Yes Hopefully I'll be joining Chookbreeder09's club at Melton... That's the closest one to my new place I think. It's definitely the closest one to me now...

 

That's the best club meaning top club Jimmy they have being winning all the shields lately and they have the top breeders there, Hunter, Thurn ect, I would love to be in that club

Yes Hopefully I'll be joining Chookbreeder09's club at Melton... That's the closest one to my new place I think. It's definitely the closest one to me now...

That's the best club meaning top club Jimmy they have being winning all the shields lately and they have the top breeders there, Hunter, Thurn ect, I would love to be in that club

Don't let geography stop you - you could always become a "non-showing" member

Just thinking about the topic itself though.......... I would have thought that these sorts of forums were a good place to recruit beginners and help them out with basics of breeding, showing etc but really how many TOP (I mean really TOP) breeders hang out here and help out others with what they have learned.........?

 

Even though my almost three year old son has been told how to climb onto the big playground at the park he still needs my help doing so... This forum gives members ALOT of great information that helps our budgies stay fit and healthy but what this forum can not give is someone to have right there who I can call and say 'Hey Bart, I'm looking at my birds and something just doesn't look right you reckon you could pop round?' (And I don't think the forum should have to pay for 'tech support' for its members ) It would be fantastic if we had the Tonkins, Gazzards, Rowes here... if anyone knows them invite them!

 

I've been reading this thread and found it great. I know its from an experienced breeders point of view, but If you'll allow I'll tell you the things that I'd like to find out as someone that wishes to join a club and start breeding next year after I've moved houses...

 

I'd love to know what can go wrong. Having all the facts before me allows me to make a more informed decision... I'm the kind of person that can't stand surprises... take birthdays and christmas for example... I like to know what it is I'm getting. that way if I don't like it I have time to warm up to the idea or at least prepare myself to pretend to like it I'm the same with everything and so, I don't want any surprises... I buy 10 birds am told 5 are cocks 5 are hens... when I find out that they are all cocks you can bet I'm coming around to your place for a pleasant chat...

 

Just looking at a bird WILL NOT tell me if the bird is, a good egg filler (in the case of a cock), a good egg layer (in case of a hen) wether they are good parents, it breeds well, what chicks it will reproduce (with 100% accuracy). All this information is passed onto me by 1 person, the person selling me the bird... What I would like as a beginner is to know that they arn't pulling the wool over my eyes. Sure when you cull you are of course not going to sell your best birds, thats not what I expect, what I would like is reliable information. For instance, if I come to you (an experienced breeder) and say, "I'm just starting out, I want a foundation Cock and Hen please," don't turn around and sell me a cock you KNOW shoots blanks and a hen that should she get pregnant by devine intervention will eat the eggs... or you can bet I'm coming around to your place for a pleasant chat...

 

The biggest thing I'd want is 'Community', which isn't all that common nowadays... By joining a club I am saying I want to join you and become a part of your community. I don't want to be an outsider, I want to feel like I am accepted. Don't treat newbies with contempt... Yes it is obvious that you need a male and female bird to make babies but maybe I skipped health class in High School... As a beginner I'm going to ask stupid questions that one day someone will ask me... please just take a breath and offer a hand of help...

 

Having been a member of this forum I now know what to look out for to determine sex, how healthy the bird is and other such things, but it would be REAL handy to have someone that I could ask for help in purchasing good birds for the price I pay. I guess what would be great is if there was some form of Mentoring or Apprenteship program at clubs...

 

(This post is NOT about this forum, I have found the overwelming majority of people on this forum to be fantastic, friendly and helpful, but I am talking about Clubs, I have spoken to a number of different people on and off this forum who have told me stories about people who have ripped them off or treated them poorly from Clubs when they were beginners, that is sad, is it any wonder that we lose so many through the journey)

 

This is great Jimmy and also true like our club is really great the more experience are happy to give advice but when you are starting out like m 2 years ago just won my first best beginner bird in show and I wanted to take that bird to 2 other shows and someone very imprtant in the club advised to the cut one tail feather and then in a couple of days pull it out and then it will grow back in time the the next show and the shield, this was on all my birds that I had ready for the shows, well of the birds tail feathers did not grow back in time because there was not enough time for them to grow back, the question was I advised right with good intensions or was it sinister.

So when the shows came I only had one good hen to take and a couple of others all my good birds including the DF spangle were home with NO tails.

Well anyway being new to show I entered my best bird in the wrong class as I didn't know any better, someone pointed it out to me and told me to ask the show manager to change it as I am a beginner and he said no, when the judge saw it he saked the show to change and he said no to him too and boy was I dissappointed, I actually changed clubs after that. Anyway that hen that was disqualified got picked in the young bird sheild and placed well.

 

BUT what I am saying that first club they were all men and except for a couple of them none of them had the time of day for me.

But now I am in a club that is much more friendly but they are very competetive.

 

In the club I am in now we do a a couple of breeders that you would never buy a bird from.

 

Forgot to mention in our club we have a mentore (how ever you spell) and he is very happy to come to our aviaries and give advice on how we are doing, help in pairing and advice with preventive medicine ect, he is the best.

Edited November 13, 200915 yr by splat

Yes Hopefully I'll be joining Chookbreeder09's club at Melton... That's the closest one to my new place I think. It's definitely the closest one to me now...

 

well jim he is a fantastic man he helped me walk around the show and pointed out some things of what the judges look for

he also asked my opinion as to what bird do you think and what is my reason for saying that bird deserved a place

and then asked if i minded him telling me what i picked wrong or wright

he was very helpful and didn't know me at all i just walked up and introduced myself told him i was gb from here and best of all i didnt ask to be walked through some things he offered very kindly if i would like him to give me a few points on what they look for on the bench

he introduced me to a few people and all in all they were all very helpful and offered their assistance and some e mails were exchanged for if i needed any support with quires

i may have ever

 

and splat the answer is not directional feather its very good feather all over

proportion of birds ,shoulders,depth of mask ,health your birds have height in their blow but look pretty ordinary unless you happen to have one being showy their directional feather is good

all my one needed was some length but i think that's why she was culled in first place

im happy to take your smaller birds

lol ...any bird ,lol

but im happy to wait for the birds i really want

splat is a good example of a breeder helping you get on your feet

she her self is only freshish to hobby

and she knows im after a certain blood line of her stock

and has been honest and told me it could be some time before i can

grab any so. straight farward no bullshiting me around no trying to sell me other stock

My plan if I ever get the chance, is to buy some older pairs that have served well and getting ready for retirement, half a dozen to start with? My only expectation?, keeping beautiful birds in the backyard. Oh, and i would love to win...

My plan if I ever get the chance, is to buy some older pairs that have served well and getting ready for retirement, half a dozen to start with? My only expectation?, keeping beautiful birds in the backyard. Oh, and i would love to win...

Buyer older females is a hazardous choice to make. In most cases you will have problems.

I have only ever heard nice things said about PT so I am looking forward to joining the club. Just on what I wrote before, Some clubs, even all clubs, may have the things that I was looking for, as a person that has never been in a club I don't know what goes on, or how they work. I mean I know they have shows, monthly meetings and they all like Budgies but other than that I don't know how they work so if you read my post and think, 'who does this bloke think he is...' it wasn't my intention to come across like that, I just was saying what I would like to see in a club when I join. :fingerscrossed:

I have only ever heard nice things said about PT so I am looking forward to joining the club. Just on what I wrote before, Some clubs, even all clubs, may have the things that I was looking for, as a person that has never been in a club I don't know what goes on, or how they work. I mean I know they have shows, monthly meetings and they all like Budgies but other than that I don't know how they work so if you read my post and think, 'who does this bloke think he is...' it wasn't my intention to come across like that, I just was saying what I would like to see in a club when I join. :rofl:

 

You may scare a few people if you turn up looking like that avatar :fingerscrossed:

:fingerscrossed: :rofl: :hap: I'm scarier when I'm not pulling faces

Yes Jimmy the the in your avatar is really creeper :rofl: You look like a zombie or something from a scary movie :fingerscrossed:

Well I have a sneaking suspicion that quite a few do take a look - of course Kaz would know better than anyone as she approves all new memberships so she knows who is who :hap: But as to how many are ready and willing to help others out .... well Nubbly you are TOPPEST! :rofl:

Don't forget Chookbreeder09, he goes alright on the show bench!

 

 

Yes I know there are lurkers :fingerscrossed: But I'd love to see some input into discussions like this from guys like Chookbreeder09. Not pointing at him per se but I find it a little bit like "guarding their patch" which is a little self defeating if their patch dwindles so much due to no newbies, that all they end up competing against is themselves.

 

I would also suggest to newbies to listen to the chatter around them at clubs too. You can pick up snippets of gem information and learn stuff that way too.

Do some research....... I mean really........ although there is a distinct old boys club out there, PLENTY of people have written about budgies from health to genetics - you know you CAN help yourself a lot and yes a mentor is great but learning is a self drive thing. Read books, read articles, talk to people (just chatting away will herald much information if you are prepared to listen).

 

Buying birds IS a hard one and one that I've (and everyone else I guess) has struggled with. I now have a list of breeders I would consider buying more birds from and a few I would never buy from again but I had to come up with that list myself from trial and error.

 

It's hard to know if the wool is being pulled over your eyes but being super keen to buy might be a way of getting done if the person you are buying from is unscrupulous. Also pestering people for their good birds - COME ON - if someone did that to me I would probably never sell anything to them. I do agree that buying current year birds or maybe the year before depending on the time of year is probably best but that means you get the seconds. I choose my BEST birds to breed with and sell off the stock I feel I don't need. Sometimes picking up a cheap, bred with, older bird (so long as it is not ancient and bred that year or the year before (you have to trust the breeder here though) is a good option as these are the birds that the breeder felt were worth keeping to use - but you take a bigger risk).

 

I DO try to help out people who ask for my assistance at show days but sometimes (bearing in mind that I'm either judging OR show managing 99% of the time) I just don't have the time to constantly help class birds, give advice or discuss health issues. Also at some point I do expect people will learn these things for themselves - I guess I'm not the super patient kind who is happy to explain over and over and over the same thing to the same person but I'm more than happy to share information that might help others in the hobby. Sometimes it's hard in the mentor role as you will be asked for advice, give it and then the person goes and does exactly the opposite anyway so you step back and allow the person to make those mistakes purposefully diluting your part in that newbie relationship.

 

At auctions I like to enjoy myself, as it's one of the few times that I can relax to any great degree (after setting up and benching and before the auction starts and I have to man the computer) and unless someone has specifically asked me prior to the auction to select out birds for them AND I've agreed to do this, I find people who dog me the whole way around, asking me to find good birds for them REALLY annoying. Much nicer if you tee this up before hand and remember that I'm there to maybe grab a bargain too!!!

 

I found that when I joined SWBC a few people were very friendly and welcoming and most gave information freely when asked so I had a relatively easy road in. But then I stewarded almost from day one and that's a great way to build relationships with top breeders (who are often the judges anyway) AND showed them that I was pretty keen and willing to give back to the club in exchange for the help and info I was getting.

:fingerscrossed: :rofl: I was getting sad constantly looking at my picture of X :hap: So I put this picture up :D

 

meanwhile back in the how to help a beginner thread...

 

If everyone in the hobby was as helpful as this forum I reckon budgie breeding would be a heap more popular...

Debunking some of the myths I was told as a Beginner, in no particular order:

 

Budgies are desert birds and can tolerate those hot 40+ days with no ill-effects ...

Show Budgies are much bigger and carry way more feather than the little Bush Budgies and cannot fly away when the aviary heats up

 

Glen 20 is great for eliminating lice and mites ...

Use it at your peril

 

She's really fat 'cause she hasn't had enough exercise ...

She can't fly 'cause she has a massive tumor

 

I haven't bred with her ...

And you never would have 'cause she's an internal layer

 

Pull its tail a month before the show and it will grow back in time ...

Sometimes those tail feathers never do grow back

 

Any one else like to add some? :fingerscrossed:

Debunking some of the myths I was told as a Beginner, in no particular order:

 

I haven't bred with her ...

And you never would have 'cause she's an internal layer

 

 

Well that one goes down to the honesty of the seller doesn't it. If I had a hen that I couldn't get to breed my first instinct is to cull it not sell it. I have not ever sold a hen that I knew I could not breed from and all the ones I haven't bred with I will say just that. You can never guarantee that anything will breed but at least then the buyer can take the chance. I don't necessarily think that one is a myth just a dishonest seller or an honest one that really didn't know that the hen laid internally.

 

 

Myths I was told:

Put birds down to breed the first rains after Easter - disaster is what I'd call that.

Full body colour greywings are greywing split clearwing...... took me a while to get my head around the real answer.

Use bran as nesting material....... only if you like gazillions of moths everywhere.

We tried it that way and it didn't work........ sometimes it's the operator and not the tools.

Edited November 14, 200915 yr by nubbly5

Use bran as nesting material....... only if you like gazillions of moths everywhere.

 

 

Funny :fingerscrossed: I use bran and often rolled oats......I have NO MOTHS :rofl: Weird huh ?

Use bran as nesting material....... only if you like gazillions of moths everywhere.

 

 

Funny :fingerscrossed: I use bran and often rolled oats......I have NO MOTHS :hap: Weird huh ?

 

You obviously have WAY better moth control than I ever did........ I ended up getting carried away by moths and changed to pine shavings - no more moth problems :rofl: That one probably goes under the "its sometimes the operator and not the tools" section.

Edited November 14, 200915 yr by nubbly5

I used to use a mozzie zapper. It went missing so I havent used one for awhile.

I used to use a mozzie zapper. It went missing so I havent used one for awhile.

 

Are they okay in the bird room?? i was thinking of getting one as i have some moths.

I used to use a mozzie zapper. It went missing so I havent used one for awhile.

 

Are they okay in the bird room?? i was thinking of getting one as i have some moths.

Perfect....also gives you a nightlight

I used to use a mozzie zapper. It went missing so I havent used one for awhile.

 

Are they okay in the bird room?? i was thinking of getting one as i have some moths.

Perfect....also gives you a nightlight

 

Brilliant... will hunt for one :rofl:

Some more priceless gems, not all mine -

 

He is Blue split Green

Funny how he never chucked a Green chick ...

 

He has a dodgy leg but he should breed fine ...

Should is the operative word

 

I haven't bred with him - Oh that brown cere? ... she'll be right with a bit of Ioford

Really?

 

 

:rofl: I was getting sad constantly looking at my picture of X :rofl: So I put this picture up

 

meanwhile back in the how to help a beginner thread...

 

If everyone in the hobby was as helpful as this forum I reckon budgie breeding would be a heap more popular...

 

do you mean as in x birds mate

im so sorry for what happened to you their

if when your ready to get some more birds (lacewings or / lacewings )

im happy to help you out jimmy i will give you a few chicks(free) truly i really will

no strings i just think you got a bad deal that's all

they will be nice not my left overs as im not established yet so can afford to let a few go before i really begin

i have many mutations and some lovely chicks

although i did have a touch of bad luck recently with a batch of molt

however that was only one clutch (well two clutches combined )and i have rectified the problem

and so far the last of my seasons chicks are fine so... hoping i have contained problem

although im sure to get it again im told everyone does they just don't addmit to it

Don't those zapper things attract that stuff? Not that I am siding with the judge... luv ya Nubbs

Edited November 14, 200915 yr by Richo

Don't those zapper things attract that stuff? Not that I am siding with the judge... luv ya Nubbs

They wont attract moths that arent there Richo will they ?! But if you have moths they will zap the **** outa the blighters.

Any grain priduct will eventually give you moths if it is laying around long enough, even seed. Zappers are great like Kaz said. I have used bran in the nest boxes and also pine shavings. I prefer pine shavings but had to settle for bran as my orignal supply has gone. As luck (or not) would have the day I buy 5kg of bran I go to check out a new show and guess what I find? Pressed blocks of pine shavings. Oh well won't take long to use the bran up.