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Andyn

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Posts posted by Andyn

  5. Posted

    10 hours ago, Penny W said:

    My chick tally so far - 18 cocks, 4 hens!

     :o:o I recon that must be some sort of record Penny. This is really weird. At least mine fairly evened out.

    I have just rung my first two Pied for this year and only been trying since December 2016. Don't think they will be a matching pair for show though.

  6. Posted

    Have just done a survey of Cocks to Hens bred here so far.

    Spaced over two rounds I have bred - CFW- 8 of each. Normal- 5 Cocks & 4 Hens. Aviary Orange/Black Breast 6 Cocks & 2 Hens and White- 2 of each ( I believe)

    and knowing that in the late December- February there were definitely more cocks to hens, then March onwards, it was more hens than cocks. Maybe there is something in what Emmy read.

  8. Posted

    Well Emmy, I know that I posted asking if anyone else was experiencing that very problem and that was in late Jan early Feb. I know Penny W also put a blog on titled 'too many cocks spoil the show team' so she was experiencing the same problem, but, the second round was a different story for me with more hens than cocks and from the same families, This would have been early March on wards when the temps should have been warmer. The problem didn't seem to occur before this year but thinking back even with Budgies there was always more cocks bred anyway but not in significant numbers like this one we have just had.

    And, would there be any difference for those breeders using heating and/or insulation which might keep temps up a little. Hmm!

    It will be interesting to see if members/breeders who have only just paired up get a different result. In fact my Mentor had such a bad start that he has just paired up again last Sunday so maybe I can pick his brains when he has moulted out chicks and see if more hens.

    There might be a way for you to test that theory using incubators if you were willing and able to use dummy eggs in two nests until the incubator eggs started to hatch and then return the chicks for natural rearing.

    Andy

  9. Posted · Report reply

    13 hours ago, Clare L said:

    Some could be split Isabel, but I'm not that good yet lol.

    The OB and BB mutations are so hard to tell sometimes, Mine have all come out looking like BB but I know there is OB, only time will tell.

    Still a bit confused over why you had a normal out of a fawn pairing though, my only conclusion is one of them is not fawn?

    Do you have pics of the parents?

     

     

     

    There is Isabel on the parent hen side. That's exactly what all my cocks look like but the Father was visual OB and believed that the Mum was OB/Isabel (I bred her last year) It wasn't just one Normal that came up it was 3 in total all cocks so I have to 'assume' dad is Normal split Fawn but brown in his Normal colouring. Unfortunately I lost the mum last week. (sudden) but will have a closer look at Dad. (he's back in the Garden Aviary now) 'My head hurts' :D 

  11. Posted · Report reply

    17 hours ago, Nick1986 said:

    Yes the top of the legs bolt together but I cable tied the lower leg bar together also to hold it together a bit better. With me being away the 13th may they would maybe hatch while I'm away would that cause any issues? Should I pair them in a weeks time so they are still egg sitting while I'm away? I have someone to keep an eye on them food and water etc while away

    Nick, it would be a bit difficult for an answer to your question. I suppose it boils down to the experience the person who looks after your stock when you are away. If they are happy to just Feed and Water then I would wait so eggs hatch when you are back home. Personally I make sure there are no eggs laid after about 8 weeks prior to holiday. My Granddaughter is very hands on with animals and birds but I'd feel happier knowing that she would only have to do the morning check and open up and evening feeding with closing up.(she also has a job) She has dealt with fatalities before so I'm content that she shouldn't have to be ringing me with problems that a less experienced person would.

    I know it's quite exciting when you first start out. (been there, done that not so long ago :lol:) But as I said above, maybe best to judge it for when you are back.

    Other's might have a different idea.

    Andy

     

  12. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, Nick1986 said:

    I will be getting 2 more rows of 5 when the pockets will allow but it's a good start. How long should I keep the hens and Cocks apart (cfw) before I pair them for breeding?

    I would just start now if they are old enough. But mine are totally separate for about 6 weeks before pairing up. 

    Your cages are looking good, where did you bolt the two stands together? Was it legs. (thinking that nut side would stop cage fitting in the runner if bolted in any other place)

  17. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks again Clare,

    Bit of confusion I think. The tail photo #2 is a 2017 chick #3 not parent sorry!

    My hens are kept separate right up to breeding so she shouldn't have been with another cock. The only thing I did was to run 2 hens with the OB parent cock. But the hens were sisters from Isabel cock x OB hen and I'd swear they are both OB. (my head hurts) :D 

  18. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks Clare.

    The tails are slightly different. #1 is tail from BB Normal cock. #2 is tail of #3 who I believed was BB Fawn but in photo it looks like Black is changing to Orange as you can see.

    I guess there could be Isabel in the mix as Granddad was Isabel.

    Anyway, see if these help.. #1IMG_20170420_130740[1].jpg                 

    #2IMG_20170420_131031[1].jpg #3IMG_20170420_131104_4[1].jpg

    #3 wouldn't sit still long enough to get photos so had to hold him.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    Hi Clare thanks for reply.

    Both Parents are fawn so I'm confused from where the Normals have come from. Think I need to look at Dad and see if he is normal but fawny in colour.

    Here are photos of the two hens faces and tails.(didn't want to hijack your Emou chick post) Sorry second tail shot is slightly out of focus but basically same as 1st tail shot.

    101_0635.JPG 101_0636.JPG 101_0637.JPGHen chick #1

    101_0638.JPG101_0639.JPG 101_0640.JPG

    101_0641.JPG 4 shots for hen #2 she has chest bar markings so added it in in case relevent.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Hi and welcome to the Forum.

    I changed from Budgies about 4 years ago and never looked back. BUT Exhibition Zebra Finches can be just as difficult to breed as Budgies.

    You might find Exhibition Zebras on Preloved, Gumtree, FreeAds & Pets4Homes. Courier cost is about £45 for a box which would carry 12 birds.

    Andyn

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Hi Owen and welcome to the Forum and back into the hobby.

    There are a few Champion breeders in your area so it might be better to contact these first rather than a pet shop. The breeder ones would be Exhibition type though.

    I know there are some on the Free ads like Gumtree, Preloved etc. and you can get them couriered at about £45 ish for a box which I think holds 12 birds.

    If you say where in South Wales you live I'll look in the ZFS book and find some names and addresses. (No phone numbers though)

    Andyn