February 2010

Monday 8th February

The onset of longer days is bringing the birds steadily into condition, however the fluctuation in temperatures is likely to delay the start of the breeding season a couple of weeks, which in itself is no bad thing. A couple of the over year cocks and hens have been a bit up and down and are out of the flight cages and housed in a three foot stock / breeding cage. It’s strange that its too dark buff cocks and two dark yellow hens, although at the same time helpful as if they don’t get into full condition it doesn’t alter the breeding plans too much.

One thing that will alter the plans a little is the gender of one of my best birds! – I took in an unflighted heavily variegated buff from Gerald last November; it’s a quality bird from a good family (its brother took best variegated and 4th Best Champion at North West) and was 1st in three shows and 2nd in two others in its class. Although I thought the bird was originally a hen it has, over the last couple of weeks started to sing!. Whilst not a guarantee of gender, as a novice I had a clear buff bird with excellent colour, that sang and won its class as a cock at the North of England, only for it to lay an egg the following breeding season!, a display of throaty singing can be a good indicator. If it does indeed turn out to be a cock it will solve one problem, if the two flighted cock birds don’t pick up, but leave me with another, as I had intended to pair it with a self blue cock bird, that’s the half brother to Geralds 2008 North of England winner,

I’ve just started this week giving the birds Orego-Stim, I’m always dubious of claims made around products in the bird-room, however I’ve heard from many fanciers the benefits that this brings, so I though I’d give it a go, with the usual routine to see what value it adds.

The construction of the new cage blocks is underway, they should be ready to paint towards the back end of the month, just in time for the move!

Sunday 28th February

Its been a very busy couple of weeks with a house move and a trip to Belgium. Work on the new birdroom is well underway, it's a brick built structure approixmatley 9ft square, fortunately my new cage blocks, which should be ready this week, will fit perfectly across the back wall.

This week i'll insulate the roof, fit the new 4 ft daylight tube and start the painting before fitting a new door and window at the weekend. My aim is to have all of the cages painted and in place by the 14th March.

I know many breeders seasons are already underway, although fit and showing a few signs I still feel my birds are a couple of weeks off, which given the move is no bad thing. I expect they will be set back a week or so by the move, although again I'm not unduly concerned by this. I'd rather have a good round 1 under my belt by starting a little later than rush into things and have a large number of clear eggs.

I'm still off-line at home following the move so have to snatch time when I can to update the diary - as promised a new gallery section is soon to be added - so watch this space