Well it’s been two weeks since last update and it’s been a busy time! I started sorting show team out for SRVShow 2-3rd July. I done very well last time I showed there and won best AOC biggest section for CC with a good Lacewing cock. This year the Pieds and Spangles are looking good and also de-spotted birds for Dorset show July 17^th, which will be my first Championship show of the season. I must say the young birds in the shed are some of the best I’ve had for a few years! Time will tell and I’ll try not get carried away just yet. I culled another three feather dusters, I seem to have so many this year and its most ever bred in one season.

Cage 17 has produced the nest of all nests for me this year. Two Sky blues, 2 Cinnamon Lt greens and a Normal Lt Green. I must say they are crackers and I really have my fingers crossed. I had nice visit from Barry Mills and his father last weekend when they came up from Plymouth. They arrived about  am and left about 3pm. We had a great morning chatting about birds and I think they liked what they saw. It’s always nice to get other fanciers comments on the birds, but need to keep focused.

I popped to our local feed centre, Roakers and stocked up with a few extras, like mineral and salt blocks and also Badmintons and chick crumbs. With these I feed in finger drawers to breeding pairs as a little extra vitamin supplements and they seem to take very well, if they eat it and enjoy it that’s fine by me. I gave cages a real clean through and washed all pots feeders and perches as these have not been done for a couple weeks and it all looks great now. I also gave flights a good clean and washed out baby flights. Not sure if it’s just me, but it all seems to take longer there days...

I had a nice day out with Ronny Pearce and Barbara when we went to see Janice and Ghalib Al –Nasser. We got to check out the new bird room since they moved to Suffolk/Essex border two years ago. I must say the birds looked really well and they had bad setback when they move after losing 60% of their best birds! It’s been a real tough job for them to recover from that, but they are doing well and have bred some very good birds this year. The bird room looks great now it’s completed and it’s set in wonderful open country side with a superb sized garden....would suite me that!

Again the weather has been so unpredictable with rain, windy and 22*c at times. The birds are looking fit with the rain and the gardens are looking very good leaving me plenty to do through the week. I have been putting up and planting two small poly tunnels for winter veg, hopefully I can grow spinach for the birds, so it’s been a busy couple of weeks.

I went to North Downs Friday night and Linda and Terry Jukes from Stoke-on-Trent gave a good PowerPoint presentation of their birds, which I must say the new family is working well for them with some very good face birds to be seen, it could be worth a day out sometime!

It's good to be back!!

I have decided after falling behind on my old blog to start a new one now. It’s June 1st this will cover the results of my breeding season and show season including judging, then the build up to 2011/12 breeding season and on from there.

To date, I must say I’m so pleased with how the breeding season is and how it’s gone so far. All 51 cages have been in use and to date over 200 have been rung on 2011 rings. A few have died and some culled (either week or splayed legs, and more Feather Dusters that I would like to have in one season), but the Quality of the young birds has in my opinion been some of the best I have ever bred, and believe me, I have bred a few good-uns over the years. A few have been the results of 2 out crosses, one a Spangle Dark green, and the other a Normal Lt Green that have both given me birds with that little bit extra and they will certainly be important young birds to filter into the 2011/2012 breeding season without doubt!

I have been so pleased I moved to Johnston and Jeff seed in late 2009 and the last two breeding season without doubt have been exciting, full of good nests and some outstanding babies appeared  by any standards. The last 7-10 days have been taken up with getting the gardens up to scratch as the weather has been so changeable, maybe some of the wettest June days on record! Other days the temperature has been in the high 20*c and very hot, so covering the daily birds feeding had been switched to early mornings or late evenings. Thankfully birds don't seem to have suffered, but the heavy moult on all birds is clear to see, some birds even dropping wing feathers that have only just re-grown. Still with the show season round the corner this can be a good thing and I have decided to try show at the SRV Show early July. This year it’s at Northampton so I have caught a fair selection of Redeye’s, Pied’s, Spangles and Lacewing’s up to enter. I have been using the small back flight so they can stay fit and also gain a little weight. After that it’s the South Hants and Dorset shows. These will test the young birds for quality, with having rung over 200 on 2011 rings I will have a good amount to select from and have culled a small number owing to weak chicks, deformed (Splayed) and far too many Feather Dusters for my liking in one season.

Last weekend (Saturday 11^th) was our garden party to celebrate mine and Barbara’s joint 60^th Birthdays and also to celebrate the year of our Ruby Wedding Anniversary. After worrying about the weather, this went very well and after all of the hard work getting preparations done, it was a great day! I had a few budgie fancier friends along - Freebo, Andy Thorpe, Paul and Nikki Stannanrd, Ron Pearce and few others. Judging from their comments they thought the birds were looking good, which that pleases me to be receiving good comments and feedback back from others that know a good budgie!

With most pairings done and 51 cages full, I now am happy with the pair’s progress. Having said that I have had to make a few changes. Firstly a very good Normal Sky Pied hen (sister to Colbolt Spangle/Pied cock) died in the nest box as she started to lay there was no visual signs! Also a very good Cinnamon hen seemed totally uninterested in the nest box or the cock birds, although tried everything he knew to get her started. This failed and was changed to their new partners. They seem to have "clicked" so fingers crossed.

One big setback was pair 1, a cracking pairing of a Cinnamon Lt Green cock x Cinnamon Grey hen, six youngsters all very very nice until the hen decided to take the tops of the first three/.  Also one feather duster, the cock reared the last two chicks on his own but the hen was moved to a spare breeding cage. After a few days rest to sort her head out the Cinnamon cock was put in for a few hours a day to re-bond. They went down again on fertile eggs but she will not rear another chick. One ten days old so, all will be fostered and the pair will just be used to produce fertile eggs. Pair 38 was paired up slightly early and has produced a very nice box of Cinnamon pieds of mainly hens. That pleases me with one chick a normal Cinnamon Lt greed pied, tasty. A pair of Albinos in cage 46 has four stonking Albino’s in the box.  Not to mention an outcross Albino. The cock is down on fertile eggs so I wait with baited breath.

Pair 2 and pair 6 all have chicks about 2/3 weeks old and they’re nice chicks and feathering well, so looks promising. The cock in box 6 is another  Swiss rung cock Opal Grey green ,very fertile, he had a good first round six youngsters as he was paired in September, they’re mainly Opaline hens produced and a nice baby Spangle Grey hen. The hen he is paired to is a Spangle Sky and a very powerful hen at that, so I’m watching these chicks with interest!

The weather has changed to very cold and blustery with the daylight hours getting shorter. Some frosts that have been show a sign winters here! The birds still have access to the outside flights for a few hours a day, but this will stop when the weather starts to bite. When it does become too cold the flights will remain closed until March/April next year. This will allow the shed to get a good breeding buzz among the birds paired up and also keep the bird room at a moderate temperature. I’ll also adjust the time clocks on the lights so they come on at 7am and go off at 10am, then again at 1 pm for an hour as the daylight hours are not as bright as they could be. Doing this give the birds a false morning and you’ll be surprised at the amount of mating’s that take place when the lights have come on again. I do think the birds need rest and that’s why my lights don’t stay on all day like
many fanciers.

One plus is that we’ve had Firework night thank God it was not as bad this year as. It has rained so at least the birds stayed settled and the lights and radio were adjusted until midnight for the whole weekend. The rain has been heavy when we have had it but this had helped bring the birds into
condition. I do give the birds a light spray of F10 in the cages and flights, this I feel helps them stay fit and also helps them stay in good breeding fitness. The noise levels are very high and this will stimulate the birds and keep them active. I have increased the soft food now by adding sweet corn, cress and celery in small amounts daily, along with carrot and broccoli. Not large amount as there is a lot of water contents in these veggies, also with a handful of dry naked oat added and Badmingtons cooked cereal which the birds love and should get them use to rearing healthy chicks from it.

I have had a number of fanciers visit over the last week or so and it’s been nice to talk budgies and also run the late bred babies through the show cages. I got a bit of a surprise at how the youngsters are maturing. Unless you see them in show cages you don’t see the birds for what they are and also it allows you to sort the stayers and ones I feel that won’t be kept for using in the breeding plans. I must say I was a bit surprised at how nice a good few were. Even the guys that visited were also very complimentary ‘exciting times’ as my mate Brian Sweeting would say J

I’ve had a good weekend (5^th/6^th), family away so I had a ‘bit of me’ time. So I spent the whole weekend cleaning and washing the flights and cages out. I do like to keep on top of things best I can and the birds look better and breed better. It’s not only them, but I hate seeing birds eat and drink from dirty dishes etc, that’s where the problems begin

One big setback on the 8^th was my best Grey Green cock looked off colour! I was about to dose him up but then found a tuma type lump in his rear end. He won’t fertilize anything with that and it’s sad, it was a really cracking cock bird, probably my second or third best cock bird in the shed. I took him away from his hen, again Super Cinnamon Lt green hen, so she’ll need a new partner. This pair I felt had they bred would have been my top pairing but I guess that’s Sods Law?! Three days later he died, I don’t breed too many like him so it was doubly disappointing!

I checked my seed stock today and a little bit short so I re-ordered from Johnston and Jeff. This order should keep me going into New Year, I can’t stand running out of seed. This seed change was the best move I made and it was this time last year I changed my seed supply and happy to say that the birds have bred very very well! It’s very important getting the balance right and this I think I now have with J&J. I’m grateful to Richard Johnston for his help and advice on this one. Over the next few days we could start getting a few more pairs with pinkies, so nest box checks need to be made around midday each day. I will also need to check on young hens that seem to be feeding well!

As we had a problem updating the website we lost the blog entry, so I have decided to start a new one from the beginning of the breeding season.  I hope you will enjoy reading the day to day progress of my highs and lows of breeding exhibition budgerigars and the other important parts of my day that surrounds my World of Exhibition Budgerigars. Please feel free to sign my guest book on my website and feel free to email me any time for advice, help or anything you feel I can be of help within our fantastic hobby!

Regards Rick

The highs and lows of 2010.
...................................

We paired the birds up very early in 2009 (Oct/Nov) for the start of the 2010 breeding season  as they were fit after having a fair breeding season in 2009. I needed to get the remains of the old birds down and a little more from them. This I did and things went well! Also I had fair number of late bred birds in my flights so I thought if I needed to change any pairings I could.

A great start 51 ages filled and fertility was great. I bred 80 babies on 09 rings, also today my 2010 rings dropped through the door so I rung another 67, what a start and things got better and better, I seemed that I could not go wrong!!

The weather turned cold and we had a bad couple of week’s snow and freezing weather, this did not affect the breeding only it was cold changing waters every day. It was a tough January 2010 and I had a shoulder muscle repair operation, so arm and shoulder sling was worn for 6-8 weeks. This made things hard work with the birds, but I always find a way.  Four days later I had an eye cyst removed. Boy did I look a Jolly Roger or what, one crutch, one sling and a patch over my left eye.

 Breeding went to plan with some great babies produced and many of them I have to say has to be my best breeding season ever!! I had over 400 babies rung with a mix of 2009/10 and a few re-rung. The quality has improved so much and how nice it is when visitors come they say so as well. That pleases me no end, after all that’s what we’re in the hobby for...Showing

Speaking of showing, I have managed to show at more shows this year than the last 2 years together (health wise) and what a season it’s been!

·         B.I.S Hastings - 3

·         CCB.Y.B. Dorset - 3 CC

·         LSCBS - 4 CC

·         Southern  Classic  - 2 CC

·         LSCBS SRV - 1 CC

·         B.S Best of Colours won 2010 -  Orange spots 10, Red spots 14, Yellow spots 7, Blue spots 14, Green spots 3

Many blue spots and opposite sex awards and section placing. Nine different birds so I’m as pleased as I could be! I also met and made a few new friends along the way. I also attended the BS Convention in Southport, what a great weekend and well done the BS!!

Of course the BS club show in Doncaster was another super weekend, these events are the high spots of the hobby and we should all make a point in supporting them. Another high was changing over to Johnson and Jeff seed merchants before the breeding season, quality seeds!!

The Low of the year has to be without doubt the cold spell early on. It bought everything to a halt from freezing water like our pond. It totally froze over and we lost good quality Koi Carp and breeding 12 feather Dusters that could have been at the time ‘Supreme Champions’ so I thought, I guess we live to tell the tale...


Judging

I have covered a fair few miles again this year judging. Dewsbury, Suffolk, Hampshire, Cornwall, Sussex, Wales, Bristol and even Italy (now that was good). This is a part of our hobby i really enjoy very much!

Happy days

I had a job to get going today. I checked all birds and they all seemed fine. Had a good clean up and took the dog out for good run, that was it, I was knackered!!

Had a lazy start. Grabbed a nice breakfast, then a nice walk round town and onto the pier. The weather was great, could not be warmer! We went back to the hotel for Huxley and Merchant lecture on pairing, full house this one with standing room only. After that we sat in foyer for a good chat and few cuppa’s then left about 4ish for home.

All in all a great weekend Quality Hotel package deal by the BS and a nice relaxing weekend  spoiled only by the wet awful drive home!

Early breakfast today and a full day of lectures. I will go to morning ones, Richard and Michael Miller did a very good presentation. I decided to meet up with Barbara and went for nice walk into town then sat by the seafront, got back for Ron and Marcel’s talk which was very well put together. Had a quick look round birds, shame the entry was not more but what was there was very nice especially the T & A Luke’s team. The evening meal was nice and entertainment very good

Up really early, checked birds and left at 7 am for Southport (boss orders). As she’s driving I best not moan and I even made small packed lunch up, and we were off on the dot. Had a great drive up and stopped about 9:15 on M6 at Stoke for a quick coffee and sarnies. We really enjoyed it and said it was different, should do more often when going out. We arrived at Royal Clifton Hotel in Southport at 12:30 after a great run up. We booked in hotel very nice and are right on the front by the pier. We sat and had tea with Mick and Jacky Freakly, Dave Whittaker, Geoff Tuplin, Ron and Marcel. It was really nice to chat and catch up, it could be nice weekend! We went to Brian and Jeff Attwood’s lecture, very enjoyable. The dinner in the evening went well, good food at an enjoyable and pleasant hotel

Spent the day going through birds, topped all feeders and cleaned nest boxes. I rung all chicks and put up extra drinkers as its BS Convention weekend Southport. Got an early start Friday, the weather looks great for weekend

Moved all babies from young bird flight to main flights and gave it a good clean and wash out. Then within the hour there were 30 newly weaned babies moved in. The pairs just seem to want to start new rounds before the babies are hardly out the box. The weather seems to be changing for the better, this certainly helps breeding as with the longer days

Phil Hodgkin’s from Northampton called in to see some Lacewings. He’s a really nice bloke and seemed happy with a couple of split cocks he took. I changed a few more pairs over, trying to use same cocks in certain pairings, just swapping hens seems to be working well.

Today is Ron’s wife Marion’s birthday meal at Hatchend tonight. I need to get things done and get all birds checked early. The weather again is not so good, but nice visit from Greg Wilcow (Dr Robertson S A,) grandson. He’s breeding birds over here and lives local, he really knows his stuff. 

We had a very enjoyable night out at Marion’s birthday meal, very nice Italian menu with good food and company. I’m not use to red wine any more though!

Today I need to get the Birds to Airpets to get checked in 10.30am. I need to be there before hand, at last they are on their way! I took rest of the day out and went to town with Barbara

At last things seem to be happening regarding the birds in holding for America! The final paperwork done today and the birds fly Thursday 25^th

Today is Rob and Tracy’s (Bedford) yearly visit. It’s nice to see them both and helped Rob out with Lacewings, he does enjoy these. Tracy is very much into her Clear bodies. I gave her a very nice Grey white hen to try into them and they seemed very happy, such nice couple!

Barbara had and eye clinic appointment early today and had a cyst removed. She rested which gave me time to have a bit of a blitz in the birds! Chicks needed ringing, gave cages a light cleaning, topped all hoppers etc and even managed to get floor washed. The weather is finally improving at last and the rain seems to have stayed away. The doors and windows are all back open and I moved more babies away to baby flight. All in all breeding just going great!!

My Daughter collected the "Tidler" god he takes over the house for a 2 year old! By the time he went we just felt knackered managed to get an hour in the birds, and god what a mess!

I had a budgie visit today from Anthony (Oxford), it nice to see him and talk birds. He’s just getting into building up his birds and knew his birds! An enjoyable visit

 Had a really enjoyable visit to Paul and Nikki’s before meeting. We were late getting there as the rain slowed us up, but the birds looked really impressive and some super babies around. We were well treated to one of Nikki’s homemade Chicken curries. My god did that go down well, quick look at poultry and away to Worcester. The meeting had a really good turnout. I did a face to face with Ron, very good feedback and members enjoyed the night. A good strong club, thanks for the invite. My Daughter moves from Brighton to Eastbourne today so we have the "Tidler "for weekend, won’t get much in the birds done with him in toe!

Had and early start as off with Ron Pearce to give talk at Worcester club. I’ve been invited to Paul and Nikki Stannard’s beforehand. The weather is pouring down, going to be a grim drive to Hereford!

Managed to get more chicks into baby flights and many first round chicks are near complete molting through ang getting weight on. I started putting a few through the training cages and was pleasantly surprised.

Again the weather has turned with plenty of rain, I just decided to reopen outside flights and the birds took no time in getting out enjoying the space, until it chucked it down. The birds at first loved the wet clinging on the wire, but within minutes they were soaked on the floor and all had to be put back inside early as the rain was in for the night.

Going through a few hens that have been resting from two rounds this season, they seem to be taking a while to really get fit. While we know the weather has been cold, my feeling is the hens really have had it taken out of them, they will need resting longer than normal

Northdowns meeting very good turnout. Steve Bailey and Mick Freebourne (South Hants BS) were the speakers, it was an enjoyable night!

Pair 23 that had two full round go Addled and Dead in Shell, have hatched and rearing two chicks from six eggs so far, so I’m pleased with that as they’re a nice pair. The big surprise of the week is Pair 49, the Lutino cock has bred me two Albino’s and they do look really nice. They have plenty of feather and both parents go back to big Yellow Faced Albinos on their Grandfather’s side. I will keep them going as long as they want. Also my Lacewings that got off to a funny start have all produced chicks, many will be hens as Dark eye hens were used to viual cocks, ideal for next season for straight Lacewing pairings.

Really need to reduce the Dominant Pieds they’re coming out my ears from the three Swiss Pied’s bought in during 05/6, they seem to produce more than 50% in the nest nearly every chick is a pied and they’re nearly all well spotted. Some really useful hens among them. There are a few ticked, I don’t mind that as they find their way into the Red eyes, good outcrosses.

Had a nice morning visit from Gavin (Se BC), weather was good birds looked very well. I managed to get eight new pairings made and a good number of chicks away into baby flight. A number of pairs now going onto round three, they seem happy and the chicks are nice so I let them get on. They will tell me when they have had enough. I removed heaters from the shed as they have not been on for almost two weeks! The days are a lot warmer and nights drawing out so I will reopen outside flights through the day.

Wild birds going mad looking to nest which is a good sign Spring is around the corner. Breeding is going so well this year plenty of surprises, in Pair 9 I have a Yellow Face Spangle Sky appear and it looks promising, also Spangle grey green and Normal Cinn Lt Green.