Stew I use certain cock birds over several hens. I am about to give one boy his third consecutive hen in the next few days. Like others suggest I leave a nestbox attached to the cage and leave the hen for about 5 or 6 days then introduce the cock bird who is usually greated at first sight by a willing little floosie with an arched back, but sometimes it takes a couple of days. As long as the hen is exploring the nestbox she will usually take him. As for switching cock birds prior, I usually let her lay her round and put another hen in a breeding cage after the original hen lays her third egg. When the original hen looks like she is finished and I am a happy that the eggs are fertile then I give him a new hen. If you want to use that hen however you need to pull the cock out when the chicks are 5 weeks old or so and let her finish them off otherwise she will lay again. Only introduce a new cock when all the chicks are gone or he will usually attack the chicks.

I don't like seeing eggs of different shapes and sizes. Those big eggs I find are rarely fertile, either that or they seem to addle. I don't like the pointy ones either or the rough textured ones. All of these things for mine point to a hen that either needs a rest, is too old, or has a problem or deficiency. If a hen lays a clutch of normal sized eggs with smooth shells I figure that the hen is healthy and she is a breeder.

Nice!!. Look forward to some pictures of them perching..

Yeah but in my marriage you have the "whatever you spend I spend rule" which sucks. You end up spending double the purchase price.

You have done well mate, good luck with them!!