April 2011

Wednesday 13

An interesting few weeks in the shed, all but one of the 20 breeding hens has now laid, although a couple have laid just the one egg. I have chicks in 6 nests, although after many years of breeding canaries i've learnt not to count them until they're fledged. Still so far i'm around 4 weeks earlier than previous years and the yield is good, with young off the pairs i wanted.

As is always the case i'm hearing mixed reports from breeders across the country some are off to a great start whilst others are struggling to get the birds to go down having adopted the same approach and build up routine as they have in previous years. Always careful not to tempt fate i'm happy with my start to the season, one thing i have noticed is a reluctance from the hens to eat the softfood they're being provided with.

I've changed the blend this year to use a third Kings, a third feast and a third cous cous and although i've seen the hens take it they seem more keen on the soaked seed and spinach thats being provided. More updates and a new photo gallery to come soon

Tuesday 19

The highs and lows of the season!!, couple of hens playing silly beggers but still plenty of time to recover. It's key to set your expectation levels and not to dwell on things. Disapointed to lose a breeding hen, the first time thats happened in the season for many years, she seemed healthy enough but went down hill very quickly.

She had one chick that was 12 days old when se died, i've moved her to another nest and so far 4 days on i'm pleased to say its still alive. All of the breeding hens have now laid, with the couple who had not laid a full clutch initially having another go. Still hearing mixed reports from fanceirs who are losing a lot of young or not getting birds down. As an experienced fancier told me last night on the phone, don't dwell on the ones that die, your winners will never come from those, your winners will come from the ones that are still alive - there's a harsh lesson in those words of wisdom!

Thursday 28

The first young are venturing out of the nest and should be away over the weekend, hens have been mated up for the second round and some have already laid. The chick off the hen i lost has been successfully reared, its a clear and i think from the depth of its colour it could be a cock.I'm really pleased that the hen who's nest i popped it into has done the business for me, i was concerned that it may have a negative impact on the other 2 chicks in the nest, but pleased to report she's taken them all to 22 days and they're starting to pick up themselves.

More nests are due next week, encouragingly the young out of the nest are looking good early on, obviously lots of time to chance but so far i like what i see and whilst for me its always quality over colour I have already got young across the full range of colours. One of the ticked yellow birds that i'd shown as a cock and paired as a cock is now on three eggs, it sang and i'm sure i'd even seen it tread, it was with a definate hen so there is a chance the eggs are hers but its sitting tight like a hen, the benefit of keeping a reasonable number of birds is that if this happens theres always a fall back option.

All in all i've got young off the birds i wanted to get young from which is what my new approach to the season was all about, for me it's always been quality over volume and with any luck and a good second round this year i'll get plenty of both!.