Post by hannibal on Mar 18, 2014 17:31:32 GMT
Hi all, glad that I found this forum - looks like a great place to learn and share stories.
I'll give you all a quick potted history of my Budgie experience to date!
I've always wanted an aviary. I kept caged birds in the house a few years back but wanted to take the next step, so 2 years ago I bought a 8x6 shed and built a flight inside & out. I've certainly made a few mistakes along the way, but I'm getting there!
The first year I tried colony breeding - it was a disaster. I started out with 8 birds. One pair bred (to much excitement) but another hen got really agressive and killed the mother and all the hatched babies. I'm afraid that the aggressive hen had to go!
So I changed tack and bought a separate breeding cage. I selected a pair who had bonded well and they succesfully bred 6 lovely chicks. Things were going great but then last autumn I had a mortality outbreak in my aviary. I put it down to an apple tree branch that I had introduced - shortly after I had a number of sick birds and unfortunately lost 4, including the proud Dad who had raised chicks earlier in the year. I was gutted. The Vet couldn't work out what had afflicted my birds, although I did manage to nurse 1 back to health.
Since then things have looked up again. Over the winter I built 2 separate breeding cages into my shed and have improved the draft-proofing. I recently supplemented my little flock with some birds that I rescued from inappropriate owners (1 still in quarantine while his scaly face clears up). 2 pairs of my original birds have successfully bred this year so far and there are 10 babies close to fledging. I now have 24 birds in total, so the population is looking healthy! I took the hens away today as they have now stopped feeding the babies and are getting a little grumpy! The dads are doing great with feeding duties and some of the chicks have started to eat the egg food by themselves, so all looking good. I must take some pics so that I can share them with you all.
Best
H
FOR HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A BIRDKEEPER?
Since Easter 2012
WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO TAKE UP THE HOBBY?
Nothing lifts your spirits more than a flock of happy budgies!
WHAT'S YOUR BEST MEMORY - BIRDKEEPING OR OTHERWISE?
Kind of corny, but a toss up between my wedding day and the birth of my children!
ARE YOU WORKING OR RETIRED? WHAT IS/ WAS YOUR JOB?
Unfortunately have to work to pay the bills :-( I'm an accountant.
WITH WHICH PERSON, FAMOUS OR OTHERWISE, WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER?
Charles Darwin - conversation would be immense
IF YOU COULD TRAVEL BACK IN TIME, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?
To see the Great Pyramid of Giza being completed - I'm a bit of a history buff!
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY?
Never work again - and build a better birdhouse!
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WOULD YOU DO TO CHANGE THE FANCY?
Don't know that I wopuld change anything - people ore entitled to do things the way they want
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE SHOW?
I'm not really into shows - for me it's about enjoying the birds
IF YOU COULD KEEP AN ALTERNATIVE BIRD WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Lovebirds, or maybe anything really - I'd love a big collection
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE WILD BIRD?.
The robin that follows me round my veggie patch
DO YOU READ ANY NATIONAL/LOCAL NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE?
No - don't have time!
WHAT'S YOUR ALTERNATIVE HOBBY?
Ancient History
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT REALLY IRRITATES YOU?
People with ego problems
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?
The Carribean - I've been lucky enough to go a couple of times
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE TV PROGRAMME?
Don't really have one - I try to avoid TV wherever possible
WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU SAW?
I can't be sure as I'm not a big film-watcher. It might be the second Hobbitt film - we went to see it at Christmas
ANY FAVOURITE MUSIC?
I like a bit of Indie-style Rock, but unfortunately our house now resounds to Taylor Swift - thanks to my daughter!
YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD?
A nice spicy Madras
FAVOURITE DRINK?
Lager, wine, more Lager
WHAT DO YOU DRIVE?
Renault Megane
I'll give you all a quick potted history of my Budgie experience to date!
I've always wanted an aviary. I kept caged birds in the house a few years back but wanted to take the next step, so 2 years ago I bought a 8x6 shed and built a flight inside & out. I've certainly made a few mistakes along the way, but I'm getting there!
The first year I tried colony breeding - it was a disaster. I started out with 8 birds. One pair bred (to much excitement) but another hen got really agressive and killed the mother and all the hatched babies. I'm afraid that the aggressive hen had to go!
So I changed tack and bought a separate breeding cage. I selected a pair who had bonded well and they succesfully bred 6 lovely chicks. Things were going great but then last autumn I had a mortality outbreak in my aviary. I put it down to an apple tree branch that I had introduced - shortly after I had a number of sick birds and unfortunately lost 4, including the proud Dad who had raised chicks earlier in the year. I was gutted. The Vet couldn't work out what had afflicted my birds, although I did manage to nurse 1 back to health.
Since then things have looked up again. Over the winter I built 2 separate breeding cages into my shed and have improved the draft-proofing. I recently supplemented my little flock with some birds that I rescued from inappropriate owners (1 still in quarantine while his scaly face clears up). 2 pairs of my original birds have successfully bred this year so far and there are 10 babies close to fledging. I now have 24 birds in total, so the population is looking healthy! I took the hens away today as they have now stopped feeding the babies and are getting a little grumpy! The dads are doing great with feeding duties and some of the chicks have started to eat the egg food by themselves, so all looking good. I must take some pics so that I can share them with you all.
Best
H
FOR HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A BIRDKEEPER?
Since Easter 2012
WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO TAKE UP THE HOBBY?
Nothing lifts your spirits more than a flock of happy budgies!
WHAT'S YOUR BEST MEMORY - BIRDKEEPING OR OTHERWISE?
Kind of corny, but a toss up between my wedding day and the birth of my children!
ARE YOU WORKING OR RETIRED? WHAT IS/ WAS YOUR JOB?
Unfortunately have to work to pay the bills :-( I'm an accountant.
WITH WHICH PERSON, FAMOUS OR OTHERWISE, WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER?
Charles Darwin - conversation would be immense
IF YOU COULD TRAVEL BACK IN TIME, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?
To see the Great Pyramid of Giza being completed - I'm a bit of a history buff!
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY?
Never work again - and build a better birdhouse!
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WOULD YOU DO TO CHANGE THE FANCY?
Don't know that I wopuld change anything - people ore entitled to do things the way they want
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE SHOW?
I'm not really into shows - for me it's about enjoying the birds
IF YOU COULD KEEP AN ALTERNATIVE BIRD WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Lovebirds, or maybe anything really - I'd love a big collection
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE WILD BIRD?.
The robin that follows me round my veggie patch
DO YOU READ ANY NATIONAL/LOCAL NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE?
No - don't have time!
WHAT'S YOUR ALTERNATIVE HOBBY?
Ancient History
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT REALLY IRRITATES YOU?
People with ego problems
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?
The Carribean - I've been lucky enough to go a couple of times
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE TV PROGRAMME?
Don't really have one - I try to avoid TV wherever possible
WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU SAW?
I can't be sure as I'm not a big film-watcher. It might be the second Hobbitt film - we went to see it at Christmas
ANY FAVOURITE MUSIC?
I like a bit of Indie-style Rock, but unfortunately our house now resounds to Taylor Swift - thanks to my daughter!
YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD?
A nice spicy Madras
FAVOURITE DRINK?
Lager, wine, more Lager
WHAT DO YOU DRIVE?
Renault Megane