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Post by steve05412 on May 2, 2015 9:05:07 GMT
That's looking great well done. When you let the buds into the flight area will you be able to get to the indoor part of the shed separately or will aĺl entry exit be from the flight. You may need to think of a double section saftey door just in case you can't get them all in before you enter
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Post by Hezz on May 2, 2015 9:55:51 GMT
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Post by FFG on May 2, 2015 10:25:02 GMT
Thanks steve05412. Yes I have made another 2 doors since those pics and have taken the side of the shed off and started rebuilding it on an angle to give the buds more of a flight. Back at work now but will do a bit more during the week and put a couple more pics on. Hezz I'm undecided whether to get some hens in the aviary yet. was going to get 2 more males and just enjoy having them in there for a while. I randomly knocked on a locals door as I heard some budgies in their garden to ask some advice and to be nosey and check their aviary out. It turns out that they are moving and cannot take the birds so she offered them to me (6 and possibly 2 babies). I dont want my existing ones to become the outcasts if I get a flock that are used to being together. Any advise appreciated  |
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Post by steve05412 on May 2, 2015 10:30:46 GMT
Think you hit the jackpot. ..lol
Bit more quarantine reqd though
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Post by Hezz on May 2, 2015 10:34:34 GMT
Oh dear, are these two boys, then??? Can't see in the photo, sorry!!!  In that case you will get ..... nothing!!!  As for the offer of a few freebies, oh boy ................. I don't think I could refuse, but you need to think of the birds in your care already, firstly. You are being so good! The thing is that every time you add one bird to the mix, the dynamics change, and often in ways you would never have foreseen. So it would be a braver person than me to say this or that is what would happen with the addition of a flock of 6/8. Budgies generally are accommodating little creatures, but if there is a mix of genders you might want to think about keeping the numbers even. Not much help, was I?  |
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Post by Budgies Retreat on May 2, 2015 11:21:50 GMT
Good progress on the build FFG. Good idea to lift and extend the wendy house also. As an idea, when you finally introduce the new flock, after quarantine time has completed and you can move them into the shed, try just adding 2 at a time to the main flight every week, leaving the remainder in a big enough cage or temporary flight so that they can all still see and hear each other. When I bring new birds in, I quarantine as best I can (cannot have them in the house due to dad's lung illness) and then bring their cage into the shed for a week so they all see each other. I've introduce 6 recently this way, 4 from a breeder and 2 from a local pet store, and not had any problems, in fact, it has pepped the quiet ones up having new friends arrive. 2 of the 4 I got from the breeder were very quite in their cage, hardly moved and looked real sad. When they went in the flight it was an instant change of personalities. I'm desperately trying to source some young hens, maybe 2 or 3, so I can bring them on in my flight for next years breeding, but every breeder I try as their hens all breeding, so I'm going to have to wait for their chicks to be released. Top work with the neighbour! Well done |
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Post by FFG on May 2, 2015 11:59:47 GMT
Haha no hezz would be a miracle thanks again for your advice guys. Looking forward to seeing them have a bit more room to fly. They love coming out indoors, just hope they don't freak out in their new space. Was planning on getting 2 more males from the same breeder where my others are from. Tempted with this other offer though still. My daughter and I thought we liked the idea of letting them breed naturally (if we got hens too obviously) but read a bit of a horror story on colony inbreeding! |
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Post by Hezz on May 2, 2015 12:07:09 GMT
Colony breeding can be rather heartbreaking. It is not so natural in that the birds don't have the room to move away, out of the territory of the dominant ones, so you do need to be prepared for death by fights, greed, jealousy and the poor little chicks are the ones who really lose out.
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Post by Budgies Retreat on May 2, 2015 12:09:50 GMT
Avoid colony breeding IMO. Only from what I've read of course about other hens destroying nests and chicks, much safer and better results from cage breeding. There are people on Youtube that do colony breed, and seem successful, but it comes down to your choice. If you do decide to colony breed, make sure you have many more boxes than hens, double the mount if possible. That seems to be the most important point, and that they are all the same height.
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Post by FFG on May 2, 2015 12:23:33 GMT
Good to hear your opinions reflecting what I have read too... Think I'll just enjoy them a bit as all early days for me still. Will leave the breeding to the pro's,,, until I become one too one day ! |
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Post by Budgies Retreat on May 2, 2015 12:37:34 GMT
Just keep reading as much as you can, from the real pros of course. This is my first time at breeding, and my youngest chick was found dead this morning (update on my other thread)
I'm learning every day, and so are my birds, as this is their first time too for both pairs. Mildred, she laid 6 eggs originally and damaged most of them from the start, the remainder were clear. This time around we have 4 so far, and she has looked after them much better, no breakages yet. Still early days to know if they are fertile, but she has made a great change from the first attempt.
Barrie Shutt's sticky thread in the breeding forum is a very good informative read for beginner breeders, I keep referring to it regularly.
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Post by FFG on May 6, 2015 19:47:33 GMT
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Post by suesbird on May 6, 2015 20:11:13 GMT
Really nice.
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Post by steve05412 on May 6, 2015 22:30:12 GMT
looking good....well done so far.....  |
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Post by Hezz on May 7, 2015 0:29:05 GMT
Good work, and I see ..... is it Daddy's? little helper there, as well.  Sweet. |
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