Biggles2211

Hi guys, After reading your comments, i've thought it over and decided i'll wait till spring or early summer (don't want it to be too hot as i imagine this would cause just as many problems). The reason i tried to breed them at this time was they both seemed to be in condition and in good health but as the toll on the birds and and chicks would be too great, i'll remove nest box and and wait till a bit later. I reckon i'll still get a heater just to help them through the nights. Thank you B.J. and Bad Hair day for your advice and ill let you know before i try again in a few month time time: third time lucky. Cheers, Biggles

Hi B.J., I read somewhere that budgies will be fine as long as they are kept in surroundings above 1 degree in temperature. Also, got home late again but ill get the pictures up 1st thing in the morning. Ill try get some pictures of my set up and the birds. Cheers, Biggles

Hi B.J. I not sure why i put the seeds in the fridge, i guess just for freshness? Thinking about it now if I'm giving it to them in the morning that probably won't be much to worry about. SHould i take them out and just leave them at room temperature over night? Temperature here where i live is about 5 or 6 degrees in the morning (at the coldest). From what i read somewhere they should be right to down to 1 degree? Please correct me if I'm wrong, not sure if that was while breeding or not. Main reason for heat lamp was to reduce chance of egg binding as well as just for comfort. Cheers Biggles

Hi, thanks B.J. Have put some seeds in water and in the fridge to soak. I'm going to put them in the cages in the morning and evening on every othe day. I'll also add a small container of cucumber, carrot, apple and lettuce for an hour or two. I'm making a cover out over newspaper to cover top and sides but won't block out the sun light and other birds. Also, looking into buying a heat lamp to keep them a bit warmer. And got to pick up ivomectin (been attempting to use this other stuff for scaly face but it's just to hard to administer without birds ingesting it) from vet on the week end. I'll try treat them all in one go. Cheers Biggles P.S. sorry for lack of pIctures, came home late and it was already dark, I'll get them up ASAP

Hello. On Sunday, after a break of a month or two I'm started to try to breed my budgies (two pair out of three attempting to be breed, currently treating the other two for scaly face). They've all been in my flight cage bonding as they please (a flaw in my last attempt). I laid the first pair down on sunday evening and the second one monday evening. Heres a list of the things I've set up in the breeding cage: - the cage obviously, its not ideal as its taller than it is in depth and width but it roomy - A breeding box: wooden, pretty standard by the looks of it, using oats as nesting, position externally on the top left hand corner of the front of the cage - cuttle bone - mineral block - Budgie mix from pet shop + egg food + wheat germ (just a bit of extra iron) - Perches: this time running from front to back of cage (natural branches cut to size) - water obviously Changes from 1st attempt - not toys (correct me if i should put some in) - No cover as i was told this would block needed sunlight THe birds (will get picture up but didn't take them now as its dark and you've probably seen how bad my photography skills are) : Pair 1: Cock - Yellow face (i think) Hen - Yellow and green with not black markings From what i've seen these birds appear to be in breeding condition (had to wait a while for them to come around again). They seem well bonded and are showing a lot of interest in nest box when i've seen them (apart from feeding time). They do startle fairly easily so i'm playing music (softly) from a radio to provide a constant noise. This pair are my main hopes. I got both last year (about this time) and they were 3 months or over (thank you mr pet shop person). Their not tame which may explain the jumpy nature. Overall, major improvement from what i was seeing last time. Only other thing is these birds are a bit on the small side but that okay as I'm not planning on show breeding. Pair 2L Cock - Blue standard Hen - Light Blue Again, both appear to be in breeding condition, however they don't seem to like each other as the other pair do. I only put them down to breed yesterday so see how we go. I'm not expecting any thing soon so I am just observing to see how they go. Other things: 1. I have not put veggie in the cages and they did not show any interest in them and i thought that they would just encourage disease (thoughts? opinions?). 2. The 3rd pair i have not set to breed as they possible have scaly face which i am treating and also they are not in condition and not bonded. 3. I've read up on breeding and keeping budgies a lot more since my last attempt which has help to make changes (processes and position etc.) 4. I am giving the bird as much privacy and as little disturbance as possible. I go in at a set time to clean cages, food, water, general check otherwise i try to leave them alone. Thats about it from me I think. I'll try to get photos up tomorrow when its light. Any advice or tips welcome and other than that fingers crossed. Cheers, Biggles.

Hey, Heres a close up of the cere and beak. Heres the other budgie i thought also may have it (SHes a small hen). What do you think? Cheers, Biggles

Hi, Thanks Kaz, ill pick some up and start treating (all of them?) the budgies. I think one of the others may have it to so ill try get some better pictures of the that one as well as the above one. Cheers Biggles

Hey Guys, thank you BJ and Finnie. Ive checked him again today and he seems fine both physically and behaviour wise. @Finnie - I checked his cere and the surrounding feathers and they seem to be his normal colour (the lightning in the photo was a bit deceiving). After looking him over today and reading your advice (and checking the other topics on moulting) it seems that he is just moulting ( I'm going to keep an eye on him for a few days anyway). Also, the reason he looks a bit ruffled in the photo is because i had to catch him and he was panicking a bit (tried to do it as fast as possible). Thanks both BJ and Finnie CHeers

Hello So one of my budgies has odd feather around one eye. I don't think they are falling out but they really don't look normal like his other eye (Pictures below). Ive checked his beak and feat and they seem to be alright (No scales or anything). So i was wondering if anyone knew what it was and should i put him in quarantine and take him to the vet? Cheers. (Sorry for the bad photos; he was wriggling)

Hey guys, Just a quick question is it to cold to breed them right now? (QLD, about 21 degrees during the day and down to about 8 or 9 during the night). Cheers.

okay, Thanks Kaz, I won't breed Rose and ill try get some better pictures up. P.S. Should I leave them together or keep them separated and wait for her to come back into breeding condition?

G'day guys. So I've moved pat out of the cage as they didn't appear to be bonding. The both seem settled now though and I'm going to try the blue fellow tomorrow. Any thoughts or advice would be good. cheers

Hey guys, I managed to get some more pictures of the rose's (female) Cere. I think the cere is the right colour. What do you guys reckon? Also Just for the heck heres the rest of the flock... These are the two males. Hamkeye is the Yellow face on the left and I haven't named the little guy on the right yet. These are the two hens. Peggy is the one on the left and Sunny is the one on the right. Cheers Guys.

Haha Cool thanks Kaz, is his cere right colour? In condition i mean? I think it is a strong light blue but a experienced opinion would be great. Ill try get some better pictures up soon. CHeers

Hey Guys, Ive got some photos of the pair. Sorry for the bad lighting it was night time and i had to improvise. This is Pat, the cock This is Rose, the Hen (sorry for the bad image quality, she wasn't being very obliging) I've taken the cover of their cage (you can see it in the image above) and I'm also pretty sure Pat is a boy. Anyway, any advice or opinions would be awesome. Cheers, Biggles