January 2009 Photo Of The Month | Link |
  1st 2009
 

Java News! Happy New Year!!

New Seed.
I went out to get my Javas some more seed over a week ago and have now only got around to mixing it today, I buy two 25kg bags of 50/50 budgie seed as the base ingredient, I empty both bags onto a large sheet, then add the others seeds I like to feed my javas with, then the fun starts mixing it by hand, I just keep folding it over and over until it looks like an even mixture, then with a clean dust pan and brush I re-bag it using the budgie bags and what is left over goes into a tub for the bird room.

Photo 1 Bag 1: 2.91kg Canary Tonic mix seed (Linseed + Rape seed + Canary seed + Egg biscuit plus a few more seeds) just adds more variety.
Photo 1 Bag 2: 2.98kg Red Millet

Photo 2 Bag1: 2.59kg Jap Millet
Photo2 Bag 2: 2.33kg Hemp

Photo 3 Bag1: 3.00kg Paddy Rice

Photo 4 Bag1: 2.9kg Plain Canary

I have now got enough seed to last a few weeks now.

I am often asked what Paddy Rice is and where can we buy it. (See large Photo) (Buy From)

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Budgie News!

The 2009 ring have arrived and just in time, because I have got chicks in the nest boxes.

This is may 1st breeding season as many of you might already now, so far it has not been going well, as I have had to cocks die on me also a lot of infertile eggs and a few of the chicks have not made it, however on the positive side I have about 8 chicks in two nest boxes and a few chicks have been rung with the new 2009 rings, the four chicks you can see in the photo, their parents are a cinnamon light green cock and a colbot blue hen.

Well I wish you a happy new year and the best of luck with you breeding season.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
  4th 2009
 

Java News!

Today I have separated some of the youngsters away from their parents, I will keep them in this cage for a week or more, so they get use to feeding and been away from their parents, when I am happy they are all O. K I will then put them into a flight with other young Javas until they molt into their adult colour's, I have another four young birds coming up to separation, a pair of pastel youngsters these baby's are a slight shade lighter than the Normal baby's, also I have two normal split silver baby's to go in with the pastels.

Here are my next breeding pair:

I have put these two birds together in a breeding cage today, but I will not use them until spring time, the visual agate is my only visual I have ever bred, I did put her to breed just before Christmas with a split normal agate I got three eggs off her two were D.I.S and an unfertile egg, this was the first time she had laid eggs, anyway I decided to split them up and try again in spring, the new cock standing next to her is the only normal split agate cock I have ever bred the rest have been hens, he is only six months old at the moment, so the time spring comes around he will be a good age for breeding, both birds have different bloodlines.

Budgie News!

This week not much has happened down the bird room, however today I went to see a bird fancier who has borrowed me a very nice doniment  pied cock as you can see in the photo.

I got given this cock bird today along with a book which was written in 1951 (third addition) and he very kindly borrowed it to me to study with, in the back of the book there is the detailed aviary plan which should come in handy for when I build my out side aviary.

( See The Plan )

  10th 2009

Java News!

I have spent the whole day in the bird room cleaning, it has been a bit neglected over Christmas and the extreme cold weather we have been having recently, however today day was not so cold.

As you can see in the two photos the flights are not very clean, the droppings are up the walls and caked on their feeding station, that's the ledge with the three big holes. I take the wire mesh down off the windows to give the ledge a good clean plus polish the windows to get the best of the natural daylight coming in. All the javas have been put in the outdoor flight while I take down all the perches and do the deep clean.
  Here is the product I use to clean all the flights and cages with (Aviary Scrub Ultra) we got this when we went to the Doncaster world budgie show. In the past I have always used soapy water with bleach to clean, YOU NO when you hear of products claming to do this and that!! but they never do! well this product dose exactly what is says on the bottle (It's Fantastic Stuff) this 1Lt goes a long way when you dilute it correctly, all you have to do is put it into a spry bottle and spray it onto the aviary wall and ledges you want to clean, just wait 15 Min's and wipe the walls with a damp cloth, It just dissolves the droppings and loosens the thicker cakes of droppings, plus it has a lovely fresh smell that last's for days after, click on the photo of the bottle for a bigger photo.
Here is the flight all nice and clean again now, fresh seed in the pots, water drinkers all done as well, all I need to do now is let the Javas back in out of the cold.
The floor of the flight as been totally strip out and the floor tiles cleaned with the spray and aloud to dry before I cover it with kiln dried wood chips.

Budgie News!

This week not much has happened down the bird room. The chicks have started growing their feathers and they’re looking promising.

Today me and my mum cleaned up the bird room floor like we do every month, so not much has happened down the bird room this month hopefully more will happen down the bird room next week to report.

  17th 2009

Java News!


Today I have been making a new style nest box for the javas, the ones I have been using are not so easy to clean out plus I am getting poor breeding results, these new ones as you can see have a large open front to them to allow air to circulate plus let in more light, the floor area is about the same as a budgie box, this is bigger than the boxes I am using at the moment.
I will be trailing the box for the first time soon, I am not sure if the javas will be comfortable breeding in a large open fronted box, I will keep you posted when I use it.

The box will fit any cage front with a left or right breeding door opening. I have used a sloping top on these boxes, I am hoping this will stop the seed which is scatted from cages above settling on the top like on all the other types of boxes I have used in the past. Like all the boxes I use this has a hinged flip lid to access the nest from above.
Run your curser over the photo to see it work.

Buy the plans for only £1.00 see more | link |

Budgie News!

Well this week I have had pat around who very kindly give me her bird Joey, poor Joey has got an eye infection and it just wasn't’t happy as it was an aviary bird to begin with, so its hear now and what a super bird it is I am pleased to have it, pat is glad it’s gone to a good home and in good hands the bird is a gray green spangle cock.

Me, mum and Pat spent a good hour talking about the bird, so I will be keeping Pat informed on the bird just as she has asked for use to do.
  24th 2009

Java News!

Today I have finely got round to fixing L brackets to the wall to enable me to make each cage free standing, so when I want to move a cage I don't have to move all the others to do it.

I am the Birthday Boy Today!!

Budgie News!

Hi! this week I have made a small video so you can see and hear me in the bird room
| See Video |

Photo: Camera, I wish it was ours LOL!!

  More News To Follow Soon!!