I woke up to a not so nice site this afternoon. Blood all over the aviary. Seems that even though they can't get in, the other hens are fighting over breeding rights and the breeding cages. Razzo has bald patches where feathers have been ripped out and a cut on her foot. Gerri has a few cuts on her wings and it looks as though Sandy might have got caught up in it too. I netted the injured ones, cleaned them up and checked to see how bad the injuries really were. Luckily nothing was too bad. After watching the group dynamics for a while it became really obvious that Razzo is the ring leader and the main culprit. I've brought her inside and she's peacefully sharing with Pickle. I'll monitor the rest over the next few days to make sure things settle down. I think they will. I'm also considering switching Pat and Akala for Lilly and Sandy (despite the fact i desperately want some opaline spangles). Lilly and Sandy are already kind of bonded so might get some results. Now for the cherry on top of a "fantastic" day, i candled Buzz'z eggs and one had a crack and an off center air pocket and another had an off center air pocket...definitely infertile. I threw the cracked one away and then later in the afternoon another egg had been pushed out of the box and smashed on the floor.

 

A bit of good news, Buzz laid her 4th egg though i'm not getting my hopes up seeing as the others seem infertile. :oliveb:

Aww Bea not a super great day for you then. I guess Razzo isnt ready for retirement just yet then. Hope she is okay.

She doesn't think she should be retired at least. But she's too old and not as fit and healthy as she used to be. Still, it makes me feel bad preventing her from doing what obviously she loves doing. Ah well, hopefully she'll get over it.

That maternal urge is sometimes so strong isn't it? Poor Razzo, and poor Bea!

Oh Bea, so sorry to hear about your rough day. I guess sometimes budgies have their own mind and won't conform to human's wants.

Oh no, sorry to hear about your day! Thats a bummer about the egss

Hopefully they will get on a little better with the ring leader outta the picture!

Nope, more fighting!! I've changed things around again. Sandy and Lilly are now in the breeding cage instead of Pat and Akala. I think Sandy and Gerri were fighting last night, Gerri came out worst so she's inside at least for tonight for observation. She's now a red and white budgie. Some cuts on her toes, wings and she seems to have the equivelant of a black eye in humans. I've cleaned her up as best i could and there doesn't seem to be any deep cuts. *sigh* Who'd have budgies?

Bea I'm so sorry for you. maybe you should think about moving the breeding cages to another place if you can. I share your feelings with Razzo Freckle doesn't want to retire either

Oh Bea, it sounds like your birds need a very stern talking to! Seriously, maybe you need to move the boxes away from the others if you can

Well the only other place i would be allowed to have them would be outside and i don't feel comfortable checking the bubs (if i ever get any) if the parents could escape.

I wonder can you corner off that area of the aviary with something really helpful with idea's there. Just so the other bird can't get so close to them.

I can't really. I'm feeling really down about this whole breeding thing. Nothing seems to be going right. Another of Buzz's eggs was missing this morning but she laid another one this arvo. There's been no more fighting either, thank god. I think maybe Gherkin is getting rid of the eggs, could he know they're not fertile or maybe Buzz isn't mating with him and he wants her to so destroys her current eggs? I don't know. I wish budgies were ageless, then Razzo could breed again.

Bea  Posted Today, 17:12

  Well the only other place i would be allowed to have them would be outside and i don't feel comfortable checking the bubs (if i ever get any) if the parents could escape.

 

Are you telling us your Dad actually said no to you? And you let him? Bea I'm surprised!

Well it's more mum, she hates her house being filled with birds.

 

(just had to share that Blinks is holding my nose right now preening it )