paulie

From this To This Box 3 first clutch completed. had to remove last 2 from nest box as mum has laid again and was giving the quite a pecking. Weather here has turned cold again so bubs are inside with an incubator for a little extra warmth and they seem to all be doing quite well

I still think that the bleaching of her cere does indicate that there is something missing in this hen. Is getting more natural light and vitamin supplement so see what happens. Will have to do a bit more research if only to satisfy my curiosity. Probably not going to use these as a pair again. not really looking for Df grays which they are producing.

AUG, Hope a nest is okay to enter

just have to keep an eye on her i guess. made some adjustments to get a bit more light into the cage. She has another 2 to 3 weeks left with this brood.

Thanks Nadene. I am quite surprised so see the cere looking bleached white. My other hens did seem to go out of condition while raising chicks but not to this extent.

Hi All I have a Df grey normal hen with 4, 2-3 week old chicks. she has had a nice dark cere and been very healthy. Today I have noticed that her cere has turned almost white although is still feeding chicks and cock is feeding her and she still seems quite healthy otherwise. Nutritionally there should be no problem. the only thing I can think of is that the particular nest box is quite dark so am wondering if this could be light, melanin and vitamin D3 deficiency due to the low light levels in this box. Would love to hear from anyone with experience with sort of difficulty. Thanks Paulie

Rich, Nice aviary and birds. Looks like you have set up for effective cooling, would expect that in Geralton.

Df spangle white. There is a smattering of yellow on feather ends. Mother is Df spangle yellow and father is Olive body with yellow Sf spangle/Blue,opaline. No idea yet what her colour is split to This chick has managed to get back into the nest box and hasn't re emerged as yet. Hens in both box 2 and 3 are busily removing the seed from nest boxes. I guess they want the clutch out of nest boxes so they can get down to round 2. box 1 has 4 chicks 2 will be pied and 2 will be grey normal

Robyn, am a bit surprised that am seeing this level of violet. Quite pleased though. today box 2 has had 1st chick fledged. is white DF spangle

no 2 from box 3 Fledged today Looks Olive body and has pronounced violet around rump.

1st to fledge. unmodified picture

L_J thanks, have have 15 chicks in nest and 1 fledged

Woo Hoo first baby fledged today went strait to the seed bowl and started cracking seed. yellow faced blue-violet. very happy happy

Nadene thanks robyn chick 2 does have a blue violet tinge to the body just starting to show

box 3 Mum Dad

Hi keith. If they are not fighting sounds like normal budgie interaction. Males may from time to time engage in what may seem unnatural sexual behavior. Generally not a problem but I do have 1 cock that is more interested in a door frame than a hen.

Hi guys n gals. Thinking abt why there are so many infertile eggs. Don't know if any one else is plucking around birds vents before putting pairs down. Since having started this practice I'm getting 97% fertile eggs. Currently have more nests with 6, 8, 8 fertile eggs in each. My Nest 1 has 4 chicks hatched with another 4 fertile. Sherlock, Chicks dead in shell could be a lack of iodine for hen prior to laying. it is essential for thyroid function and possibly the dead in shell chicks just don't have the strength to escape the shell. Not fact but an idea abt what may be happening. Paulie

A quick google search came up with this. Seems uncommon but does happen. http://talkbudgies.com/archive/index.php/t-7558.html

Sorry robyn missed this one. im assuming Blues, greens and opaline will come from box three sky hen Normal X olive opaline/blue cock. box 2 is df splangle yellow hen X Olive sf spangle/blue cock So hope to get some df & sf splangles hopefully some olive mabe blue of some description. Either way I'm keen to see the results.

fresh from the egg 4pm today, Box 4 is firing.

Hey wait for me

To young for me to even try to guess.

Is also helping with poopy feet

had another go at bedding in nest boxes using rolled oats rather than wood shavings.The hens seem to have accepted it this time, prob got their beaks to busy to bother.

tried to put bedding in but hen just doesn't like it still