Hi my name is Tina I have always loved budgies I had my first one when I was about 6 he was a green one. One day my mother cleaned the caged and he flew out (his name was Greeny) so I went to the pet shop and got another green bird and called him 'Greeny' again and he also got out. I was upset and did not have another bird until I was 15. I found a lovely pale blue budgie sitting on our front fence when I was water the garden so I wet him and caught him. I called him Bernie. He was great he was really tame would sit on my shoulder and never stayed in his cage, he slept in my room, he followed me everywhere.

 

Bernie lived for a long time (6 years), he was also my drive to start my own avery. In my first one I had about 12 birds and I did not know alot about breeding then and just let the go for it. I loved the suprise when the babies came out. However one cold and storming night our next door neighbour's dog got into the cage and killed the birds (luckly Bernie was a house pet and was alseep in my room).

 

After I married I again had the drive to breed and I brought a second hand avery full of budgies there was so many different colours I was in heaven. At this time I did not know I was pregnant and then we had to move so I sent the avery to my mums. So my budgie breeding days ended.

 

18 years later (second marrage and by this time 3 children) my husband sugested one morning that we should go budgie shopping and I could start the hobby of my dreams. I did not need to think about it. Went to the local bird shop and got a small avery and 4 birds 2 breeding boxs. Ahhh heaven that fantastic sound. I enjoyed just sitting and watching them I have them on our deck and I can see them out of the dinning room window.

 

I brought 2 texan clear bodies(I think) one male and one hen, a blue hen with black wings (not sure what it is called) and a violet male. Nothing happened for ages - Called the texan male Tex, the hen Winks, Bluey, and then the Violet, Indy. I thought that my budgie family was set. Tex and Bluey hit it of and started mating but Indy was not interested in Winks. Tex and Bluey had eggs but they did not hatch. I removed the eggs 5 weeks later. They again had eggs and I checked the box late one night. Next morning I noticed that one of the little doors was open and Indy had flown away.

 

Cut a long story short I went and got two more birds and as I put them in the cage one flew away so I went back to the shop and got two more. A green male, Mo, a pale blue male I call Commander Tucker(star trek) and a hen who is white and blue called Sky (not sure what the formal names for these colours are). I also got 2 more breeding boxes. It took a while for them all to settle down so I had 3 pairs. Then there was fighting and more issues so I removed the boxs (by this time Bluey had layed another 2 lots of eggs and none had hatched) to give all a break.

 

4 weeks ago I put the boxes back. Again Bluey and Tex were mating, but now Winks and Commander Tucker were mating also. Both hens had layed 4 eggs. Mo and Sky have matched up but not mated and sky was harassing Winks so I put Sky and Mo in another smaller cage. I thought that this breeding thing would be easy but not at all.

 

Well yesterday I checked Wink's box and I had a baby. I was so happy I picked it up and show it to my 2 1/2 year old. It felt cold but was moving, I put it back but I was worried about it. It looked like it had only hatched that day. When I checked today it had died I was so upset I wish I had found your site before this. (I have just read the information on baby budgies and it has really helped thank you). Anyway after this I burried the little one, so sad. Then I went and checked Bluey's box and I was so shocked she has hatched a baby wow it feels so good.

 

So hopefully we are of to a good start. I will take pictures of my budgie family and post them soon.

My question is about how much should I handle the babies and did Winks reject the baby because I handled the baby (I know you call them chicks but to me they are my babies). What should I do if she rejects the other babies. I have put silverbeet and sweet corn in the avery as well, is there anything anything esle I should do. My avery is on our back deck and and I have a cover over the top and down the back, they are well protected from rain and wind.

 

Tina

welcome to the forum tina! i cant wait for the pics!

Hi and Welcome!

"Commander Tucker," I love it! (not "Trip"? lol)

You cannot blame yourself for the little hatchling; after all, if breeding goes well you will have to check the babies every day and put them back and normally the mother will waste no time checking them and feeding them upon their return to the nest.

My question is about how much should I handle the babies and did Winks reject the baby because I handled the baby (

 

Tina

 

 

You can handle them every day....read my article on Care of Baby Budgies in the Nest.... http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=13358

 

and no...you touching the baby had nothing to do with the death. As you said the baby was cold when you felt it. BUT read up and you will find there is things you can do to warm babies and make sure they survive in the future.

Read this http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....;hl=dead+babies

Edited September 15, 200915 yr by KAZ

Hi to all, and thanks for the warm welcome.

 

I have great news Bluey has hatched another baby today and they both have food in their crops and all is well. I noticed that the new baby does not have dark (black) eyes but it looks red is this normal?

 

I do feel better about handling them and I cleaned the poo of them today as well. I let my 2 1/2 year old (Harry) hold one today and he was so excited. They were moving and their little wings were flapping.

 

To Kate I did think of calling him (Commander Tucker) Trip but I had uesd that name for Harry when I was pregnant with him ad he was my third IVF transfer and my third boy so feel a bit funny about using it for my bird but would love to call one Dax or Major or even T'pual. Mo is called that from Walle as he was the little cleaner and cute.

 

To Kaz I did read the information on baby birds and found that it has really helped I feel a lot more comfortable with things now. It is great to be able to chat to others about this passion.

 

I am taking some photos this weekend and will post them. I am working full time this term and have one more week of work so my days are full plus looking after Harry when I get home.

 

Again thanks . Tina

Hi Tina...Welcome

Hi, welcome

hello and welcome

 

Its great you are checking your babies in the nest. it will help you find early signs of things being wrong. The babies should be clean and not getting any poop on their bodies or legs or face. Have you got nesting material in the box? it may just be there is nothing to dry out the poop. wet and messy nests can be the first signs of illness in the chicks. If you smell anything offensive in the nest, then infection is present.

Hi to all.

 

I have been checking the babies in the morning before work and after work in the afternoon. Today I went and got nesting stuff (shavings) I took the box out (without Bluey) and cleaned out the box and placed in the nesting material. Are the babies safe in there? I did not put a lot in but I worry that they may get lost in it as they are so small. :thankyou:

 

Today I got Hubby to take some photos but both mothers were camera shy so only dads and babies. Plus the other pair that I dont have in the avery.

 

 

Tex is the father of the babies

 

Commander Tucker is Winks mate and they have had eggs one hatched but died and there are three more in the box I am waiting until monday to see if they hatch which is 7 days from when the other egg hatched. Then will remove eggs and let them try again.

 

 

Babies

 

The baby on the right is the one that I am worried about it does not have dark eyes and it looks to me that the bottom beak does not match the top one, like the other baby. Is this something I should worry about or is it okay? Again I am waiting to see if this egg hatches by monday and if not will remove it.

 

Babies in the new bed

 

Sky is the youngest of my birds and loves to get her self in the most amazing situations likes to try to turn herself inside out on the top of cage or on the swing. I dont think that she has relly warmed up to Mo yet but is now letting him clean her.

 

Sky is sitting next to Mo, I moved them into a smaller cage to help the mother birds to settle.

 

Mo.

 

The pink on the birds wings and faces are from a calcium rod thing that I have in the avery, was told it was good for the birds but it is a dark pink and the birds rub themselves on it.

 

As I am new to describing the correct colouring or type (not sure how to say it) can someone please tell what they are? I know I need to take better photos and will try again tomorrow. Plus will try to get photos of mothers.

 

Cheers Tina

 

 

 

very cute and what do you mean in the top beaks not matching up? could you elaborate in that and maybie a photo to show what you mean well donew

ow they are so tiny compared to my tiel babies

Red eyes I think is just an indication of lutino or cinnamon but I will let an expert answer that, I don't "do" budgie breeding lol

Babies

 

The baby on the right is the one that I am worried about it does not have dark eyes and it looks to me that the bottom beak does not match the top one, like the other baby. Is this something I should worry about or is it okay? Again I am waiting to see if this egg hatches by monday and if not will remove it.

 

The baby on the right is an ino...albino or lutino depending on the parents. Anything beak related at this age will mean nothing. You may be seeing the egg tooth still attached making it look a little weird.

I agree with Kaz, albino or lutino. could be lacewing too, but its definitely a hen in any case

 

Just a note, I wouldn't handle the eggs as its very easy to adle them or for bacteria from your fingers to kill the embryo.

Hi and welcome tina.... :hurryup: for your lil babies!

Edited September 22, 200915 yr by mysixbabies

Today I went and got nesting stuff (shavings) I took the box out (without Bluey) and cleaned out the box and placed in the nesting material. Are the babies safe in there? I did not put a lot in but I worry that they may get lost in it as they are so small. :hurryup:

Your pine shavings do look a little big and springy. Either crush it up so the shavings are smaller or use plain brand porridge oats for nesting materials.

Hi To All,

 

Thanks for all the feed back.

 

To Liv - How do you know that the albino is a Hen? I cant tell anything about them. Today that one or she is a week old and both have now started to open their eyes. There mother 'Bluey' is doing such a great job taking care of them, they always seem to be well feed. 'Winks' is taking good care of her baby its eyes have not started to open yet.

 

I have never really handled the eggs, the egg in the photo was there as I was cleaning out the box. I have now throwen the other eggs out. In all I have three babies and they are all doing well and growing very fast.

 

The other good news is that on the weekend I went and got another small avery, so have moved 'Mo' and 'Sky' into that one. I was worried that the small cage they were in might be harmful to them. I plan on using this cage for the babies when they are old enough.

 

Kaz - thanks about the beak I checked today and all looks well.

 

I have another question are albino's good? Can you breed from them? The reason I ask is that I have not seen many and wonder if they are healthy birds, and how did I get one?

 

I know I ask lots question but I am trying to learn as much as possible.

 

I would love to buy a pair of cinnamons hopefully in the blue ranage (I love the blues) where would be the best place to get them? So far I have got all my birds from a bird shop.

 

Hope everyone is doing well.

Cheers Tina

You should start a topic in Breeding Journals with pictures! I'd love to see an "ino" develop. Glad your babies are doing well.

You should start a topic in Breeding Journals with pictures! I'd love to see an "ino" develop. Glad your babies are doing well.

 

It is good to see your enthusiasm in breeding budgies. Welcome. I use sawdust bought from a stock food place and mix it with unprocessed bran. The nest boxes are cleaned out every week.

I would like to suggest you buy a book on breeding budgies and there are plenty on ebay, especiallly any written by Cyril Rogers, this book is my budgie bible. Another good book is written by John Scoble.

I have another question are albino's good? Can you breed from them? The reason I ask is that I have not seen many and wonder if they are healthy birds, and how did I get one?

 

I know I ask lots question but I am trying to learn as much as possible.

 

 

Hi Tina,

Albinos are just another mutation of bird. They are perfectly normal and yes you can breed from them. I'm not a genetic wiz so I cant tell you how you got one exactly but if you like the colour of your special baby, she is 'good'.

 

Asking lots of Questions is good. it shows that you are truly dedicated to your birds and anyway, we love answering them!!!!

Good Luck,

m6b