THE EARLY YEARS

It cannot be any surprise that I am still keeping livestock, having been involved with the breeding of most types of small animal since a very young age.

I have kept large and small bantams, Dutch and lop-eared rabbits, long-coated guinea pigs, ferrets, fancy and tumbler pigeons, and for a few years even flew racing pigeons. I have always been interested in breeding livestock to a good standard. Even in those early days I kept and bred budgerigars. It was by the colony system and the youngsters sold as pets to cover the cost of the feed. In those days there was a huge demand for youngsters as they left the nest. I concentrated on the attractive colours as they were always so much more popular than "the greens". My interest in budgerigars was through my uncle and grandfather who kept them as bright and colourful birds. They were kept in outhouses and it was always a treat to just sit and watch their great activity.

Severe asthma and allergies forced me to give up all my livestock - all based on advice from our Doctor. We just kept the chickens, but I was not allowed near to them. It was my dream to work in agriculture but 4 years of medical treatment twice a week started and not being able to get involved with livestock was hitting hard. All I could do was to look from a distance! A friend of the family just a few doors away kept budgerigars and canaries so I would visit him most Saturday mornings. My parents went mad so I persuaded them to let me have a couple of pairs in our shed. Dad made a big flight cage - and I was back with a few birds.

It did not take long for the number of pairs to increase until an outside aviary was made. The pairs settled well and nest boxes were added. It was not until I got married that my first breeding shed was built. We moved into a mobile home and any shed could only be 6ft x 3ft and made of asbestos to comply with fire regulations. A single light was installed and 6 breeding cages were added. The aviary was moved to our new address and during the first year, plenty of chicks were produced. These were not exhibition birds - small, fine feathered birds but wonderful colours. We were away in the Newcastle area and noticed an advert for the Newcastle & Gateshead BS show, so we just had to visit. As we entered the show hall we could not believe the rows and rows of black and white cages containing budgerigars. We spent ages walking and admiring the birds. They were nothing like the birds I had ever seen before. Rosettes covered many of the cages and the types and colours were at that time just unreal. We started talking to a few people and they directed us to the sales classes. We came away with my first exhibition budgerigars - a grey green cock and a grey hen, both normals.

Once home the birds were placed in a breeding cage - eggs soon appeared but nothing more. I quickly joined my local cage bird society and it was great to hear speakers about birds and to meet other breeders - all who knew a lot more than me. I purchased 2 show cages which were soon painted up. I thought it would be better to have the punch bar fronts plain and shiny. A table-show was arranged for the next meeting and I put birds in with great excitement to find they were both last in their classes. I asked why this should be and was quickly told that my cages were known as "marked cages" as the fronts were not painted white. A very early lesson!

I was working at the Central Veterinary Laboratories in Weybridge on the agricultural side and was offered a farm cottage. Quickly, the shed and the flight were moved there by tractor and trailer. The breeding cages in the shed still had the pairs together and nothing was lost on the move. Once settled, a new 8ft x 6ft wooden shed was purchased and a few more cages were fitted.

It was then 1972 and I joined my Area Society, the London & Southern Counties BS. It was my first year of breeding using my own coded ring from the society. I knew then that I had been bitten by that budgie bug!