Hello all.

As most of you know, I have just started to do select breeding instead of colony breeding. I have asked alot of questions and I understand if anyone is annoyed. I have learnt alot from this forum.

 

Questions..

 

1. I read somewhere that when selective breeding, budgies should be given atleast 10 hours of light per day.

Does that mean they need to be getting uv light or just filtered light. Because I can put them out in the sun for the day but that would get quite hot?

 

2. I put a pair of budgies in a breeder cage yesterday, 1 male 1 female. Both over and a half old. All they seem to do is try to get out of the cage. They are quite tame and will actually sit on your finger for a while. Is this a sign that they do not want to be together and or mate? the male usualy runs around the floor of the cage for hours and the female flys from perch to perch constantly. Is this some kind of mating ritual or do they not like eachother?

 

3.Where can I get the rings that you fit onto a budgies leg to tell when it was born. I have been to every pet shop in my area and not one of them sell them. Also, how much do they cost for a pack of like 100?

 

4. Their used to be some programs that you could record budgie birth dates and mutations and keep records for birds. Does anyone know of any free versions of these?

 

Thanks very much for all your help

Hello all.

As most of you know, I have just started to do select breeding instead of colony breeding. I have asked alot of questions and I understand if anyone is annoyed. I have learnt alot from this forum.

 

Questions..

 

1. I read somewhere that when selective breeding, budgies should be given atleast 10 hours of light per day.

Does that mean they need to be getting uv light or just filtered light. Because I can put them out in the sun for the day but that would get quite hot?

 

I have a fluro light in my breeding room that is on a timer for14 hours light per day - you don't want your budgies in the sun all day - they just lots of white light to get them in the breeding mood

 

2. I put a pair of budgies in a breeder cage yesterday, 1 male 1 female. Both over and a half old. All they seem to do is try to get out of the cage. They are quite tame and will actually sit on your finger for a while. Is this a sign that they do not want to be together and or mate? the male usualy runs around the floor of the cage for hours and the female flys from perch to perch constantly. Is this some kind of mating ritual or do they not like eachother?

 

Most birds when moved from an aviary into a smaller cage will become stressed and try to escape. they should settle down in a few days.

 

3.Where can I get the rings that you fit onto a budgies leg to tell when it was born. I have been to every pet shop in my area and not one of them sell them. Also, how much do they cost for a pack of like 100?

 

You need to join a budgie club and order your personalised rings though them - they are about $0.50 each (from memory)

 

4. Their used to be some programs that you could record budgie birth dates and mutations and keep records for birds. Does anyone know of any free versions of these?

There are lots out there, but i dont use any so try Google and see what you find. There is also a recent topic about breeding computer programs

 

Thanks very much for all your help

Your welcome

Edited July 31, 200817 yr by **Liv**

okay

Thanks very much for your help

I doubt a budgie club would let someone like me join. They are all professional show breeders arent they?

Hello all.

As most of you know, I have just started to do select breeding instead of colony breeding. I have asked alot of questions and I understand if anyone is annoyed. I have learnt alot from this forum.

 

Questions..

 

1. I read somewhere that when selective breeding, budgies should be given atleast 10 hours of light per day.

Does that mean they need to be getting uv light or just filtered light. Because I can put them out in the sun for the day but that would get quite hot?

 

adding to the other info.......you dont move budgies about once they are in a breeding cage for breeding. Disturbances like that wont ever get them breeding

 

2. I put a pair of budgies in a breeder cage yesterday, 1 male 1 female. Both over and a half old. All they seem to do is try to get out of the cage. They are quite tame and will actually sit on your finger for a while. Is this a sign that they do not want to be together and or mate? the male usualy runs around the floor of the cage for hours and the female flys from perch to perch constantly. Is this some kind of mating ritual or do they not like eachother?

Normal for budgies taken from larger space and put into a breeder cage...they will try and jailbreak for a few days

 

3.Where can I get the rings that you fit onto a budgies leg to tell when it was born. I have been to every pet shop in my area and not one of them sell them. Also, how much do they cost for a pack of like 100?

Not a petshop thing...you have to be a budgie club member and around 45 cents each

 

4. Their used to be some programs that you could record budgie birth dates and mutations and keep records for birds. Does anyone know of any free versions of these?

 

Thanks very much for all your help

Edited July 31, 200817 yr by KAZ

Hello all.

As most of you know, I have just started to do select breeding instead of colony breeding. I have asked alot of questions and I understand if anyone is annoyed. I have learnt alot from this forum.

 

Questions..

 

1. I read somewhere that when selective breeding, budgies should be given atleast 10 hours of light per day.

Does that mean they need to be getting uv light or just filtered light. Because I can put them out in the sun for the day but that would get quite hot?

 

I have a fluro light in my breeding room that is on a timer for14 hours light per day - you don't want your budgies in the sun all day - they just lots of white light to get them in the breeding mood

 

2. I put a pair of budgies in a breeder cage yesterday, 1 male 1 female. Both over and a half old. All they seem to do is try to get out of the cage. They are quite tame and will actually sit on your finger for a while. Is this a sign that they do not want to be together and or mate? the male usualy runs around the floor of the cage for hours and the female flys from perch to perch constantly. Is this some kind of mating ritual or do they not like eachother?

 

Most birds when moved from an aviary into a smaller cage will become stressed and try to escape. they should settle down in a few days.

 

3.Where can I get the rings that you fit onto a budgies leg to tell when it was born. I have been to every pet shop in my area and not one of them sell them. Also, how much do they cost for a pack of like 100?

 

You need to join a budgie club and order your personalised rings though them - they are about $0.50 each (from memory)

 

4. Their used to be some programs that you could record budgie birth dates and mutations and keep records for birds. Does anyone know of any free versions of these?

There are lots out there, but i dont use any so try Google and see what you find. There is also a recent topic about breeding computer programs

 

Thanks very much for all your help

Your welcome

 

Out the back of my house I have an awning about 1 meter wide. It is basically always shaded and never gets full onsun but it is light for about 12 hours in the day. Would that be okay? Thats the only place I have really...

okay

Thanks very much for your help

I doubt a budgie club would let someone like me join. They are all professional show breeders arent they?

 

I am a member of NEBS. I am not a professional show breeder - I haven't even produced a chick from 2 rung parents yet. Anyone can join a budgie club - it is the only way you will get rings and there are (normally) lots of lovely people willing to help newbies

Anyone can join a budgie club

Do you have to go to budgie meetings and the sort if your in a budgie club?Does anyone know anyone I can contact about budgie clubs in queensland? I live about 50 minutes out of brisbane. I have googled a few but I cant find any email adresses or ways to contact them. Is anyone here a member of a queensland budgie club?Thanks very much

Edited July 31, 200817 yr by pearce

Is it normal for the male to be in the nesting box with the female? The pair has been in the breeding cage for 3 days but they have bonded for months in the avairy (thats why I pulled them out of the avairy, they were close). When ever I walk past the cage both the male and female flutter about and fly straight into the nesting box, Its like they are both very scared and fleeing to the box. Both budgies are not tame. If the female lays eggs and I walk past and scare them, They will fly straight into the nest box and probably break all the eggs. Maybe they are just to scared to breed? The female is also chewing the nesting box to pieces. I see her sitting on the top chewing at the lid of the box.

 

THanks

Is it normal for the male to be in the nesting box with the female? The pair has been in the breeding cage for 3 days but they have bonded for months in the avairy (thats why I pulled them out of the avairy, they were close). When ever I walk past the cage both the male and female flutter about and fly straight into the nesting box, Its like they are both very scared and fleeing to the box. Both budgies are not tame. If the female lays eggs and I walk past and scare them, They will fly straight into the nest box and probably break all the eggs. Maybe they are just to scared to breed? The female is also chewing the nesting box to pieces. I see her sitting on the top chewing at the lid of the box. THanks

A lot of males go in the nesting box so dont worry about that.The fluttery behaviour may indicate you have them in an area they feel vulnerable...you mention you walk past them all the time. Can you move them a little. Please post a photo of that cage set up so I can help further. Female chewing is a sign she is "housekeeping" and making things the way she wants them for breeding...its a good sign.

Do you have to go to budgie meetings and the sort if your in a budgie club?Does anyone know anyone I can contact about budgie clubs in queensland? I live about 50 minutes out of brisbane. I have googled a few but I cant find any email adresses or ways to contact them. Is anyone here a member of a queensland budgie club?Thanks very much

There is a budgerigar council of Queensland as there is in every state of Australia.Here is the link......... http://www.sqbba.com/They will tell you your nearest club. There are members on here who are part of budgie clubs in QLD also.

Thanks very much Kaz.

I meant When I walk past them to get to the other budgies and to feed them etc.. I only go past twice a day. Even if I moved them I'd still have to feed them anyway. I am going to the qld budgie council site at the moment I will keep you posted.

 

THanks very much everyone.

Pearce, What great questions, and Great Answers and advice has been given ...

It is soo much different compared to coloney breeding isn't

I have sent emails and called the Wynnum Redland Budgerigar Incand theIpswich and District Budgerigar Society Inc. Hopefully one of the clubs will accept me.

Pearce, What great questions, and Great Answers and advice has been given ...It is soo much different compared to coloney breeding isn't

Yes it will be so good. I just hope it all works out and its successfull.THanks very much.

Hello all

Sorry if this sounds stupid but I had to ask.

When budgies colony breed, the younger budgies would learn from the elderly budgies how to sit on eggs and care for young right? When selective breeding how will the offspring know how to care for budgies and sit on eggs when their time for breeding comes? Does the mother teach them or does it just come naturally to all birds.

 

Sorry if I sound stupid but I was thinking that is why some hens smash eggs and dont incubate properly.

Hello all

Sorry if this sounds stupid but I had to ask.

When budgies colony breed, the younger budgies would learn from the elderly budgies how to sit on eggs and care for young right? When selective breeding how will the offspring know how to care for budgies and sit on eggs when their time for breeding comes? Does the mother teach them or does it just come naturally to all birds.

 

Sorry if I sound stupid but I was thinking that is why some hens smash eggs and dont incubate properly.

The only way the younger budgies will learn to sit on eggs and feed young ( in a colony breeding situation ) is if they are in someone else's nestbox and that wont happen. They learn those things due to memories of the way they were raised in the nestbox and also by years of breeding instincts.

 

How else do budgies in breeding cabinets figure it out ? Memories and instincts. Parental training at hatching and onwards by parents. A lot of birds that have been pulled from nests at a very early age of have had to be hand raised ...these birds they say make worse parents.

 

What younger budgies learn in colony breeding is.............relationships and courting behaviour and mating rituals and mating. The worst thing about having young in a colony breeding situation is ...if there are nestboxes in the space they live in, they will try and breed too young. Thats why its best to keep the under 12 month old birds out of an environment that has nesting boxes. The nestbox is permission to make babies at any age.

Edited August 1, 200817 yr by KAZ

see, i don't believe the Teaching parent skills.

Either they are good parents or bad ones. it is in their genes.

Totally agree with young under 12 months in the same avairy as breeding pairs

Hello all.

I have another question if you dont mind.

Does anyone know how to tell the gender of a king quail? I heard it was the white line under their head but im not sure.

One of my quails is always biting the other quails necks so I have moved him until i figure out what he is doing. All my quails except for him have bald spots on their necks and heads. Is it a mating thing or is he being territorial. I have 6 quails and all but one have the white line under their head, including the biter. Maybe he is fighting for the quail without the white line (female?) If this is true I will have to buy more females.

 

Thanks for your help

males always have an obvious throat marking that looks a little like a smiley face. The hens don't have it at all

okay thanks.

That means I have 5 males and 1 female. That is probably why they bite eachother. Ill have to get more hens.

THanks

If your breeding them make sure that the bottom of the avairy or where ever they are housed, has No mesh as the bubs will walk right thru the gaps

Personally I will only ever keep one male per aviary although in your huge aviary you could maybe stretch to two. If they get into breeding mode you will start finding dead quails. You would be best to see if you can find someone who needs a few males and will swap for hens. Also you are best to have atleast two hens per male so the hens don't get harrassed.

okay so I couldnt have 5 males and 8 females in my avairy? Hmm I dont know anyone in my area with quails except for pet shops, and I doubt they will take my quails.

 

Thanks

you will be suprised at what pet shops Buy and sell ...... :mellow: