My personal view on this subject is somewhat objective. Many people seek to be successful based on quality alone. I feel that breeding programs can be based on a minimalist veiwpoint. Now I know that this will confuse many. My point is that most successful breeding should include fertility rates. Therefore, if one is to excellerate breeding processes, one needs to look at fertility as a major part of your program. Now what does this mean? It means breeding that encapulates the parents abilty to parent. This would mean that hens that are from fertite and productive parents are where you need to focus your breeding programme from. This will increase productivity no end, but this is a numbers game, so therefore work on fertility and the results will come. So I guess this is somewhat confronting to most, but if we all focused on fertility the breed would be where it needs to be to complete with the European market, Cheers, PS I am Happy to debate anyone on based on facts .

 

I agree to some point with you Alan but with the push to win we all tend to ignore or put up with poor fertility. I'm sure we could make BIG inroads into fertility if we selected specifically for it. Unfortunately we actually don't select for it much at all.

 

Unfortunately for Dean, he has had to start from somewhere and although HE might be able to eventually make a difference to his own stud in time, he is at a point where he is paying the price for the hobby's general non-selection for fertility.

 

And don't tell me that if any of us breed a fantastic chick from a pair that addled all their eggs bar one or from a cock that only filled that one egg, that we don't keep it based on it's visual qualities but cull it because it came from parents of lower than wanted fertility. So although I don't think selection for fertility and selection for exhibition quality are totally mutually exclusive, I think it comes pretty close. Unfortunately I don't expect any debate as this is just my opinion, maybe based on 10 years of breeding budgies, 25 years of breeding pedigree dogs and an involvement in the breeding of many different varieties of food production animals, but an opinion none the less!

Dean I know how you feel, I have five pairs down and so far one hen has died after laying 4 eggs and only one was fertile, another has eaten 2 of her eggs is now on 3 which are all clear.

The 3 other pairs are all on six eggs each with only one of the pairs having some fertile eggs and now have one chick thats 4 days old.

Yes I'm disappointed and hoping things improve and on a brighter note this chick will be my first chick to ring

Hi Dean,

How's things going now? Have any of your fertile eggs hatched since your "mishaps" shall we say? Hope things are looking a bit more optimistic for you.

Hi Dean,

How's things going now? Have any of your fertile eggs hatched since your "mishaps" shall we say? Hope things are looking a bit more optimistic for you.

 

Just off the top of my head without checking records, around 9 chicks hatched, 4 of which hatched weak after having to battle dry membranes + the mishap = 4 live chicks at the conclusion of all possible hatches.

 

37 eggs, 4 chicks. Usually it would be the other way around for me -> 37 eggs, 4 DEAD (33 alive and fledge).

 

Go the 'better' quality birds

Hi Dean,

How's things going now? Have any of your fertile eggs hatched since your "mishaps" shall we say? Hope things are looking a bit more optimistic for you.

 

Just off the top of my head without checking records, around 9 chicks hatched, 4 of which hatched weak after having to battle dry membranes + the mishap = 4 live chicks at the conclusion of all possible hatches.

 

37 eggs, 4 chicks. Usually it would be the other way around for me -> 37 eggs, 4 DEAD (33 alive and fledge).

 

Go the 'better' quality birds

 

It will improve Dean

Hi Dean,

How's things going now? Have any of your fertile eggs hatched since your "mishaps" shall we say? Hope things are looking a bit more optimistic for you.

 

Just off the top of my head without checking records, around 9 chicks hatched, 4 of which hatched weak after having to battle dry membranes + the mishap = 4 live chicks at the conclusion of all possible hatches.

 

37 eggs, 4 chicks. Usually it would be the other way around for me -> 37 eggs, 4 DEAD (33 alive and fledge).

 

Go the 'better' quality birds

splats right

most breeders have had it hard this year from what word says that spins around but then that is just word

but i myself just had one whole nest of dead in shell one hatched

so like you i never experianced the disapointments i have this year

but i also have been blessed with nice chicks and compared to my almost 150 chicks culled i have had less but culled only few chicks last year i kept 3 birds out of 150 this year i have to cull my stock birds to keep my young

Hi All,

Dean mentioned weak chicks, dry membrane. I had one yesterday as well, shell partly broken, fully formed but dead chick it looked dry as well. I haven't had this before with a fully formed chick. What is the cause of dry membrane etc? Is it overheating of eggs with other chicks lying all over them etc or lack of humidity etc. 2 more eggs i'm watching as well as they seem to be darkening and about due to hatch. Can anything be done to increase humidity etc if that's the problem as it's been a few warmer days here out of the blue.

Wow. Just wow.

 

So I had 2 hens go down again - one on her second round (after a failed first) and another new hen. New hen lays a double yolker and stops laying after 2 more eggs. Second round hen lays 4 eggs, 2 fertile.

 

I move the 2 fertile eggs into the double yolkers nest as im thinking of returing the other hen back to the aviary or letting her lay another 4 eggs (3rd round of eggs, hopefully first round of chicks).

 

Last night, birds get night fright. This morning all 5 eggs including double yolker are ice cold. New hen is sitting outside looking clueless.

 

FML.

Sorry not good news at all but do you Have another nest to put them Dean? they still could be saved

Sure you haven't run over the proverbial chinaman Dean? Well you either laugh or cry what else can you do. Hope all your bad luck has been depleted now and it's better times ahead.

Im somehow beyond the point of even laughing or crying. Sort of disbelief really. The odds of things going this bad must be astronomical.

 

Maybe I should buy a lotto ticket? Hrm.. maybe the place I buy it from will burn down...

Well dean I just found one of my best hen, daughter of my yellow DF sp egg bound, well I think it is worse than that. She was on 3 eggs with 1st one fertile and then bang.

I was excited about this nest as she was with my white Df spangle, brother to Kaz and so far I have only got one chick from him this year, I think I over showed him, he won me everything.

The mating was a half brother half sister and I was hoping for something really good.

I transfered the eggs.

Well. At this point I've just given up on hope.

 

I didn't tell anyone (except Kaz as i had a question) but I recently purchased an artificial egg incubator/brooder. Had it all set up, put in the 5 chilled eggs (remember the hens were no longer broody, no foster nests). Two days later 3 embryo's were moving around, the double yolker was clearly DIS and another egg was quite young and would likely have shown fertile in a day or two.

 

Well, tonight my dad was around so i showed him my little miracle incubator. As soon as we got there the motor packs it in and the blade stops spinning, then we smell funky electronics.

 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME.

 

Couldnt risk trying to fix it or leaving it on overnight un-attended. So yep, all I could do is whip them into the only nest box with any warmth (4 chicks) and hope they stay warm until I can whip them over to another local breeder with brooding hens.

 

OMG. FML. I feel like I was down, then kicked while i was down, then stomped on, now peed on or something worse lol. If anyone ever feels like they're having a bad season, please think of me, who in spite of all this will likely (for whatever reason) continue with budgies. Might just give the breeding a break for now though

Edited September 10, 201014 yr by Dean_NZ

I'm so very sorry for you.

Well. At this point I've just given up on hope.

 

I didn't tell anyone (except Kaz as i had a question) but I recently purchased an artificial egg incubator/brooder. Had it all set up, put in the 5 chilled eggs (remember the hens were no longer broody, no foster nests). Two days later 3 embryo's were moving around, the double yolker was clearly DIS and another egg was quite young and would likely have shown fertile in a day or two.

 

Well, tonight my dad was around so i showed him my little miracle incubator. As soon as we got there the motor packs it in and the blade stops spinning, then we smell funky electronics.

 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME.

 

Couldnt risk trying to fix it or leaving it on overnight un-attended. So yep, all I could do is whip them into the only nest box with any warmth (4 chicks) and hope they stay warm until I can whip them over to another local breeder with brooding hens.

 

OMG. FML. I feel like I was down, then kicked while i was down, then stomped on, now peed on or something worse lol. If anyone ever feels like they're having a bad season, please think of me, who in spite of all this will likely (for whatever reason) continue with budgies. Might just give the breeding a break for now though

 

dean i can emphasize with you

my first season of proper show birds was a nightmare not only died birds but dead hens in breeding cages dead chicks dead eggs dis and young fledglings have fm

but the ones that lived one broke its neck my best hen

then two more lived to 6 months and died from pneumonia their father was killed my best hens mother died

and now my best new breed hen sister to my beautiful dom pied hen is unwell with no real answer possible stroke and so far i have out of all birds breed and lived maybe two actual quality birds left so yes its tough

why *** knows but stick to it i bet we will gain great results and a world of knowledge latter

heres to your birds being supper brilliant when things fall into place

I feel for you Dean and you to Gb. Things will improve try and stay positive Dean.

I have had a rotten year too, but it has got better. BUT when you think of how many pairs I have had down to how many fertile eggs I got and how many hatched is disgusting. And then to loose seven or 8 to yellow belly in a row from 3 different nest drives you nuts.

I have yellow belly again but so far one nest argghhh.

wow....just got my first ever egg today...hadn't realised soooo much could occur

I am having a bad run again Dean, 1 dead from yellow belly, 4 chicks for no reason and eggs aren't hatching, Dead hen in breading box this morning.

Seriously thinking about finishing my breeding for this season. Took 4 pair out today because of clear eggs.

Well. At this point I've just given up on hope.

 

I didn't tell anyone (except Kaz as i had a question) but I recently purchased an artificial egg incubator/brooder. Had it all set up, put in the 5 chilled eggs (remember the hens were no longer broody, no foster nests). Two days later 3 embryo's were moving around, the double yolker was clearly DIS and another egg was quite young and would likely have shown fertile in a day or two.

 

Well, tonight my dad was around so i showed him my little miracle incubator. As soon as we got there the motor packs it in and the blade stops spinning, then we smell funky electronics.

 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME.

 

Couldnt risk trying to fix it or leaving it on overnight un-attended. So yep, all I could do is whip them into the only nest box with any warmth (4 chicks) and hope they stay warm until I can whip them over to another local breeder with brooding hens.

 

OMG. FML. I feel like I was down, then kicked while i was down, then stomped on, now peed on or something worse lol. If anyone ever feels like they're having a bad season, please think of me, who in spite of all this will likely (for whatever reason) continue with budgies. Might just give the breeding a break for now though

 

Poor Dean! And I'm only whinging about the $400 fallow hen I bought to rescue my fallow variety not even being able to lay one egg before dying..... (well aside from having to deal with a written off motorcycle and a broken husband).

 

Don't worry I'll read this thread every now and then to make myself feel better whenever I feel like the world is against me, coz god knows, it's way more against you right now

 

But whatever the tribulations, hang in there buddy. It really is worth it - at least when things start to improve anyways!

Cheer up, Dean & Splat, better times ahead. Things seem to go in cycles don't they so maybe yours is on the upturn now.

I just released 12 beautiful babies into aviary to-day only pet type, 12 more in nests I have had great season so far lost a couple of eggs MY FAULT and 1 chick so I am counting my blessings.

Juuuust to continue the good luck streak, the best chick of the lot was huge and grew so fast that the hen attacked it the very first time it ventured out of the nest box. Chewed on both wings leaving a bloody mess all over the breeding cage. Fixed the chick up, hand reared it only to see it develop french moult. Greaat.

 

Next three chicks were okay, moved them into the kindy cage with dad and two of them somehow hurt their left wing on the first day and now hold them all cockeye and cannot extend them (i've never had that happen before let alone two in one day!).

 

Next round of breeding has gone great fertility wise, two chicks hatched and raised. Half sisters to the french moult stunner from the first round, being fed well. Little lutino hen hatched yesterday was not fed and dead today. Unable to switch it out as the first two are a week old now and much too large and no other hens have babies just yet. See how we go...

I just read this whole thread and.........I FEEL for you!!! Wow, you really have had a hard time, but kudos to you for keeping on keeping on. It WILL get better. As you get to know your birds and then in turn, get to breed with your own birds, things start to improve. My fiance had a really **** first season with "good" birds he bought last year too. This year started out not much better, but seems to now be improving. A couple of years ago, I bred what I thought was my best chick and he fledged from the nest looking beautiful, only to drop his flights and tail in the kindy cage, then lose everything out in the nursery aviary. He still lives out there, running around on the floor, quite happy with himself but not many people visit my place without commenting on the funny little budgie down the bottom. *sigh*

 

I wish you all the luck with your future breeding and dont give up too soon! (hmm thats a hug lol)

I really don't know what to say Dean, other than sorry

If I had of experienced all your bad luck (my 1st breeding season) I surely would have thrown in the towel. You have a wealth of knowledge and experience on your side and I really hope you continue with your birds.

Oh I'll keep trucking along. The majority of problems are due to the fact that a lot of my hens are first timers, or from another aviary. Not much you can do about that really. First timers need the experience even if they do a rubbish job first time. I had a hen a couple years ago who was vicious to all the cock birds and she wouldnt breed for ages, then when she finally did she didnt feed the chicks. Gave her another few months before trying her again and she was perfect, even fostered a few chicks.

The morning of the day I left for Melbourne one of the best chicks that fledged was attacked and killed by its mother. Best blue chick I had seen come through for quite some time. Left the other blue chick alone which isnt a patch on the one she killed.