When I make aviary visits I always look around and try to spot something out of the ordinary. You will be surprised the novel ideas which some fanciers adopt.
It is truly amazing the different sizes and shapes of nest boxes which are in use. And what is remarkable, despite the variation in the boxes the breeder is usually quite convinced that the type he uses is the best. Some are convinced that the box should be fitted outside the breeding cage. Others prefer it inside. Some like them in the top back corner, others on the floor. Really, it doesn't matter where the box is fitted or what type you use providing the birds get in, and produce chicks. The box is fitted mainly to suit the fancier and this includes what space he has available.
It might be worth bearing in mind that some birds do have a preference for a certain type and size of box and their placement in the breeding box and I wonder at times whether this is based on the original box they were brought up in. It's something to bear in mind when you buy stock in. Take a look at the birds first home. A strange box might not appeal to newly purchased stock.
Perches are another subject which vary from aviary to aviary. Some fanciers feel that square perches are far better than round and they come up with various answers why they use them. They say that three-quarter inch square perches should be used in preference to half-inch ones. Fair enough, but I have seen birds breeding great on oval ones and hazel branches which vary in shape and sizes. Here again I doubt whether there is scientific proof that one type of perch is better than another. It's something the fancier has come to a personal decision upon, and that is fair enough. I have seen birds mate on the floor and at one time, when we used a glass door on the nest box, some were seen to mate in the nest box itself. It appears today that the decisive factor is not the type of perch, but whether the bird itself wants to breed.
When I was in Germany recently I noticed several breeders have changed their breeding cages and flights and instead of wire netting they have installed stainless steel wire panels. The whole idea, according to the fanciers I spoke to, it to prevent the birds tails being damaged when they climb up the wires. The new fronts have gaps of about half an inch wide by two inches high. I am told that Frank Silva has recently installed these new style fronts and flights and I am sure they must look effective. When I next visit Frank I will seek out his views on the new investment.
Another idea I liked in the German aviaries were the stainless steel stands on which the seed bowls are placed inside the breeding units. These have a gap underneath for young chicks to use as a safe haven from being attacked by their parents when they leave the nest. I hope to get a few of these and will bring them on to the Budgerigar World stand later on in the year.
One big difference I notice in the majority of aviaries I visit these days is their cleanliness. Years ago, some champ-ion breeders were notorious for their dirty bird-rooms. Nowadays the breeder pays far more attention to keeping his birdroom clean and it is only the odd one I find which makes me puke. But on the other hand, I have to admit, that many of the fanciers who take pride in their aviaries are among those who seem to get trouble with their breeding. Those who have dirty establishments don't seem to get breeding troubles. I dread to think that keeping a place clean causes breeding problems. I would prefer to think that in the efforts to keep the place clean the fancier disturbs the breeding pairs too much. I certainly don't like interfering with a broody hen and will never touch or mark the eggs. Use a Budgerigar World torch to inspect the eggs instead.
I am always interested in what a fancier feeds his birds. You will be surprised how many still feed the cheapest seed they can get hold of. They will think nothing of spending nearly a months wages on a bird, but will try and save the pennies on seed. I believe that this is the wrong approach. Those seed suppliers who are well-known in the hobby have their reputation at stake and ensure their products are top class, otherwise they would be out of business.
Finally, I have to refer again to the vast amount of additives used by some fanciers. We have reached the stage when this is a very big market and the range of additives on sale is unending. Whilst some products have a history of being very useful, one must be wary and think twice of using a miracle powder being sold from an unknown source. And if a manufacturer tells you one teaspoon is sufficient, doubling the quantity usually has opposite results.
© Gwyn Evans 1999
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