BG is in the middle and Lady is on the Right

 

 

BG is doing well in the warmth of the house - he is living it up as one of the 'insiders' and i am feeling that he will be good to go this spring.

 

Lady on the other hand, is a 07 hen who to me is scatter brained. She stresses in small cages and seems to me that her temperament is not what i call 'desirable' for safe uneventful breeding - she seems quite moody and sometimes picks on other birds.

 

I am desperate to get some good genes from BG as he is old and I dont know if he will be upto it much longer.

 

I am worried about puting Lady and BG togather becuase she is showing the signs of a 'bad mother' and I dont want to risk BG's final genes on a hen who will potentially harm or kill the eggs/chicks.

 

I am considdering my options....

 

1. Put BG and Lady together and just hope it goes well

or

2. Put BG with the hen he had in summer - she is a great mum but not so good in the genes area

or

3. Put Lady with a test male first

or

4. Put BG and Lady together but foster any eggs to a trusted pair

 

What do you guys think i should do

Edited July 8, 200816 yr by **Liv**

Baby steps Liv. BG has been very very ill and only time will tell if you can breed with him anytime soon. He has to have been in optimum health for a good period of time or he will take a major dive downwards in health once he is put down to breed. He may not be up for it.

Your reasoning about the hen is sound and she doesnt sound right. Of course you could try her with another cock just to trial her as a mother before BG is ready ....if he is ready.

Edited July 8, 200816 yr by KAZ

She doesn't sound so good to use as a final breed. But you could always go for the 1 cock to 3 hens method. But BG will have to be up to it for breeding.

f you only want him in with 1 hen, I would choose a different hen. Option 2 or 4. You should probably put him with an experienced hen.

I was thinking the same thing Kaz..... Liv maybe a bit too soon for BG

Oh, No, I'm not breeding him now - thinking in August - September - My breeding room isn't even done yet, and i dont have any cabinets.

 

I won't do it if he is not up to it either - I am using positive thinking at the moment

 

I think i might put Lady (in early August) with a test male and see how she goes at being a mum and go from there.

Who would be a good partner for her???

Edited July 8, 200816 yr by **Liv**

Pick a stable and sensible tempered male for the silly hen Liv. Maybe one who has been a good father before...he may teach her good parenting behaviour.

I agree with Kaz, August is right around the corner just next month I think that BG should be retired and let him live the rest of his life without you or him worrying about the stress of him getting ill. These are my thoughts.

Well if you have the money, you could always try A.I.

Yes you have a point Kaz and Elly, August is getting close now - time is flying

 

Now i like the idea of AI SW Maybe i could use a male IVF and artificially inseminate Lady with BG's sperm..... has that been done before with budgies????

Edited July 8, 200816 yr by **Liv**

A.I. is definitely done with budgies

A.I. is definitely done with budgies

 

Really??? Wow!

May i ask..... how????? it would have to be fiddly with such little "bits"

A.I. is definitely done with budgies

 

Really??? Wow!

May i ask..... how????? it would have to be fiddly with such little "bits"

 

It's not common practice but some do use artificial insemination.

Here is an article http://www.bcv.asn.au/AI.htm

A.I. is definitely done with budgies

 

Really??? Wow!

May i ask..... how????? it would have to be fiddly with such little "bits"

 

It's not common practice but some do use artificial insemination.

Here is an article http://www.bcv.asn.au/AI.htm

 

What a very interesting article, thanks Kaz. I thought it would be far more complicated than that. Has anyone here done it ???

I think Throwback has done it, but you won't get any secrets out of him

The thought crossed my mind to lend you a hen, but my best hens currently not in use are spangles, though I do have a gorgeous cinny grey normal hen who has actually won in shows and she is an 06 bird, throws great offspring and I dont have room to breed her yet, I also bought 2 of her offspring and they are good sized normal cinnamon greens. But as others have said, it might be a bit much for him after being ill.......it's just a thought

The thought crossed my mind to lend you a hen, but my best hens currently not in use are spangles, though I do have a gorgeous cinny grey normal hen who has actually won in shows and she is an 06 bird, throws great offspring and I don't have room to breed her yet, I also bought 2 of her offspring and they are good sized normal cinnamon greens. But as others have said, it might be a bit much for him after being ill.......it's just a thought

 

Thanks Sunnie,

It is a really kind offer - in about 6-8 weeks I will see what condition BG is in and I might just take you up on your offer - we can share the babies like Kaz and Feathers

That was my thought too......I dont have too many big cocks but I have some very nice hens lol and as you know, I come up your way quite regularly