Interview With Mark Gulley

Posted March 13, 201015 yr

INTERVIEW BY MARK GULLEY, CORNWALL U.K. ................thankyou Mark

WEBSITE http://www.budgerigars-southwest.co.uk/

Q1. AT WHICH POINT IN TIME DID YOU FIRST DEVELOP AN INTEREST IN BUDGERIGARS ?

my interest started after my step daughter won a budgerigar at a local cbs show where we had just gone to view the various birds as at the time i had a mixed collection of finches and parakeets

Q2. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST AVIARY/BREEDING ROOM LIKE ?

i had a 8 x 6 wooden garden shed very basic with an outside flight

Q3. WHERE DID YOUR FIRST BIRDS COME FROM AND OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME DID YOU CONTINUE WITH THESE LINES ?

my first exhibition birds came from a couple of local fanciers edgar swan & colin williams followed by some lutinos from the late dennis curtis upon the advice of my good friend brian reese. there were still traces left until a couple of years ago. the curtis birds are still quite strong in my stud

Q4. ARE YOUR PRESENT BIRDS FROM THESE SAME BLOODLINES, IF NOT WHAT BLOODLINES HAVE IMPACTED MOST WITHIN YOUR STUD?

most of my birds can now be traced back to birds from dennis curtis brian reese and lee marshall also recently i have introduced blood from the freakly and ainley stud hopefully these birds will help carry me forward

Q5. HOW DO YOU PREPARE YOUR BIRDS FOR THE BREEDING SEASON?

they are given a higher proportion of tonic seed and softfood,mineral blocks etc. i always choose my cocks first and then the hens ,the nest box is blocked for a week

Q6. DO YOU SET YOUR BREEDING SEASON BY THE CALENDER OR BY SIGNS OF THE BIRDS BEING READY ?

usually by calender to get chicks hatched by christmas eve in time for the ring issue

Q7. WHEN PAIRING UP DO YOU GO BY PEDIGREE OR VISUAL APPEARANCES OR BOTH?

i start with visual then check pedigree

Q8. HOW CLOSELY DO YOU MATE YOUR BIRDS AND WHAT RELATED MATINGS HAVE BEEN

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL?

have paireed father daughter, mother son i like half brother sister pairings and also uncle niece these seem to give good results

Q9. WHAT VARIETY MIXES DO YOU USE FOR IMPROVEMENT IF ANY OR IS IT BEST TO BEST?

i think best to best is the main way to go, variety is not really an issue

Q10. HOW MANY CHICKS AND ROUNDS DO YOU ALLOW YOUR BIRDS TO HAVE?

i keep them going as long as they are fit i do like to get at least 2 rounds

Q11. WHAT FEATURES ARE THE HARDEST TO PUT ON A BIRD AND HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT ESTABLISHING THAT FEATURE AND RETAINING IT, THE DIRECTIONAL FEATHER, STRAIGHT BACKLINE, SHOULDER & LENGTH?

i dont think any of the features are easy to establish, at the moment im trying to improve width of face & directional feathering

Q12. WHAT IS YOUR FEEDING PROGRAMME DURING THE BREEDING SEASON AND DOES THIS DIFFER DURING THE NON BREEDING SEASON?

the only real difference is that i feed a higher proportion of tonic seed

Q13a. PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR CURRENT AVIARY DESIGN, SIZE, FLIGHTS, BREEDING CAGE DESIGN AND NUMBER OF CAGES ETC?

my current shed has 28 breeding cages made from melamine around 24x15x18. i have 1 half flight with storage and 2 stock pens the shed is about 20 feet by 10 feet timber construction insulated and clad internally with plastic

Q13b. WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR SETUP IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO DO SO ?

i would have a bigger shed

Q14. DO YOU USE PREVENTATIVE MEDICATION DURING AND PRE BREEDING SEASON AND IF SO WHAT AND WHY.

the only thing i do is worm the birds with ivermectin

Q15. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE GREATEST ASSET OF BEING IN THE HOBBY AND WHERE DO YOU SEE THE HOBBY HEADING WITH SO MANY BREEDERS LEAVING TODAY?

for me the best side of the hobby is the social interaction, i tend not to think about people leaving i feel a lot of people tend to look to much on the dark side i like to have a brighter outlook

Q16. WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT VALUE ABOUT FRIENDSHIPS FORMED AND FELLOWSHIP WITHIN THE BUDGIE BREEDING FRATERNITY ?

just that friendship you can never have too many good mates

Q17. DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON HOW TO PROMOTE THE HOBBY TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR CLUBS ?

i think as much is being done as can be , internet magazines shows etc etc

Q18. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A NATIONAL SHOW?

it brings everyone together from all corners of the country and further

Q19. HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT POINTING A NOVICE BREEDER IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO ENABLE THEM TO REACH THE TOP BENCH IN AROUND EIGHT YEARS?

get a mentor and listen to advice never be afraid to ask

Q20. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH BIRDS WITH FEATHER DISORDERS?

fortunately i dont have many, i usualy give them away as pets

Q21. WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU THE MOST IN THE FANCY?

interesting question for me i think its jeff attwood i would say he covers everything that good about the hobby and has a vast knowledge

Q22. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR LOWEST AND HIGHEST POINTS IN THE HOBBY ?

highest point winning best beginner youngbird at the area society show and my first own bred cc

lowest losing a great looking chick is a regular one

Q23. WHAT IN YOUR MIND WAS THE BEST BIRD YOU EVER BOUGHT THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR STUD AND WHAT APPROXIMATELY WAS ITS COST ?

i dont think there has been one special bird yet but theres been a few good ones, ive not yet paid a fortune for a bird but one day i may have to

Q24. IF YOU WERE JUST STARTING OUT ALL OVER AGAIN AS A NOVICE IN TODAYS WORLD, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU DISPENSE BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT ?

stick to the mainstream varieties until youve learnt the ropes dabbling with the rarer stuff can run away with you and lose your quality, i speak from experience

Q25. WOULD YOU HAVE A PHILOSPHY TO SHARE THAT HAS HELPED YOU IN DAILY LIFE WITH YOUR BUDGERIGARS ?

never give up

Q26. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE MUTATION OR VARIETY THAT REALLY INSPIRES YOU ? AND WHAT VARIETIES ARE YOU SPECIALISING IN AT THE MOMENT ?

i have a soft spot for texas clearbodies. at the moment im concentrating on the mainstream varieties

Q27. GIVEN ALL OF THE ABOVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER TIPS OR HINTS ON HOW TO IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN AN EXHIBITION BUDGERIGAR STUD?

i think you need to pick a couple of constantly winning fanciers to get you main stock from and pay attention to your birds relations blood will show in the end

Q28. IF THERE WAS ONE MAIN THING YOU HAVE WANTED TO SAY THAT ENCOMPASSES YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT BEING INVOLVED IN BUDGERIGARS AND CLUBS WHAT WOULD IT BE ?

a group of people from various walks of life brought together by a common bond that otherwise would never have met