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Andyn

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Posts posted by Andyn

  1. Posted · Report reply

    Nick,

    When you say sex linked hen are you talking about the hen (assuming) in your #2 photo and mated to the White (Pied) cock?

    The answer to that is probably 'Lucky Dip' If the White cock is a 'Normal White Pied' you would probably have Normal Chicks split for White (Pied) and possibly cream (assuming again) but if he is carrying other genes it could be different outcome. I think the hen in #1 photo is possibly a Cream which is a dilute of fawn. I don't know a great deal about Dilutes I'm afraid.

    If your pair hen is carrying any Pied genes you would get Pied, White, and any other colours. (that's the thing with not knowing pedigree of 1st birds, you just don't know what to expect until it happens.:o

    I have had Normal chicks turn up with white flight feathers and bib from visual Normals so the Pied gene has been dormant for years and my pairings have brought it together.(you wouldn't be able to show them as either Normal or Pied) but would be a good stock bird to improve on Pied size next year etc.

  2. Posted · Report reply

    For breeding purposes I would divide into two. I use Orni-ex cages which fit together in a row of four, the next row fit onto the tops of the row below. If you went onto Supapets website you would find them under plastic cages- http://www.supapets-online.co.uk/463-plastic-breeding-cages-and-accessories

    Chudleigh is about 5-6 miles from me so quite easy.

    If you PM me we can arrange a visit. 

    Think you have to be an active member with posts before you can post photos. 4MB is max size you can post, so if you can download your phone photos to PC and reduce in size to approx 640 x 480 pixels that should work just fine. This is one I use- https://pixlr.com/editor/

  3. Posted · Report reply

    Nick,

    When you get your welcome pack the ZFS 2016 year book should be in it. In the back 3-4 pages is a list of members. So read through and find ones who you would be able to visit. Drop them a line or search for telephone number and see if they can accommodate a visit and maybe sales etc. We do have a members map in the top line of buttons so maybe have a look on there too.

    If you come down this way for holiday you could Private Message me and visit if you want.

    Another way to buy birds is via courier which costs I think £45 but you have to rely on the integrity of the seller of course, and this is quite a common way for us to buy and sell. Also look at the Forum's Exchange and Sales.

    Hope that helps

     

  5. Posted · Report reply

    Hi Nick and welcome to the Forum.

    Good to hear you are looking at Exhibition side of hobby. Where do you live? there could well be an Exhibitor member in your area who could help you with birds of the right type.

    I'm into showing myself and have 16 cages but not necessarily all being used as breeder cages because fledged babies need somewhere to be housed.

    If you have the type of cages with a small door at top front for nest box attachment then you can use external nest boxes (I use cardboard ones) but have used DIY plywood ones.

    I find that by placing Babies in training cages about 3-4 times a week for an hour at a time once they have been in the Stock cages for 2 weeks or so they will eventually calm down, though I've never tried to tame any but a friend of mine does have his chicks finger tame.

    Move chicks away from parents at about 35 days plus and if you can check that they are all feeding themselves by this time. (I lost two this year after 3 days of separation so I'm thinking to go past 35 days just to be on safe side) If you put them in an aviary after the training period you will probably have to retrain them a month or so before any show and you will also have to catch them up too. (much easier from a cage)

    I hope other members will join in and give you their ideas and experiences and ask away with any questions, there is a wealth of knowledge on here so I'm sure they will get answered.

    Andyn

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Anyone got a hen to go with this-Double Black Pied.jpgas far as I can work out it is a Black Breast,Black Face. Rather smart I must admit and build like a racing runner bean. I was told it popped up in a clutch. The chap who it was given to doesn't know what to do with it and I said I'd try to find a suitable hen. Any one ?? swaps with BB/OB cocks or hens if helps

    • Like 1

  8. Posted · Report reply

    12 hours ago, BittyBirds said:

    Thank you. Do you cook the cuscus or serve it dry? I also read where meals worms are good for the finches but do they have be alive? I have seen dried ones.

    I use the instructions on packet, they call it cooking but it's just add boiling water really. For roughly 14 cages and 2 flights I use 54gms of Cuscus with 75ml of water. I don't stir it though but do cover the basin/container with clingfilm. When I do want to use it I fork it over and fluff it up. My lot accidentally get dry mealworms when they are given Canary No.2 as a treat which my other half mixes them in for her canaries. But I've never seen a Zebra Finch eat any. (that's not to say that some don't :lol:)

    It seems that both of your parent birds are Pied or the non Pied one is split (carrying Pied gene) and if that is a CFW then the Cock is split for CFW and that chick will be a hen.

    You wait till any baby cocks start to try and sing it's so funny.

    Andyn

  9. Posted · Report reply

    Hi Bitty Birds and a welcome from me too.

    I think everyone has their own way of doing things so I carry on feeding egg food all year round about twice a week. But! mine absolutely love plain Cuscus and can't get enough of it. So if you are of a mind, you could try that yourself. In fact I kind of alternate with those two and a finger draw of Budgie Tonic seed. With 'Just Thrive And Gloss' supplement all the time.  

  13. Posted

    Is anyone else having a high level of Dead In Shell in recent days.

    Whereas the first round was reasonable considering other breeders and my own mentor's results but the second round seems to be blighted with high level of DIS with only one or two hatching out of 5/6 fertile and even the ones that do hatch don't always survive, I'm beginning to wonder if I have some sort of virus in my birdroom, because there have always been the odd few DIS but I can't remember such a high level.

    I don't think it is a nutritional problem as nothing on the feeding side has changed since starting out last December.

    AndyN

     

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Hi Mark, and welcome to the Forum.

    There are several Champion and Novice Breeders in your area but I don't think they are very active on here. There are-3 in Llanelli, 2 in Pentre, 1 in Kidwelly & 1 in Bargoed. And about 4 in the Bristol area. (no phone numbers though)

    We also have a For Sale and Wanted section on here and Currier charges are about £45 for a box of up to 12 birds.

    (I sent some to your area last autumn).  

    I suggest that you join the ZFS and you would receive a handbook which contains names and addresses of most of it's members and ring order forms etc

    There could be more but not in my SW&SCZFC mailing list so again suggest ZFS handbook. Oh! and there is a 'Welsh Zebra Finch Society'

    Hope that helps

  18. Posted

    I'm sorry to here that Andy, I was hoping things had started to get better. Like you said the only way is UP. I know it's not much consolation but there are local Breeders down here who are struggling too and we are talking long term Champions.

    But on the other hand, one has stopped breeding because they have filled the quota/target of 70 already. It's really weird!! 

    Cheers

    Andy

    • Like 1

  21. Posted

    Anyone else breeding at this time notice whether there is an unequal balance in the sexes of chicks produced to date.

    I have 8 CFW in the young stock cage, 6 of which are Cocks and 2 Hens with Normal being total of 4 at 3 cocks and 1 hen. Even my 1 White I've just seen singing.

    I'm hoping that the next 2 nests of 5s will be Hen biased otherwise I could be struggling to find Breeder show Teams.

     

  24. Posted

    It's weird to find this one orange finger drawer in an outer seed delivery sack, but they left out my Millet Spreys so I told them I would rather have the Millet than the one finger drawer and when I contacted that seed supplier they said they didn't deal in them. They must have done at some time or other. The search goes on :ph34r::D

    Thanks again anyway Sarah and I'll keep supapets link you posted.