Nest box is out... everyone is perching. I'm a bit confused. You see, Skye is courting the youngest chick, who looks exactly like Marigold except for the chick features. And he was mating? Should I remove him too? The eldest is copying him by jumping on her brothers back. Has anyone else had this problem?

It a dominance thing and also the males sometimes get confused by the chicks begging to be fed as it resembles the hen begging to be fed at mating time as well. Watch and be sure he doesnt hassle the chick to much. You cant remove him as he needs to teach them how to eat. Make sure food for the chicks is in the tub and also on flat trays easily found by the chicks.

Hi Ratsy, It's a big leaning curve from start to finish of your first round of chicks. Your on the last little bit now.

Are the chicks starting to eat seed on their own now? We would love another picture or two of them out of the nest. Once their feeding themselves Skye.s job is done and Marigold should be o.k. with chicks if no nest box in sight.

I'm with you about the forum, it has been an absolute wealth of help to me as well during my first breeding attempt.

Dont be too quick to put Marigold back in nestbox or not. She may be inclined to hassle Skye for mating anyway and he will be distracted from teaching his chicks to eat.

She could use the break away to get well again and fed and back in good healthy condition after breeding.

Thank you. All chicks seem to be eating except the little one who can't really fly.

is the food on the ground or is it up in a container off the ground?

There is food on the ground and up off the ground. I'll try to get more pics of the bubs out of the nest box but I have an issue with the camera.

I have more pics on my new camera.... I'll sort them out tomorrow. Chicks are doing well and have been introduced to gum leaves. Youngest now belongs to my brother for an early birthday present from sis. Would you believe he called it Dude? I'll show bro around the forum and get him to join. Yesterday the whole family went on an outing inside to cool down. They had a bath and a spray and dried off on top of the curtains. :rofl:. Marigold was great with the chicks.... feeding and preening them. The only worry I have is the chicks don't seem to be able to fly downwards. To my surprise Skye actually hopped on my shoulder, then followed by the rest of the family. Have you ever played chase the birds? It is a game where the birds don't want to go back in and let you pant while they sit on top of the bookshelf looking down at you. After a while they got bored and came down though. Dude flies to me, sweet. :rofl: I have a mystery for you to solve. When I bought Skye he had a ring on his foot and now I've realised it isn't there. Would he have been able to chew through it?

When I bought Skye he had a ring on his foot and now I've realised it isn't there. Would he have been able to chew through it?

It would only come off if it was a split plastic one.

Weird.... I don't think it was split, it could hve been.

Hi Ratsy, maybe Skye lost weight feeding his brood and it slipped off!!!. Seriously though, it was probably split as you said. Have you decided yet whether your keeping all your babies? It would be a shame after all your hard work, I think the picture of your cage looked big enough for six, pics can be deceiving though. My comp. been playing up and I've missed a bit of bbc. I've had withdrawral symptoms and all.

Ha ha... that was the top half of the cage. 6 birds fit in really well.

More pics. I know I've been pretty lazy with them but here they are. I'll post a few then when somebody posts back I'll do more. Meet Lexi.

Peek-a boo!

I think I'm selling most of them but my brother gets to have one.

I'll upload some more then.

Edited March 30, 201015 yr by Ratzy

Meet Lexi.

 

What a pretty little girl she is

Thank you Kaz.

Here is Dude, my brother's early birthday present.

He/She is the youngest. I thought Dude was a boy but now I'm not so sure.

Dude does look like a boy from here

It seems to have changed since I last looked. Maybe the whiteness around the nostrils doesn't show in the picture. Hold on, I'm uploading some more photos now.

EDIT: Here is the photos. Meet Chubba Chubs.

Edited March 30, 201015 yr by Ratzy

It seems to have changed since I last looked. Maybe the whiteness around the nostrils doesn't show in the picture. Hold on, I'm uploading some more photos now.

 

I really dont know why people go on about white around nostrils. as its confusing to people .............its an overall white that you will see if female....just like on your other baby Lexi

Probably male then.

Anyway, some more pics are on the way! All babies are eating and flying very well. I'm putting up a notice at the milk bar advirtising them. This is Thimble, Marigold's firstborn.

 

She is a monster! When I stick my hand in the cage she flies over to bite my fingers. Not hard.... yet.

I'm letting Marigold and Skye start another clutch, is that wise? They are in full health, are in breeding condition and the weather is just right. The chicks are fully independent.

I'm letting Marigold and Skye start another clutch, is that wise? They are in full health, are in breeding condition and the weather is just right. The chicks are fully independent.

 

sounds okay to me but im not a breeder. *i dont even own a budgie yet*

Well I put the nest box in and Marigold was in within seconds! Literally. No mating yet, so if any breeders think this is a bad idea, I can probably intervene. Skye has fully recovered and I did think he was moulting but it was just a messy feather. More pics now.

Smile everyone! Taken on a family outing indoors.

My cage.

The little monster who bites for fun.

More pics later after somebody posts.

more pics , thats a cute budgie. now more pics please

Could you divide the cage between top and bottom so the babies have their own seperate area away from Mum and Dad ( a kindie cage ) just in case marigold gets nasty and hormonal while breeding ?

Already done, Kaz! Now if you'll wait a minute I'll upload some more pics. I seperated them that way when Marigold was being nasty towards the chicks. I got a new camera for my birthday and have just figured it out so lots more pics from now on.

Lexi and Dude

A trio

And I managed to catch Skye trying to impress Marigold.

 

More pics after this lot, but now I need to shower.

Edited March 31, 201015 yr by Ratzy

Already done, Kaz! Now if you'll wait a minute, I have to have a shower then I'll upload some more pics. I seperated them when Marigold was being nasty towards the chicks.

Good move