Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 28, 2011 19:33:12 GMT
Darragh Frawley Beginner Breeder and Exhibitor from Clonee Dublin
Darragh has now entered into a partnership with Brian Flynn and will be exhibiting as Frawley and Flynn from 2012, look out for the FF1 ring number.
Q. When did you first start to become interested in budgies and what sparked it off?
A. I was twelve and kept pet budgerigars ,I. returned to this end of the hobby in 2009 after a canary man gave me a few double breeding cages for free
Q. What did your first Aviary/Breeding room look like?
A. I am still using it a six feet by eight feet timber shed, my new one is on the way
Q. Where and when did you acquire your first birds?
A. my very first pair of birds was from Mark & Tony Rogers (MTR1)
Q. Do you still have birds from these bloodlines?
A. After purchasing my first pair I then approached another breeder who sold me all MTR1 blood lines so my foundation stock is all Mark & Tony Rodgers
Q. Which Bloodlines have given you the most impact on your stud?
A. As I have only been in the hobby since 2009 and still using the same bloodline I cannot really answer that one
Q. Do you have a specific way of preparing your birds for the breeding season?
A. I offer plenty of different foods, water soluble probiotics one month in advance and that’s about it
Q. Do you pair your birds by Visual appearance/Bloodline or both?
A. This is the first year I can breed due to bloodlines and relations before it was visual
Q. What are your views on pairing up related birds? Have you had any success with this?
A. Listening and reading advice this seems the only way to do things. I do breed related birds and I have noticed a big improvement visually
Q. How many chicks and clutches are your birds allowed?
A. I try keeping it at four chicks over two clutches but sometimes there could be more chicks per nest
Q. What differences are there in your feeding programme in the breeding and non-breeding seasons?
A. The pairs with chicks get soft food every day Made up of sweet corn, celery, carrot, breadcrumbs, pigeon red mineral, thrive and gloss, groats, mixed herbs and a pinch of salt. I do have one more secret ingredient.
Q. What would you change about your set up if you had the chance (and infinite money to do so?)
A. I would have my new set up built, all my flights would be built from one inch aluminium with pre made wire grills as opposed to half inch weld mesh. This product cannot be source that in Ireland and the cost is too high to import it at the moment. Perhaps one day I can sell birds at a decent price and I can then build my dream flights.....we all live in hope
Q. Do you believe in preventative medication? If so what do you use?
A. Only ivermectin and probiotics, thats all. If it’s not broke don’t fix it!
Q. How do you deal with birds with feather disorders?
A. I get rid of them
Q. Do you have a favourite mutation or variety?
A. I do like Texas clear bodies, I don’t have any but maybe something to play with in the future
Q. Who do you admire most in the hobby?
A. The workers that drive the hobby forward. I have zero time for the guys who think it’s their right to waltz in! Show and go, just because they paid a small membership fee! We all pay the membership, but some are left to do it all under constant criticism when things and decisions don’t go peoples way.
Q. What was the best bird you ever bred?
A. A grey cinnamon hen, it’s looking like that might be wrong after a few get through the moult
Q. What was the best bird that you have seen from someone else's stud?
A. Uummmmmm hard to answer!...I had the pleasure to visit Florian Bock and one hen I spotted really caught my eye, I am sure it was a cinnamon sky blue with the buffalo direction in bucket loads.
Q. What is the most important piece of advice you could give a beginner just starting out in the hobby?
A. keep your mind and ears open to the old lads in the hobby! They generally know what they are talking about. Don’t be too big to follow advice!
Q. What more do you believe we can do to promote the hobby?
A. Stop posting the prices that people are paying for birds! It scares new people off in my eyes.
Q. What do you enjoy most about the hobby? Are you still as enthusiastic as when you first started?
A. Oh yes i am! i enjoy seeing my birds improve and knowing it’s down to my chosen pairings, as well as lady luck.
Thank you for taking part Darragh.
Darraghs Birdroom - could this be the new one behind ?
©2006 barrieshuttbudgerigars S3872.
Darragh has now entered into a partnership with Brian Flynn and will be exhibiting as Frawley and Flynn from 2012, look out for the FF1 ring number.
Q. When did you first start to become interested in budgies and what sparked it off?
A. I was twelve and kept pet budgerigars ,I. returned to this end of the hobby in 2009 after a canary man gave me a few double breeding cages for free
Q. What did your first Aviary/Breeding room look like?
A. I am still using it a six feet by eight feet timber shed, my new one is on the way
Q. Where and when did you acquire your first birds?
A. my very first pair of birds was from Mark & Tony Rogers (MTR1)
Q. Do you still have birds from these bloodlines?
A. After purchasing my first pair I then approached another breeder who sold me all MTR1 blood lines so my foundation stock is all Mark & Tony Rodgers
Q. Which Bloodlines have given you the most impact on your stud?
A. As I have only been in the hobby since 2009 and still using the same bloodline I cannot really answer that one
Q. Do you have a specific way of preparing your birds for the breeding season?
A. I offer plenty of different foods, water soluble probiotics one month in advance and that’s about it
Q. Do you pair your birds by Visual appearance/Bloodline or both?
A. This is the first year I can breed due to bloodlines and relations before it was visual
Q. What are your views on pairing up related birds? Have you had any success with this?
A. Listening and reading advice this seems the only way to do things. I do breed related birds and I have noticed a big improvement visually
Q. How many chicks and clutches are your birds allowed?
A. I try keeping it at four chicks over two clutches but sometimes there could be more chicks per nest
Q. What differences are there in your feeding programme in the breeding and non-breeding seasons?
A. The pairs with chicks get soft food every day Made up of sweet corn, celery, carrot, breadcrumbs, pigeon red mineral, thrive and gloss, groats, mixed herbs and a pinch of salt. I do have one more secret ingredient.
Q. What would you change about your set up if you had the chance (and infinite money to do so?)
A. I would have my new set up built, all my flights would be built from one inch aluminium with pre made wire grills as opposed to half inch weld mesh. This product cannot be source that in Ireland and the cost is too high to import it at the moment. Perhaps one day I can sell birds at a decent price and I can then build my dream flights.....we all live in hope
Q. Do you believe in preventative medication? If so what do you use?
A. Only ivermectin and probiotics, thats all. If it’s not broke don’t fix it!
Q. How do you deal with birds with feather disorders?
A. I get rid of them
Q. Do you have a favourite mutation or variety?
A. I do like Texas clear bodies, I don’t have any but maybe something to play with in the future
Q. Who do you admire most in the hobby?
A. The workers that drive the hobby forward. I have zero time for the guys who think it’s their right to waltz in! Show and go, just because they paid a small membership fee! We all pay the membership, but some are left to do it all under constant criticism when things and decisions don’t go peoples way.
Q. What was the best bird you ever bred?
A. A grey cinnamon hen, it’s looking like that might be wrong after a few get through the moult
Q. What was the best bird that you have seen from someone else's stud?
A. Uummmmmm hard to answer!...I had the pleasure to visit Florian Bock and one hen I spotted really caught my eye, I am sure it was a cinnamon sky blue with the buffalo direction in bucket loads.
Q. What is the most important piece of advice you could give a beginner just starting out in the hobby?
A. keep your mind and ears open to the old lads in the hobby! They generally know what they are talking about. Don’t be too big to follow advice!
Q. What more do you believe we can do to promote the hobby?
A. Stop posting the prices that people are paying for birds! It scares new people off in my eyes.
Q. What do you enjoy most about the hobby? Are you still as enthusiastic as when you first started?
A. Oh yes i am! i enjoy seeing my birds improve and knowing it’s down to my chosen pairings, as well as lady luck.
Thank you for taking part Darragh.
Darraghs Birdroom - could this be the new one behind ?
©2006 barrieshuttbudgerigars S3872.