Hey guys/girls,

 

Merry Christmas! I got a lot of good gifts, one of the best being the confirmation that I will be going to a local breeder (has 470 budgies) in January/February. The timing is because apparently budgie breeding season is in March but it seems most of the eggs from forum users hatch in October? I will be allowed to choose any four budgies from a certain group (he has birds worth $500-750).

 

I have done basic research and more (different breeds etc.), and have a great book about breeding budgies called The Challenge: Breeding Championship Budgies. I just wanted to know your opinions regarding what to look for in a championship cock/hen?

 

Cheers

Finn

Hi Finn

 

 

you wont buy a championship bird. What you will buy is called stock birds. No breeder sells his best.

The stock birds you will buy are the ones that if you pair them up well, and they do breed well, will breed you birds you will put your legrings on and you will show. If you do well you may end up with a champion or at very least one that wins you something on the show bench if thats where you are heading. First and foremost ....are you in a club yet ? If not, best to join one.

Breeding season depends on climate. Some breeders shut down breeding over the hottest part of the year, some have better conditions and can breed all year round.

Since you have the "bible" of show breeding books..............thats a good start.

Choosing good birds ?

Look for long masks

wide brow ( called width of cere )

Good size

Health and vitality.

Dont choose any bird with a poopy bottom and dull feathers. Dont buy a moulting bird of you can help it. Try not to buy any older hens. Hens are considered past safe breeding age after 4 years. Cocks can breed even past 6-7 years. With hens its best to buy them very young and allow them time to grow. No breeding under 12 months of age.

Choose the bird before you choose colour. You can get distracted by colour and end up with a lesser bird or a less healthy bird if you get distracted by pretty colours.

If you go looking for $20 birds you may be sold birds that are destined for the petshop.

If you are willing to pay a little extra you may have a better choice. Be flexible in that regard but mindful of a beginners budget.

Good luck.

 

Welcome

 

Cheers kaz

Edited December 25, 201014 yr by **KAZ**

If I could do it all again I would never buy from the first aviary I visited. I did that for the first 1-2 years and spent quite a bit of money for some not so hot budgies. It took that long for my 'eye' to develop - that is to say my eye for quality budgies, what to look for, what im wanting, what birds compliment eachother visually (which is important but not as important as good blood). Last year during the show season i went to every show i could and looked at all the budgies, and visited breeders local to the shows to see their aviaries and their birds and see who has what, where they got their birds from. Doing this I found out who the better breeders were and that they had stock from mostly related ancestors from 1 or 2 of the top breeders. So in the end I found a breeder who was winning, who had a good solid line of his own that was developed from birds from my top 3 local favourite style of winning/champion birds and I bought the best birds I could afford from him (only bought 2 pair). Only one pair has bred, but it bred me my first champion bird which won me best novice and best in show.

 

Never rush into buying birds!

You are better off buying 2 good quality pairs from one very good breeder than bits & pieces from everywhere. Try to learn from our mistakes.

I would make sure you talk to the breeder about his birds, and what he looks for in his show birds. Ask him about everything and explain to him (or her) what you are wanting to achieve with your selection.

Hey guys/girls,

 

Merry Christmas! I got a lot of good gifts, one of the best being the confirmation that I will be going to a local breeder (has 470 budgies) in January/February. The timing is because apparently budgie breeding season is in March but it seems most of the eggs from forum users hatch in October? I will be allowed to choose any four budgies from a certain group (he has birds worth $500-750).

 

I have done basic research and more (different breeds etc.), and have a great book about breeding budgies called The Challenge: Breeding Championship Budgies. I just wanted to know your opinions regarding what to look for in a championship cock/hen?

 

Cheers

Finn

Just keep one thing in mind when buying birds,a birds value should be based on it's visual appearance only, no matter who bred it or who it's related to.

Hey guys/girls,

 

Merry Christmas! I got a lot of good gifts, one of the best being the confirmation that I will be going to a local breeder (has 470 budgies) in January/February. The timing is because apparently budgie breeding season is in March but it seems most of the eggs from forum users hatch in October? I will be allowed to choose any four budgies from a certain group (he has birds worth $500-750).

 

I have done basic research and more (different breeds etc.), and have a great book about breeding budgies called The Challenge: Breeding Championship Budgies. I just wanted to know your opinions regarding what to look for in a championship cock/hen?

 

Cheers

Finn

Just keep one thing in mind when buying birds,a birds value should be based on it's visual appearance only, no matter who bred it or who it's related to.

 

I agree with this statement from PJI. A bird is worth no more than it looks, no matter what its blood or its breeder. Too many people buy birds based on breeder and pay more than the birds value. Some breeders like to talk a lot "This bird's from my nat line, blar blar blar". But when it comes down to it, they may only ever have had one bird from that line actually go to a nats and win, but after that nothing. These are breeders who usually win from buying top line blood for stupid prices, pair them together and pop out good birds, but when it comes down to it, the birds are not really their work. A good breeder will have at least 5 to 10 years, even more, behind them, and shelves full of trophy's, ribbons etc. If there is none of that be wary.

 

Also remember in the end you need to breed what you find attractive. Try to buy from either champion level breeders or open breeders. As Kaz said, a good cock is worth its weight in gold, so if offered a older one never decline if only very cheep or free as it could be your start- more so than the ones you payed well for. Stick to breeders whom use similar blood lines, your birds are bound to click better than if they all use random different breeders, even if they all buy from top guys in the show rings.

 

And remember, your second generation is always better than you first, so dont cull your first year birds. Use them, and then if not up to scratch with what they produce then cull, not before, as they my hold the right genetics yet be lesser themselves. It's all time and knowing your birds.

 

Only buy hens with forward blow, as with your cocks, as cocks with good blow that hold it flat on their head pass this on to offspring. It's not the size of the blow that counts, it's how it's used. If a cock doesnt hold it well, he will pass this on, unless you put him with a hen who holds her frontal well.

 

Birds should always sit tall and off perch, dont buy slouchers or hens with legs spread apart- it's bull that they lay better. That's just a line. Their chicks are not good because their legs are wide. It's their shoulders you want wide, not their a r s e.

 

If you can get someone who shows birds to come with you before you buy, even if as Kaz said you join a club before you buy anything, you will be amazed what you learn. Also, as Dean said, go to all the shows possible. I do this. You meet heaps of people and get to see the true winners( not the odd winning birds only.) It's these people whom you need to talk to :}

good luck

Edited March 25, 201114 yr by Finnie