Archive for 2010
Thoughts on Nesting Boxes – Ancient and Modern
It was not long before I realised that breeders were, like myself, having many problems, particularly when trying to retrieve the box for inspection, unhooking it, then seeing the hen, or the pair, dashing around and trying not to drop the box with one hand. Needless to say, at best, the eggs were scattered all over the place and many times damaged.
Concentrate on Quality Initially – Not Colour
As you gain experience, ask questions all the time. Many beginners feel they are being silly at a meeting of their chosen club, asking basic questions. Do not hold back – nobody minds especially any lecturers who feed off such questions and thrive on them.
Warning – Security Lights
When on, the security light illuminates our bedroom – such that you wake up frequently! On one occasion in the dead of night, I ventured out and looked at the back of our home. When the security light came on, not only did it illuminate the back of the house, but I seriously thought about cutting the lawn while I was out there!
Megabacterial Infection
Weight loss over a prolonged period is consistent with Megabacterial infection. Megabacteria as a secondary disease related to immune suppression. So we have to look for another primary infection which may be a genetic weakness, but more often inherent Polyomavirus infection and / or stress related psittacosis.
Budgerigar Hobby Has Worldwide Appeal
As fanciers to this new international website will know, it went live on the 29th January, 2010 – and it has been a worldwide success! As it can be viewed in any local language, it has opened a massive door to countries all over the world – and, even with my long standing in the hobby, I did not realise interest in our hobby was so widespread.
T8 Fluorescent Light Tube Ban
Many of you are likely to use fluorescent tube lights in your aviary. Following the European ban of certain types of incandescent light bulbs, fluorescent tube lights have now come under the microscope. Standard T8 Halophosphor fluorescent tubes are being phased out, with production being halted and the importation of them being banned.
Gravatars Explained
When an article or a comment is published on Budgerigar.co.uk, you will see a small image beside it. These are called Gravatars and are usually a mini-photo of the article’s or comment’s author. A number of you have been asking about these images – particularly as to how to get them!
Hatching Assistance Guide
As we know, opening too early can reveal the chick which still has not absorbed the yolk into its body and it is pale and weak. The outcome is death! Opening too late and the chick for various reasons also dies, unless helped a fraction earlier. Close observation and timing are therefore vital assets to your husbandry.
The Power of Internet Advertising with Budgerigar.co.uk
A letter has been received from the Directors of Riversway Avicultural Products Ltd., expressing their delight at seeing their daily business increase on day one (29th January, 2010) of the launch of the new Gerald Binks website – Budgerigar.co.uk.
Ignore the Ring Issue Date if your Stud is Ready to Breed
Is the Ring Issue date more important than grabbing that moment to begin your personal season? Personally, I grab the moment these days and get a round in from perhaps a third of the stud and get results on the perch early with whatever rings I have to hand.
New World Class Budgerigars
We’ve just published some excellent new images of more world class budgerigars – courtesy of Mick Freakley. The images an be viewed on our World Class Budgerigars page. Enjoy!
The Influential Effects of Artificial Lighting
After a few weeks it became obvious that breeding was poor and the question was – Why?. The old birdroom was breeding at the same time and producing good numbers of chicks as usual. In the new room, infertility abounded and what chicks there were, were not being fed properly. Dead tiny chicks appeared regularly.
Recent Comments
To make it easy for our readers to find the most recently published comments, we have added a Recent Comments tab. The new tab is located in the righthand sidebar alongside the tabs for Latest Posts and Popular Posts.
New Readers Poll
A new poll is up and running. It asks the question: Which 3 types of article would you most like to read on Budgerigar.co.uk? The results from this new poll will help Budgerigar.co.uk to publish more of what YOU want – so please make sure your voice is heard – vote now!
DVD of Freakley and Ainley
A new DVD featuring the Freakley and Ainley partnership has been produced. The Freakley and Ainley partnership, based in Leicester and Rochdale in England, was formed in 2002 and has enjoyed a highly sucessful record at the Budgerigar Society Club Show, including back to back Best In Show awards in 2007 and 2008.
Letters Regarding Launch of Budgerigar.co.uk
A collection of just some of the many kind letters we have received concerning the launch of Budgerigar.co.uk. Thank you all very much for your feedback.
Jac Cuyten & Co – A View To The Future
One of the many highlights at the symposium, is the premiere of “Jac Cuyten & Co, A View To The Future”. This is a new film, by leading Dutch film maker Harry van Doorne, of Jac Cuyten, the Dutch champion breeder, author of “All About Feathers” and someone with with a great vision of the modern bird.
View Budgerigar.co.uk in YOUR Language
If English is not your first language, you may be interested to know that you can easily read all of our pages in a language of your choice.
“Comments” & “Tags”?
Many of you will have noticed the words “Comments” and “Tags” appearing on the site – particularly in articles – but you may be asking yourself “What are they?”.
To all Major Societies World Wide
Can all major and area / state societies (everywhere in the world) contact me with their society’s contact details – Budgerigar.co.uk will publish the details in the hope that this will lead to an increase in their membership.
Thanks from Dr Rob Marshall
I think your site will thrust budgerigar breeders into the 21st century and allow them to receive far more success and enjoyment from this entrancing hobby.
An Insight into Budgerigars via Evolution and Selective Breeding
Charles Darwin devoted much of his later life to studying the Racing Pigeon and set up a breeding loft at his home in the village of Downe, Kent. However, we as budgerigar breeders are doing much the same thing by attempting to defeat Natural Selection, which incidentally as I certainly know we can never win!
Calling all National, State, Country and Area Budgerigar Societies
This international website for the exhibition budgerigar is unique and from January 2010 will gradually expand to become THE focal point for enthusiasts to become involved within its pages. So, here is an opportunity, free of charge, to publicise your budgerigar society through which new prospective members of our hobby may find information.
Welcome to Budgerigar.co.uk
Welcome to the new Budgerigar.co.uk website – something brand new for the hobby in 2010!
