Post by Marianne Marlow on Jan 7, 2012 17:25:26 GMT
Sam Wildes Breeder and Exhibitor from the UK
Q. When did you first start to become interested in budgies and what sparked it off?
A.I was only very young but being an only child meant I spent all my time with my parents who spoilt me, I wanted a hobby, my Dad suggested birds as he kept them when he was a teenager. We went to a local pet shop and ended up with budgies, zebra finches, cockatiels and much more. We then specialized in budgies, we also starting showing them.
Q. What did your first aviary / breeding room look like?
A. It was our tool shed that we converted into having cages in; it was only a 10 feet x 6 feet but it did the job.
Q. Where and when did you acquire your first budgerigar?
A. Exhibition birds were from 3 breeders, Geoff Bowley, Arnold Dixon & George Hill (all Trent Valley BS Legends).
Q. Do you still have birds from this bloodline?
A. No, George & Arnold no longer breed birds.
Q. Which bloodlines having given you the most impact on your stud?
A. Jo Mannes & Phil Reaney.
Q. Do you have a Specific Way of preparing your birds for the breeding season?
A. Feed them well, watch them and wait for the right time, a bird will not get paired up until its time.
Q. Do you pair your birds by visual appearance / bloodline or both?
A. I try all types and have success from each one, I normally prefer Visual but Pedigree pairings do work.
Q. How many chicks and clutches are your birds allowed?
A. Normally three rounds, but I will split up pairs if they breed very poor birds, some pairs go for longer than three rounds, I think you have to be different with each pair.
Q. What differences are there in your feeding programme in the breeding and non-breeding?
A. Soft food that is my only difference.
Q. What would you change about your setup if you had the chance (and infinite money to do?
A. I have just completed my 40ft x 12ft new birdroom so I would not want to change anything, it cost me enough.
Sam's new build
The breeding cages
Q. Do you believe in preventatives medication? If so what do you use?
A. No.
Q. How do you deal with birds with feather disorders?
A. I try birds if they have a problem but if it carries on to youngsters they get culled.
Q. Do you have a favourite mutation or Variety?
A. I love Albino’s, Rec Pieds & Yellowface’s.
Q. Who do you admire most in the hobby?
A. Local hero Geoff Bowley, National hero Geoff Capes, & World famous hero Jo Mannes.
Q. What was the best bird you ever bred ?
A. A YellowFace Cinnamon Grey cock.
Q. What was the best bird you have seen from Someone Else's stud?
A. A Violet Clearbody hen – Jo Mannes.
Q. What is the most important piece of advice you give a beginner, just starting out in the hobby?
A. Learn from mistakes, take the first year to learn how the birds breed and expect a few hiccups, but most of all enjoy it.
Q. What more can we do to promote the hobby?
A. We need as a whole to push this hobby nationally, so that we get newcomers to start up.
Q. What do you enjoy most about the hobby? Are you still as enthusiastic as when you first started?
A. I have my ups and downs each year but right now I’m on a high and really enjoying them, seeing good youngsters make it to becoming a super adult is a great feeling.
A couple of Sam's quality birds
Thanks Sam for taking part.
©2006 barrieshuttbudgerigars S3872.
Q. When did you first start to become interested in budgies and what sparked it off?
A.I was only very young but being an only child meant I spent all my time with my parents who spoilt me, I wanted a hobby, my Dad suggested birds as he kept them when he was a teenager. We went to a local pet shop and ended up with budgies, zebra finches, cockatiels and much more. We then specialized in budgies, we also starting showing them.
Q. What did your first aviary / breeding room look like?
A. It was our tool shed that we converted into having cages in; it was only a 10 feet x 6 feet but it did the job.
Q. Where and when did you acquire your first budgerigar?
A. Exhibition birds were from 3 breeders, Geoff Bowley, Arnold Dixon & George Hill (all Trent Valley BS Legends).
Q. Do you still have birds from this bloodline?
A. No, George & Arnold no longer breed birds.
Q. Which bloodlines having given you the most impact on your stud?
A. Jo Mannes & Phil Reaney.
Q. Do you have a Specific Way of preparing your birds for the breeding season?
A. Feed them well, watch them and wait for the right time, a bird will not get paired up until its time.
Q. Do you pair your birds by visual appearance / bloodline or both?
A. I try all types and have success from each one, I normally prefer Visual but Pedigree pairings do work.
Q. How many chicks and clutches are your birds allowed?
A. Normally three rounds, but I will split up pairs if they breed very poor birds, some pairs go for longer than three rounds, I think you have to be different with each pair.
Q. What differences are there in your feeding programme in the breeding and non-breeding?
A. Soft food that is my only difference.
Q. What would you change about your setup if you had the chance (and infinite money to do?
A. I have just completed my 40ft x 12ft new birdroom so I would not want to change anything, it cost me enough.
Sam's new build
The breeding cages
Q. Do you believe in preventatives medication? If so what do you use?
A. No.
Q. How do you deal with birds with feather disorders?
A. I try birds if they have a problem but if it carries on to youngsters they get culled.
Q. Do you have a favourite mutation or Variety?
A. I love Albino’s, Rec Pieds & Yellowface’s.
Q. Who do you admire most in the hobby?
A. Local hero Geoff Bowley, National hero Geoff Capes, & World famous hero Jo Mannes.
Q. What was the best bird you ever bred ?
A. A YellowFace Cinnamon Grey cock.
Q. What was the best bird you have seen from Someone Else's stud?
A. A Violet Clearbody hen – Jo Mannes.
Q. What is the most important piece of advice you give a beginner, just starting out in the hobby?
A. Learn from mistakes, take the first year to learn how the birds breed and expect a few hiccups, but most of all enjoy it.
Q. What more can we do to promote the hobby?
A. We need as a whole to push this hobby nationally, so that we get newcomers to start up.
Q. What do you enjoy most about the hobby? Are you still as enthusiastic as when you first started?
A. I have my ups and downs each year but right now I’m on a high and really enjoying them, seeing good youngsters make it to becoming a super adult is a great feeling.
A couple of Sam's quality birds
Thanks Sam for taking part.
©2006 barrieshuttbudgerigars S3872.
