March 2010

Monday 8th March

Work on the new birdroom and cages is edging towards completion, over the weekend roof insulation, new windows and the first coat of paint was applied, throughout the week more painitng of the main structrue will take place before the new cages are taken in and painted up. My plan is to move the birds in weekend of the 20 and 21 March, with a view to pairing up the following week.

The birds are in good shape, and given the opportunity would probably be ready to nest in the next week, i'm taking a risk holding them back, but I'm hoping that in doing so i'll get a good first round under my belt. I know a number of fanciers already have eggs, and several more have nests, my own experiences of "early starts" are not great, with lots of clears eggs, and dead in shell - so whilst it's tempting to go with the flow I'm trying to hold back as much as possible.

I'm off line at home, but have some photos of my new setup and this years breeding team that i'll pop up as soon as I get the opportunity.

Friday 26th March

Well it's taken a considerable amount of time but tomorrow the birds will be ready to move into their new home, and for the first time in over two years I'll be living in the same location as them!.

Photos of the new birdroom along with a new gallery section will be loaded up onto the site shortly. The birds themselves have been getting into good condition and hopefully the move won't set them back too much.

I know that a number of breeders have already started with some having chicks in the nest or even fledged chicks. I'm hoping my delayed start will ensure that clear eggs are kept to a minimum and that soon after the birds are in they'll all show signs of wanting to go to nest, some are already showing signs but thankfully no eggs just yet.

Monday 29th March

Move completed! - the birds are now in and singled off, the cock birds are absolutely bouncing, in fact i've never known them to be as fit this early in the year. One of the birds I took in from Gerald last year, the sister to his 4th best in show at the North West Fife, has turned out to be a cock. I had had my suspicions which were confirmed yesterday when the bird was singled off and proceeded to sing and dance on its perch!

I'll be preparing the nest pans this week as a number of the hens look very keen on nesting. The birds in general seem very fit, I put this down in part to the introduction of Orego Stim this year into the feeding regime, it seems to have helped the other conditioning I give them each year.

Hopefully the move, and the slight change in conditions, will not throw the birds into a moult, i'll know more over the coming days and week but I have my fingers crossed they'll be fine.