All Entries Tagged With: "hens"
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A new poll is up and running. It asks the question: Which 3 of these breeding problems would you like discussed? 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!
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.
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!
Flecking in Chicks – Ionisers – White Ceres – Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil is seriously valuable for its vitamin contents as these give health and great energy to the stock, as well as the iodine content for the thyroid – without which budgerigars do not reproduce easily.
Getting The Best from Your Stud
The desire to breed super exhibition budgerigars is the ambition of every fancier in every country. I am well aware of the fact that the Australian show scene and its structure and administration is different to the UK. That aside, we all have the same aim as it is the finest birds on display that we wish to breed and own for the simple reason of pride in having achieved something that money cannot buy.
Every One Counts
There is no doubt that the start to any season is the most difficult. I can tell that the birds are ready to breed by looking at the behaviour of the hens as well as their condition. All my flights have the sexes mixed year round. This is because the current year stock learn their sexual habits very early. If you keep the big hens separate they just sit in the flights and get overweight with predictable poor results. Mix them and keep them active.
Accident at Daniel Lütolf’s Aviary
Daniel Lütolf accidently lost 18 cocks, mostly 2007 and 2008 birds, while breeding very recently. No hens were affected, but naturally eggs and chicks were lost as well. Eggs opened later with embryos in them, were found to have black heads on every embryo.
Creating A Stud
Spots are very important. You can breed outstanding birds, but if the spots are small the impact is lost. A bird without large spots is like a man in a dress suit without a bow tie. Both are unfinished.
Preparing to Breed
In the last 6 weeks I have been working to get the aviary “winterised”. A very cold one by UK standards is forecast. So, having a cedarwood exterior, it needs treating every three years without fail. That has resulted in it still being as good today as it was when I purchased it in 1971. It would be massively expensive to replace as it covers 1200 square feet (110 sq metres).
