Aapproaching the end of May and the third round chicks are starting to come out of the nest boxes into the breeding cages. It is a time when a close watch is needed on the chicks, but it is easier at the end of the breeding season as one of the parents can be removed and the other left to finish weaning the chicks.
At the end of the first and second rounds there is always the possibility that an anxious hen wanting to start another clutch, will drive the chicks out of the nestbox and in doing so sometimes draws blood. Once this happens she does not seem able to stop and we have the battered baby budgie syndrome. I have often heard of cocks attacking chicks, but have never come across this myself.
I use all-wire cages and of my 30 cages, 10 are now empty and over the next couple of weeks the empty cages will be lifted down from their screws on the wall of the birdroom, perches removed and the mesh brushed with a wire brush in order to remove any hardened droppings. The perches are scrubbed and stored and the cages are then taken out into the garden and stood in the open at the back of the shed. They are weathered during this time and lightly sprayed with anti-mite solution before being returned to the birdroom in November for the start of the next breeding season. The Correx plastic-type sheets are hosed down on the lawn and then well-scrubbed with a yard broom and stored at the back of the cages for the summer.
As the cocks and hens return to the flights they are all dosed with Emtryl against trichomonas and with great effort, every bird in the flight is caught up and dabbed on the back of the neck with Ivomec. This is also a good time to stocktake and the ring number, sex, variety and colour of each bird is written down to be compared with the computer records.
Once most of the cages are removed, then the wall behind the cages can be scrubbed, sprayed and then painted. There will be a few cages left in the birdroom to deal with the awkward birds who are well worth persevering with. There are always a few of these - too good to get rid of but reluctant to breed. Now is the time for a last chance scenario. However, the remaining half-a-dozen cages are all moved to one end of the birdroom.
Before the show team are selected, the whole birdroom is thoroughly cleaned. Everything moveable is taken outside and walls, ceilings and floors are scrubbed and disinfected. Any repairs which need doing are carried out whilst the birdroom is relatively empty. I now have aluminium flights which can be moved around, so cleaning is now much easier.
Once everything is back in place the cage for the show team is brought into position. I find that all-wire cages tend to fray the tails, so use a conventional type cage for the show team. This is an ex-wardrobe divided into two, the young birds being separated from the adults
The show selection process now begins. The first two rounds have gone through the first moult and are starting to show their promise or otherwise, and the results of the hard work put in during the breeding season can be assessed. Those who look promising can be separated off and put in the show team cage. Late breds from the previous year can also be assessed and sorted and the birds from the breeding pairs can be added as they start to come back into condition and, once again, we are almost ready for the start of the show season.
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Copyright © 2000, Dolores Noonan. All rights reserved.