Dec 29, 2011 18:29:20 GMT
Lushen1600
Normal Violet
mutation budgie breeder
Posts: 166
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Post by Lushen1600 on Feb 17, 2012 10:16:08 GMT
Hi I finally got my walk-in aviary setup for my colony breeding project, I know most of you guys don't like colony breeding but its something that I wanted to always do cos I'm breeding the normal petshop budgies and not show or exhibition budgies. I know that there are others out there who also colony breed and would like you guys to share some info on how to breed in a colony successfully, because I believe that it can be done successfully. For those of you who are against colony breeding, I would like to request that you give me a chance to prove that I will be able to breed my birds and still keep records so that I don't breed brother to sister. For a start below is a pic of a cage which I purchased for R800,00 to start my project, please note that this cage is gonna be used as is without any refurbishing cos I have other plans for this cage in the future. The cage is 1.8m long, 0.9m width and 2.3m high. It also has a small section which sticks out in the front top left which allows the birds to get sunlight. The cage has 2 shelfs which will be used as is, the bottom shelf can only take 6 nestboxes as it only is the lenght of half of the back of the cage, but the top shelf is the full lenght of the back of the cage, extending to the front on both sides and is able to take 18 nestboxes. So that will be a total of 24 nest boxes. I plan to have 15 bonded pairs in the cage, so 24 nestboxes will be more than enough choice for them I currently have 24 budgies in the cage which includes 6 to 7 bonded pairs and young, I will be buying another lot of about 18 budgies which also has about 6 to 7 bonded pairs at the end of the month, so I will soon reach my quota of 15 bonded pairs and will remove all excess budgies which are still young and have not bonded to another cage This will be all for now, I welcome all comments of this topic, whether it may be positive or negative as we are all here to learn Thanks Lushen Attachments:
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Feb 17, 2012 10:30:16 GMT
A few things come to mind to avoid anything bad while colony breeding.
1: The number of birds should be even, with same number of cocks as hens. 2: The numbers of nest boxes should be 1.5 to 2 per pair. 3: All the nest boxes should be at the same height. 4: Aviary should be big and not over populated.
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Dec 29, 2011 18:29:20 GMT
Lushen1600
Normal Violet
mutation budgie breeder
Posts: 166
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Post by Lushen1600 on Feb 17, 2012 13:27:33 GMT
Thanks for the info buddy How many pairs would you suggest for this size cage?
Thanks Lushen
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Feb 17, 2012 15:00:24 GMT
It's 3.7 cubic meters but height is more which counts less than the width. So I would say 4 pairs maximum.
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Dec 29, 2011 18:29:20 GMT
Lushen1600
Normal Violet
mutation budgie breeder
Posts: 166
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Post by Lushen1600 on Feb 17, 2012 18:20:52 GMT
Ok and what would happen if I put more than 4 pairs
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Feb 17, 2012 20:47:35 GMT
The problems which are associated with colony breeding in an over populated aviary. Hens destroying eggs in other nest boxes, killing other chicks and fighting to death over nest boxes and cocks.
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Dec 29, 2011 18:29:20 GMT
Lushen1600
Normal Violet
mutation budgie breeder
Posts: 166
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Post by Lushen1600 on Feb 18, 2012 7:24:00 GMT
Ok and will placing nestboxes at different heights, and having different number of males and females cause the same problems
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Feb 18, 2012 7:57:27 GMT
Ok and will placing nestboxes at different heights, and having different number of males and females cause the same problems It will significantly increase the chances of such problems.
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Dec 29, 2011 18:29:20 GMT
Lushen1600
Normal Violet
mutation budgie breeder
Posts: 166
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Post by Lushen1600 on Feb 18, 2012 14:29:46 GMT
Ok the reason I ask is because everyone says the same thing, but I'm gonna go against all odds in this project and go against everything said to try it for myself and document in this journal what happens, will post more pics of the inside of the cage including shelfs and nestboxes as well as pics of the various bonded pairs
Thanks
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Feb 18, 2012 19:26:32 GMT
Good luck Looking forward to pictures.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,737
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Feb 18, 2012 19:54:25 GMT
Good luck Lushen1600. looking forward to seeing how it goes
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Post by Ryan.W on Feb 18, 2012 22:03:09 GMT
i like colony breeding, if done right. I hope you get on well and i look forward to updates.
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Apr 19, 2024 6:37:49 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2012 22:07:48 GMT
Ok the reason I ask is because everyone says the same thing, but I'm gonna go against all odds in this project and go against everything said to try it for myself and document in this journal what happens, will post more pics of the inside of the cage including shelfs and nestboxes as well as pics of the various bonded pairs Thanks The reason everyone warns you off is because its a really bad idea, think of the safety of your birds/chicks/eggs...
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Dec 29, 2011 18:29:20 GMT
Lushen1600
Normal Violet
mutation budgie breeder
Posts: 166
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Post by Lushen1600 on Feb 19, 2012 7:27:58 GMT
I have thought about it and knoiw that there are advantages and disadvantages to both colony and individual pair per cage breeding, so I have opted to colony breed cos you can still lose birds/chicks/eggs in individual pair per cage breeding and see that I'm not breeding for any specific colour or feature, I have chosen to colony breed. I believe that birds are happier when they chose their own mates, just like us humans are happier when we choose our own mates, and just as we make mistakes in our lives and may quarrel about it, so to will the birds. When birds choose a partner on their own, they are happier, and I believe that they are intelligent enough to know what is good for them, please don't get me wrong as I am not against individual pair per cage breeding as I breed my ringnecks one pair per cage, and will also be breeding my lovebirds and cockatiels in this fashion, but with the budgies I wanted to do something different and give them the option to make their own choices. As I said it will be a learning experience for me and others, and if their is any danger then I will intervene.
Thanks Lushen
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Dec 29, 2011 18:29:20 GMT
Lushen1600
Normal Violet
mutation budgie breeder
Posts: 166
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Post by Lushen1600 on Feb 19, 2012 7:41:10 GMT
Ok just an update on where I am with the colony breeding, I have selected colours which I like and put them into the aviary about 2 weeks ago, need to recount but there should be about 23 budgies in the cage both mature and young that are starting to mature, I also have 4 young birds that cannot yet fly in a smaller cage, will put them in when they are able to fly, I noticed last week sunday that they were fighting for mates and boxes but nothing serious to the extent of causing any danger to each other.
Yesterday I noticed that 2 females seem to be settled in a box, and a third is still undecided, as for the rest of tthe females, I'm not sure if they have chosen boxes yet as they always seem to be out when I walk to the aviary, guess they are still settling in
I have negotiated with another breeder who is giving up his birds so I will have more budgies to put in if that deal goes through, then as soon as I see 15 bonded pairs, I will remove the rest of the budgies to another cage for sale
I will be day off from work on tuesday and wednesday this week so will take out pics then of everything and slowly put the pics online with details
I currently have 18 nestboxes, of which 13 are secondhand and 5 are new, I have washed all the boxes with a non-toxic disinfectant and put diatoms into them
Thanks Lushen
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