April 17, 200817 yr Author There have been some big changes in the breeding cages over the last few days. It has been moving, or travel, days it seems. First, I delivered 4 young birds to Deb, up near Newcastle yesterday. Let me say, Deb, her husband and her children are absolutely wonderful people. I was able to see her two indoor birds who she hand raised, her aviary setup, we talked about future expansion plans, plus we talked about genetics of birds. It was great to meet her and her family. I was able to catch up with my folks who were up that way on holidays, so we had a nice lunch. Had dinner with friends back here, but all up, the only food I had eaten at home was a bowl of cereal and I had clocked up over 500kms. Exhausting, I slept well last night. Anyway, enough about me. Since 4 of his young had been removed, that just left Cheese and his youngest in his cage. I was quite happy with this, until I looked up and saw Hugo chasing Geo around their cage. Everywhere she landed, he would pounce. He was never going to catch her, she is too fast. It did look kind of funny, as he would jump with his wings out from a higher perch to a lower perch, very Batman-esque. So I thought I would move her. Since she is a young bird, I thought she should go with another young bird, so she would end up going in with her bother, the youngest of Sebby and Cheese, however I was not going to be home to ensure that Cheese was on his best behaviour, so I made a call. Cheese was returned to the aviary and Geo joins her brother in the cage below. They seem to be getting on well, and this morning have even started preening each other. Of course, they are young, so they are going to have fun too. Young one remaining from Sebby and Cheese's cage - looks like a boy to me, smooth pink cere, no signs of white rings. Being a recessive pied, might need to wait a little longer. Geo joining him in the cage. She looks like an absolute sweety, definitely female. Them together in the cage Playing - "Hmmmmm, tastes like chicken..." Hugo and Angel Angel is still in her own seperate little cage. She does not like it - lol. She has layed abother egg from a perch so I will ensure she goes a few more days to build her strength back up before she returns to the aviary. Hugo is constantly joined outside by the violet pied with the most markings for a large amount of time. The other violet pied and Gabrielle are yet to venture out for an extended period of time. I think all 3 young are females. Funny if this is true, as that means of 2 clutches, Angel only ever hatches 3 eggs, and they are always girls. Tralia and Nibbler Tralia returned this morning to the aviary. She is looking healthier and it will be good for her to stretch her wings. The little YF2 Spangle came out yesterday and got stuck, not able to get back in. I popped him back in this morning. Thor has fledged this morning. He is a cutie. Dad is very protective of his son. Thor is definitely male. I looked at the others as well, and I think of the 4 young, 3 are male, one is female. So I think Deb I gave deb 2 males and 2 females (the 2 recessive pieds are diffcult to sex, definitely one male, maybe 2), Geo is female and the youngest is male, Hugo had 3 girls and Nibbler has 3 boys and 1 girl, so the final total stands at 13 chicks, 6 males, 7 females. We should see more young emerge from the remaning 2 nestboxes over the next couple of days. Edited April 17, 200817 yr by Dave_McMinn
April 17, 200817 yr Author New day, new fledgling, same old poor weather. My little yellow face type 2 sky blue cinnamon wing spangle has emerged, and she is gorgeous. I think she is a cinnamon wing, her colour is diluted throughout and her wing marking are not clear. Dad might carry the cinnamon gene and Mum is a cinnamon wing, so there is every chance she is a cinnamon wing. The dilute colouring leads me to believe this. Opinions? Thor is doing well, so now we need to name this one. Lady Sif was an Asgardian, as were the Valkyrie. The Echantress and karnilla were evil women, so I need a norse name that suits one such as her. Sif was meant to be he wife of Thor in mythology (but you know all the gods interbred, so she may well have been his siter - ha ha ha) and she was meant to have golden hair. I think Sif seems like a good name for her. The little one popping his head out I think I will call Heimdall. Heimdall was the warrior who stood on the rainbow bridge called BiFrost looking out for invaders to Asgard, the home of the Gods. This little one spends a lot of time looking out from the nestbox, the home of the chicks. Heimdall it is. Last one looks similar to Thor, and I think it is a little boy, so I will call him Balder. Balder was a son of Odin, and a brother of Thor. He was not the biggest, but the hardest to kill. He was immune to everything, except Mistletoe. In comics, he has been drawn with white hair, so this also fits this little one. Angel and Hugo have two violet pieds and Gabrielle, their grey pied. The two violets venture out more and more, but they are very timid and scurry away. Angel teaches all her young to be very timid of people. Not sure why. Anyway, I have to be quick to get snaps of them.
April 19, 200817 yr Author Woo-hoo - PAGE 20!!!!!!! So fledging continues. Everyone has now been out except Baldr, but not all choose to stay out. Sebby and Cheese Well, I really should rename it Mozzarella and Geo's cage. Mozzarella is the name I have decide to give the little one, Mozz for short. Why, well his Dad is Cheese, so it only seems fair he should be a derivative of cheese. Since he looks like Dad (cheese) and not Mum (Sebby) he gets the Cheese derivative Mozzarella. Angel and Hugo's cage. All have come out, with Gabrielle coming out today, realising she cannot fly yet, and not knowing how to get back. There are ladders in there, but they seem too tricky. Much better to jump, bang into a wall, and then wonder why it did not work, before you do it again. Hard to get good pics as they are so skittish, so sorry if some are fuzzy. Family Little male I think, smooth pink cere Gabrielle - you would never know she was once Pale Ale Tralia and Nibbler - they all come out, except Baldr and all, except Thor, go back in. Heimdall Heimdall with Dad Nibbler watching Sif eating some corn Thor hiding then Thor watching Heimdall more pics to come soon, hopefully of Baldr Edited April 19, 200817 yr by Dave_McMinn
April 19, 200817 yr they are all cute especially Gabrielle.My 4 bubs are still going well, i have found they love millet treats.
April 20, 200817 yr Author Deb - they used to get some millet in their nestbox. They learnt to eat that before they husked seed I think. Elly - thankyou. I quite like that. Update (without pics for a change) Tralia and Nibbler All 4 have now been out. Baldr came out this morning, and was sitting near Thor. The look almost identical. Baldr is the exact same colour, both spangles, but Baldr has slightly darker pattern on hiw wings. If he loses this, I am in big trouble. Geo and Mozzarella Still going well. Mozz is getting much bigger now. He is bigger than Geo, definitely. Angel and Hugo All have been out, but Gabrielle only ventured out yesterday and then got stuck, so she may take a few more days. I was wrong before - 2 girls and one boy. Sebby and Cheese The 2 are back in the aviary and have paired up again. It is nice that they see each other as a couple. I was a bit annoyed with both of them. One bird, Mel or Kim - they are identical, I can never tell them apart, had gotten stuck and had a foot sticking out. Sebby and Cheese had both noticed and gone down to see, and decided they they woudl attack the outstretched foot. Lucky I spotted it when i did. they managed to bite the foot, and remove a nail, but other then that, she is fine. I have bought Mel/Kim inside and out her in a seperate cage with a lamp on. The bleeding has stopped and there is some antibiotics in her water to help prevent an infection. Not happy with Sebby and Cheese.
April 22, 200817 yr Author My forum blog continues with another update. Sebby and Cheese. Geo and Mozzarella are doing well. Looking after each other, they may be getting a new playmate soon. Angel and hugo Hugo is being patients with gabrielle but not as patient with Gwenevieve. Gabrielle still refuses to come out for long. Gwenievieve is doing well, and is almost ready to move out of this cage. I have named the little boy Maika'keakua, or Maika for short, which means White god in Hawaiian. Tralia and Nibbler. Nibbler is a great dad. Thor is growing and using his wings more, chasing Heimdall's tail and eating on his own. Heimdall is doing well. Sif is beautiful as always. Just waiting on Baldr.
April 22, 200817 yr the photo of Gabrielle in the box is so cute but with the cooler weather and rain i can understand why he would want to stay in the nesting box
April 22, 200817 yr Great updates dave, you must be very proud of your flock. They are looking great.
April 23, 200817 yr Author Update time: Angel and Hugo Gabrielle emerges and seems a lot less timid these days. She is out more, but still runs and hides given the chance. Hugo seems a little confused. I think he wants to mate with her. She is having none of that. Maika is going well. Gwenivieve was getting harassed by Dad far too mcuh, so she has moved into what I am now calling the kids cage with Mozzarella and Geo. Tralia and Nibbler All the fledged yougsters are doing well. Some may move to the kids cage soon, and Baldr is going to come out over the next couple of days. He looks very very very similar to Thor. I took some family shots to prove they are 2 different birds - LOL. Edited April 23, 200817 yr by Dave_McMinn
April 23, 200817 yr Author Baldr has a bit darker wing patterns, that is the only way I an tell them apart. I am scared about putting the rings on. Do i use a pecial device? I am scared it will snap closed on their legs goign on, causing damage
April 23, 200817 yr Baldr has a bit darker wing patterns, that is the only way I an tell them apart. I am scared about putting the rings on. Do i use a pecial device? I am scared it will snap closed on their legs goign on, causing damage You get a little wedge shaped paddle type thing that you slip the ring on...then place the birds leg across that and push the ring on that way...easy. The bird shops have them and they should come ina pack with the rings when you buy them. Failing that...wait till someone is at your house to help you by holding the bird and do it then. Plastic split rings are hard to get wrong..once you have done it, it will become an easy thing. Markings on the bird now might change by moulting time and then it will be hard to tell them apart ...maybe ?
April 23, 200817 yr Author the first moult was my biggest worry. I will see if I can get one of those "ring tools" to put the rings on with
April 23, 200817 yr Author Some more pics taken, i am a little snap-happy at the moment. Tralia and Nibbler All 4 have fledged and there is only a small difference between Thor and Baldr. Thor Baldr Thor and Baldr Heimdall - clown prince. Stretching to get food and then look around - very cute!!! Kids Cage Preening Settling in Geo feeding At play Angel and Hugo More Gabrielle - sometimes she just wants to get away from all the attention I think. Family shots Gabrielle and Maika Maika Edited April 23, 200817 yr by Dave_McMinn
April 23, 200817 yr such pretty birds. l love reading your journal Dave, it is full of beautiful pictures
April 25, 200817 yr Author such pretty birds. l love reading your journal Dave, it is full of beautiful pictures They are getting even more beautiful as i am discovering new types. A lot of green-faced budgies appearing. Either they are a new variety, or they had a spinach bath. Thor Gabrielle Mozarella I am getting the little aviary ready so the new bubs will go into there probably Sunday. Give them the chance to fly and spread their wings before they go to the big aviary.
April 27, 200817 yr Author **** day and **** week. I constantly keep slipping the disk in my back out, so that is causing me no end of pain. My dad, the biological one is in Toowoomba hospital at the moment after having a heart attack. My stepfather has had corrective eye surgury this week. I had moved Mooza, Geo, Hugo, Maika, Gweni and Gabrille into my small aviary. I was in the process of moving Thor when he slipped out of the door of the cage and flew off. I am devastated. No pics, no happiness, no nothing. Edited April 27, 200817 yr by Dave_McMinn
April 29, 200817 yr Author well, i knwo Kaz commented, so thank you. No sign of Thor, he is gone for good. My Dad is stable and my back is hanging in there.
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