After having a few quite months where new pairs I paired up just didn't do anything, even though some of the hens were from some of my better breeding lines. I got around to reorganising things, in some cases I just put a sister of a hen that wasn't doing anything & within a couple of weeks I had eggs.

 

LACEWINGS: My hen Lacewing I bred wouldn't do anything, so she is flying in the aviary again.

 

Her father split Lacewing was mated with a Cinnamon Opaline Grey Green…nothing…I put in one of her sisters [same mutation] first chick hatched this week. I'm hoping mating him to a Cinnamon will increase the chances of Lacewing daughters.

 

FALLOW: Mated my purchased Fallow hen Green Normal Dominant Pied [looks like Cinnamon Yellow] with my Blue Normal Fallow cock…on eggs.

 

BLACK EYED SELFS: BES cock [purchased] was with Cinnamon Opaline Grey Green hen…did nothing…changed to her sister same mutation…now on eggs.

 

BES hen mated to Dark Wing Yellow cock…first batch all eggs clear…so I used them to foster some young. Then I didn't know whether to let them go again & risk another batch of infertile eggs or change him, but one day I noticed them trying to mate & I had a perch in their cabinet at an angle where it went very close to the roof & when he tried to mate with her she kept moving into that area & there was no room for him to get on top. So I removed that perch…this week their eggs began hatching.

 

SADDLEBACK: Sad news there my only hen is paired with a split SB cock, nothing doing & sadly I think she is going to be a failure…something weird about her & one of my most expensive purchases.

 

TEXAS CLEARBODY: I put a Sky Blue Opaline hen with one of my Yellow TCB cocks, which I know is split Blue to try for some Blue series TCB's, as I have none. They are on eggs.

 

DUSKS: Some Dusks just removed to aviary, promised pictures soon…most just look like Grey Greens [green series] but maybe they will get that darker colour on their first moult. Have one Blue series bird so far, lost a couple other Blues as reported earlier. The Blue series looks more interesting, hard to explain colour somewhere between Violet & Mauve. More feathering up at the moment.

 

PROBLEM: I had a nice Grey Green cock that I bought from a bird dealer [nice looking bird, bit old] paired with a Cinnamon Opaline Grey Green hen [bought from Hunter Valley show] they had four young in first batch. No problems…Now on their second batch & because of lack of pairs breeding & large batches of eggs hatching I had fostered some chicks to them as eggs. They had 7 young, when one TCB fell out of the nest, found it with it's head bitten quite badly, replaced it in the nest. Next day on inspection it was dead…a few minutes later when passing the cabinet saw the cock bird with blood all over his mask, checked the nest found three young just over pin feather stage with wounds to their heads…removed cock. Fostered some young to another pair who I had removed their larger chicks to aviary…seem accepted okay.

 

I seem to be getting too many young attacked when leaving the nest making me remove most young to the aviary soon after leaving the nest, as a precaution. Can't remember having these problems when I used to breed when I was younger & then my breeding cabinets were just made from wooden fruit case I got from the Green grocer & weren't as large as my breeding cabinets I use now. Well that's my latest news hopefully I might have some interesting young to show you soon.

Edited February 28, 200817 yr by Norm

Wow, Norm. Thanks for posting. This is all very interesting. It show some would be breeders that all is not easy in breeding birds. It also shows you have some good things to look forward to. Pity about the cock that attacked its chicks. It pays us to be vigilant and watch for signs of the most unexpected things. Look forward to some photos when you can.

 

Cheers kaz

Edited February 29, 200817 yr by maesie
spelling (buzzzzz)

mostly all good news Norm... i know how you feel about adults attacking chicks... of the two fallow chicks born we lost the youngest to it's mothers bites :S

She was angry at us for checking the nest box and attacked the chick in her way... She was latched onto the back of it's head and would not let go... To get her off it we swatted her out of the nest box still attached to him into the open air then netted her :S

We tried to save/treat him but his wounds were too bad to help with unfortunatly I do not blame the hen as we know it was our fault for "P**ssing" her off...

Better luck next time eh

Glad to hear your good news though

Edited February 29, 200817 yr by *libby*

Look forward to seeing the pictures.

Yes Libby, once they bite I’m afraid their beak is so sharp that it goes right into the brain I think, so not much chance of saving them. I don’t really like those aggressive hens that screech at you & stand to protect their eggs or young, I really like them to leave the nest so you can inspect without trouble as often they do more damage than protect. I have never had one latch onto one of their chicks though, sorry to hear that…win some, loose some… I’m afraid that’s the name of the game with breeding…we can only hope mostly we win.

Norm, do you ahve any pics of a blue series TCB? I would love to see what one looked like. Could you explain it? I cannot even picture it

Norm, do you ahve any pics of a blue series TCB? I would love to see what one looked like. Could you explain it? I cannot even picture it

Feathers has a pet type blue series TCB Hen. Maybe she has a photo of it for us

I don't have much to comment on other then I enjoy reading your experiences Norm, thank you for taking the time to share and type everything up.

Norm, do you ahve any pics of a blue series TCB? I would love to see what one looked like. Could you explain it? I cannot even picture it

Feathers has a pet type blue series TCB Hen. Maybe she has a photo of it for us

 

I do, but I will take another photo of Cammie tomorrow and then upload it.

 

 

Feathers.

Feathers would you mind adding to the TCB Mutation post under the Mutations, I looked there to see if you had posted your blue series but only saw the green series, that would be wonderful if you can.

I don't have much to comment on other then I enjoy reading your experiences Norm, thank you for taking the time to share and type everything up.

My pleasure Elly.

Norm, do you ahve any pics of a blue series TCB? I would love to see what one looked like. Could you explain it? I cannot even picture it

Dave I haven't got any as yet so we will have to wait for Feathers picture. In a good one the breast is almost white, with dark wing markings.

Here is my pet type Blue series TCB

 

 

Cammie:

 

 

 

 

 

Feathers.

PROBLEM: I had a nice Grey Green cock that I bought from a bird dealer [nice looking bird, bit old] paired with a Cinnamon Opaline Grey Green hen [bought from Hunter Valley show] they had four young in first batch. No problems…Now on their second batch & because of lack of pairs breeding & large batches of eggs hatching I had fostered some chicks to them as eggs. They had 7 young, when one TCB fell out of the nest, found it with it's head bitten quite badly, replaced it in the nest. Next day on inspection it was dead…a few minutes later when passing the cabinet saw the cock bird with blood all over his mask, checked the nest found three young just over pin feather stage with wounds to their heads…removed cock. Fostered some young to another pair who I had removed their larger chicks to aviary…seem accepted okay.

 

I seem to be getting too many young attacked when leaving the nest making me remove most young to the aviary soon after leaving the nest, as a precaution. Can't remember having these problems when I used to breed when I was younger & then my breeding cabinets were just made from wooden fruit case I got from the Green grocer & weren't as large as my breeding cabinets I use now. Well that's my latest news hopefully I might have some interesting young to show you soon.

 

Sorry to hear that Norm!

Seven young for a older cock may have been more than he was prepared to handle on the second round.

When fostering you need to make sure they are at a similar stage of development.

Some breeders have a platform in the bottom of the cage to give chicks under attack somewhere to hide, until the cavalry arrives.

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Plenty of soft food, seed, water.

Goodluck with the others

My latest update is not good news, I found my only pure Saddle Back dead in her cabinet this morning, as I said I didn’t have that much hope for her as something always seemed wrong with her, but still I was hopeful of getting something. But alas too late. I will mate my two split cocks with hens & hope for a small number of splits & attempt to get a better hen in the future.

Norm, l'm so sorry for your loss

Norm, l'm so sorry for your loss

 

Thanks Birdluv...but sadly it's something you have to get used to, when breeding, it all doesn't work out right.

Edited March 2, 200817 yr by Norm

My latest update is not good news, I found my only pure Saddle Back dead in her cabinet this morning, as I said I didn’t have that much hope for her as something always seemed wrong with her, but still I was hopeful of getting something. But alas too late. I will mate my two split cocks with hens & hope for a small number of splits & attempt to get a better hen in the future.

Can be very disheartening Norm

I'm so sorry you lost your TCB, Norm :yellowhead:

 

I am however looking forward to your blue series dusks though ...I can't wait to see photos.

Sory I should have had some pictures up by now, but I've been a cripple the last week or so, my left knee has gone on me for some reason & it's all I can do to get around to feed all my animals & birds…but coming soon.

Edited March 4, 200817 yr by Norm

Hope your knee gets better soon Norm. I always look forward to reading your updates, just wish I had more time to get on here more often

Nah Norm,

 

Sory I should have had some pictures up by now, but I've been a cripple the last week or so, my left knee has gone on me for some reason & it's all I can do to get around to feed all my animals & birds…but coming soon

 

Not good enough, mate. We want photos!! I bags being a better cripple than you

 

On a serious side though, I really do hope that your knee problem eases up as it can be very debilitating. Positive healing vibes going your way, Norm.

 

 

Feathers.

Point taken Aly…I guess I can’t begin to understand what you have to put up with, after once being completely mobile…but I guess you have no choice & just have to make the best of it & get on with life.

 

I’m not sure but mine might only be coffee withdrawal…bought some Arabic & was having about two a day, then it ran out…I’ve had some pains before after stopping drinking it…been try for about 30 years…(Laughing out loud)…got some aviaries with small doors a couple of times got in there could hardly get out…almost found out what it was like to be a bird in a cage…grin… Appreciate the good vibes thanks.

At last I got time to take a few pics of my young Dusks...here are the best pictures that I got of two Green Dusks, note the variation in feather colours on the breast, which seems to be a trait of this mutation. Photos of my one & only [so far] Blue Dusk, hopefully later today. I'm not sure this mutation is spectacular, but certainly of interest, I will get around to trying it with different colours to see its effect.

 

 

 

Edited March 6, 200817 yr by Norm

Very beautiful

Point taken Aly…I guess I can’t begin to understand what you have to put up with,

 

 

Oh Norm, I really didn't mean it that way... it was VERY tongue in cheek.

 

I know what it is like trying to get in and out of those small doors... thankfully I only have one of them. Everytime I am at a bird store I look longingly at the big doors and vow I am going to get around to putting one in one day.

 

The dusks are certainly interesting, Norm. I really must visit one day and check out all these rares you have collected.

 

 

Feathers.

 

ps: my texas clearbody was being very seriously chatted up by a big grey today after the rain, I am seriously thinking of putting them into a breeding cabinet!