Wynnum Redlands Budgerigar Society Inc. Newsletter.

Transcription

1 Wynnum Redlands Budgerigar Society Inc. Newsletter. September The Club s Web Page is : The Newsletter Editor milton.ludlow@gmail.com Wynnum Redlands Budgerigar Society Inc. would like to state, that it s objective in reporting various articles & advice in our Newsletter & communication, both verbal and written, is merely to disseminate information, and not to make recommendations or directives. Wynnum Redlands Budgerigar Society Inc would like to state, that the views expressed therein are not necessarily those of Wynnum Redlands Budgerigar Society Inc Your Committee is as follows: President Trevor Broadbent Ph Vice President Kerri Potts Ph Secretary Kay Ralph Ph Treasurer Bill Sedgwick Ph Ring Steward Bill Sedgwick Ph Show Secretary Pat Sedgwick Ph Show Steward Ian Anderson Ph Frank McGill... Editor Milton Ludlow Ph Caterer Val Scott Ph Social Director Kay Ralph Ph Web Editor Mark Jones Ph Committee Members:- Milton Ludlow, Ray Saunders, Val Scott, Mel & Shane Whell, and Darryl Hoffman 1

2 Editorial. For those Fanciers, and their partners on the sick or Crook List. We wish you all a healthily and speedier recovery, Club Open Day. Results.Mark did a really good job with this event. I thought this event went well, even though we did not have many members in attendance. There was a choice of Canaries, Finches, Love birds and Budgies. These events are there for you, all events your club organizes are for your benefit. Someone wasn t happy BUT if you put realistic prices on your selling items, then you will sell. I had a very profitable day; I bought 7 bags of seed, a pair of birds and still come home and went to the bank to deposit some dollars. Hurry up the Spring Festival. This will assist in our trip to NZ next yr. SQ Page. Hi Members for quite some time (several years) the new powder coated cage fronts have been replacing the chrome plated fronts on the show cages. If you still have the chrome fronts on your show cages the time has come to look seriously at getting them swapped over to the powder coated ones. If you require any assistance to change over talk to Trevor or Pat they should be able to point you in the right direction. Regards Bill We have 2 expressions of interest to do the catering at the SQ auction. The one from ABS that I sent a reply to & copied in the executive and this one. As this one is from a club where I have a vested interest, I withdraw from the decision making process. I will however comment that as Caboolture did the zone selection, it is probably only fair that ABS be given this opportunity. It is funny how we struggle to get clubs prepared to do the catering, and now we are over run. Regards Garry Dear Garry, Caboolture club will be delighted to do the catering for the SQBBA auction we will provide the same choice of food as the zone selection. Thanks Jacky. From 1st August on the Black ringers 2014 will be the young birds or Nestfeathers & the Green ringers 2013 will become old birds. Black ringers will be young until 31st July 2015 and the change will be after January 2015 the Violet 2015 ringers will become Nestfeathers or if right age etc., Juveniles, until 1st August 2015 then Violet 2015 ringers will become the young & Black the old. Hi Members there has been some confusion as to the cut off date for the chrome fronts This is pretty much for sure 2018 will be the last use of the existing chrome fronts as of the 1 st January 2019 we have to use the powder coated fronts Regards Bill Vale. It is with deep regrets that we have to let our members know, that Alan Beutels wife Merilyn sadly passed away after a short illness. Alan we are all thinking of you and your family in this time of great loss. 2

3 Show Preparation. Via internet. Steady parents tend to breed steady chicks that naturally show well. Flighty parents that will not perch and throw a fit in a show cage tend to produce youngsters that behave in a similar way. Training begins in the nest box. The more you handle youngsters the calmer they become and this becomes very evident in the show cage. When chicks leave the nest I introduce them to the show cage even before they are completely weaned, and use a thick judging stick to help them to the perch. I find this helps them later on to accept a judging stick as a natural accessory in the show cage and eliminates the possibility of frenzy when the judge uses one. When they are feeding themselves, the chicks are transferred to small flight cages, with others of similar age and a couple of older cocks to lead them to food, water etc. They are fed the normal seed & greens/vegies during this period and are loaded up with protein from as many sources as possible. During this time they are still caught and handled frequently to keep them calm and comfortable, and spend short periods in a show cage while I am feeding or cleaning the birdroom. Around the time they start their first moult, the time in a show cage increases. Some will be placed in a show cage after they eat in the morning. I do like to have some in the show cage when I am sweeping or vacuuming so they are not unsettled by sudden noise or clattering they will also experience at shows. After the first moult they go into a flight to develop and muscle up. Approximately 8 weeks before the first show the better birds are transferred back to the small flights and checked for broken or damaged feathers that need to be removed so they can regrow by show day. These birds are reintroduced to the show cage and judging stick and each spends 2-3 hours at a time getting reaccustomed to the smaller space. It always helps when you have someone experienced in charge of show preparation and spraying the birds. A month before show day the spraying starts 3-4 mornings a week. Give the birds a heavy drenching of warm water to start with. I use a mix of water with a little Fido s dog Conditioner concentrate. This will encourage natural preening so the birds eventually coat their feathers with natural oils. As this happens you will notice when you spray that the water will tend to bead up and roll off rather than soak deep into the feathers. Do NOT place the birds in a drafty area, and do Not place the birds in FULL sun to dry. Spray a little less each day so that a week before the show they are basically getting a misting of cold water rather than a bath. I stop spraying the Tuesday before a show. Also a month out check that any feathers you pulled are regrowing naturally. A couple of weeks out I start cycling the birds through the show cages for longer hours approx 6-8 hours at a time, a couple of times a week, making sure a judging stick is used every time I am in the room so they know when to show and move from one perch to the other. 3

4 This is also the time I start using the toothbrush with a little dishwashing liquid to clean up any areas in the cap or mask that are soiled. If there is any blood on the feathers then milk can be used to remove the blood. Then 4-5 days out I start despotting the birds. This is done in 2 or 3 or 4 sessions so there is no rush that results in wrong spots being removed. I leave large shadow spots under the main spots until the night before the show. Just as insurance in case a main spot drops at the last minute. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know." TIME TO PRAY A pastor asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night. "Yes, sir." the boy replied. "And, do you always say them in the morning, too?" the pastor asked. "No sir," the boy replied. "I ain't scared in the daytime" REDLAND SPRING FESTIVAL WE NEED MEMBERS TO GIVE A LITTLE OF THEIR TIME HELPING OUT THIS YEAR. MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK. PLEASE RING BILL. No work NO FREE PASS. Friday Avo late 5 th Saturday 8am to 9pm 6 th Sunday 8am to 4ish 7 th Sept. REDLAND SPRING FESTIVAL 2014 WYNNUM REDLANDS BUDGERIGAR SOCIETY INC. We need members to man the display Friday evening Saturday & Sunday We need Nestfeather birds for the raffles (must have some on Friday night) If the show birds can be entered on Friday it is better for the display side of the show THIS IS A TWO (2) DAY SHOW to be held on Saturday 6 th & Sunday 7 th September in the Joe Howell Pavilion Cleveland Show Grounds (Long St) Type of show Any Age Birds Staging :- commencing at 7.30 am with final staging 8.30 am Saturday Entries close Monday 1st September with show Secretary Pat Sedgwick Phone entries will be accepted up to 8 pm on that date phone Pat on show.secretary@wrbsinc.com Mobile available on show days Exhibitors are requested to enter birds in the following section Any Age Please note entries cannot be reclassified at staging time 4

5 Class Number Colour Variety Award Class Number Colour Variety Award Class 1 Normal green Rosette Class 14 Dominant Pied Rosette Class 2 Normal grey green Rosette Class 15 Spangle Normal Rosette Class 3 Normal blue Rosette Class 16 Spangle AOSV Rosette Class 4 Normal violet Rosette Class 17 Spangle D/F Rosette Class 5 Normal grey Rosette Class 18 Greywing Rosette Class 6 Yellowface Rosette Class 19 Clearwing Rosette Class 7 Lutino Rosette Class 20 Fallow Rosette Class 8 Albino Rosette Class 21 Blackeye Rosette Class 9 Cinnamon Rosette Class 23 Dilute Rosette Class10 Lacewing Rosette Class 24 Recessive Pied Rosette Class 11 Opaline Normal Rosette Class 25 Darkeyed Clear Rosette Class 12 Opaline AOSV Rosette Class 26 Crest Rosette Class 13 Clearbody Rosette Special trophy for Juniors (age to be declared with entries, for the Best Junior bird shown No entry fee for this show but if you nominate a bird please ensure you bench it. Removal of birds by arrangement with show secretary, but we need to have a display until at least 4 pm Sunday Morning tea will be provided at 9.00 am on Saturday Postage will apply if stickers are posted. Every care will be taken with exhibits but the Club will not be responsible for any losses, deaths or accidents. No parking available within the grounds It is uncertain how much vehicle assess or how close we will be able to get to the Joe Howell more later Sale birds:- This is a great opportunity to sell your excess birds to the general public (no mops or runners) A 10% commission will be collected by the Club on any sales best to keep prices below $25 Husbands are husbands. A man was sitting reading his papers when his wife hit him round the head with a frying pan. 'What was that for?' the man asked. The wife replied, 'That was for the piece of paper with the name Jenny on it that I found in your pants pocket'. The man then said 'When I was at the races last week, Jenny was the name of the horse I bet on.' The wife apologized and went on with the housework. Three days later the man is watching TV when his wife bashes him on the head with an even bigger frying pan, knocking him unconscious. Upon re-gaining consciousness the man asked why she had hit again. Wife replied. 'Your horse phoned' 5

6 A Beginner's Guide To Breeding Best-In-Show From the day most budgerigar breeders attend their first show thoughts and efforts usually focus on the million dollar question How do I breed a bird worthy of winning the coveted Best-In-Show Award?. It s no different for someone like me, returning to the hobby after an 8 year break for business and family commitments. The challenge is there especially when you know you start again and immediately compete against the best Champions around. It is back to the drawing board and a chance to use the guidelines that worked in the past to get back in the winning circle. Years ago, when I was a teenager in Australia, a top breeder named Frank Gardiner outlined a plan that helped me enormously. He said there were two types of people who showed budgies. There were those who had deep pockets lined with cash. These folks could go out every couple of years, buy top quality stock and breed them together in the hope of producing a winner or two a cycle they would repeat year after year until they got burned out and left the hobby. The other type was those with limited budgets, who studied the birds, became true breeders, and built a stud of top quality birds. This Frank said, took longer, but was the real key to long term success. It is obvious that the same holds true today. Back in Australia I had limited financial resources so had no real option on which plan to follow. I followed Frank s plan to the letter and it worked for me and soon my birds were winning awards at local shows. Several years later I moved to New Zealand and put the plan into effect again working with Eric Monks from Lower Hutt. In 1977 I was transferred to USA and had to start all over again. This time it was Harold Trethaway and Joe Lastella who helped me with initial stock and the great Don Langell who made a real impact in getting my birds to top competitive level. So. What I have learned is While there is no simple answer to this question of how to breed Best in Show, there are some guidelines for the newcomer to the hobby which will increase your chances and help put you on the road to success. The first requirement for success with Budgerigars is knowledge. And, as with any profession or hobby, the knowledge and experience necessary for success is not gained overnight or indeed in a few years. There are several excellent books written on the subject whom will help you gain knowledge. The Cult of the Budgerigar and Best In Show are fine examples, while Budgerigar World magazine and your society bulletins will expose you to ideas and practices of leading breeders. While books and articles are great to pick up the basics there is no substitute for knowledge gained from years of experience. Whenever possible attend shows and visit aviaries. Pick the brains of successful breeders. Visit as many aviaries of top line breeder/exhibitors as possible. They all have something to offer and you will be surprised how helpful most will be. When it comes time to purchase your initial breeding stock be patient. And do the homework necessary to make a wise, well informed decision. The investment you are about to make can bring years of enjoyment and success, but beware; it can also bring frustration and despair. 6

7 Avoid the temptation to buy every nice bird you see from a variety of sources. Buying birds from too many sources increases the possibility of them being genetically incompatible. Search out a breeder who specializes in varieties you prefer, one whose birds look similar, one who is winning on the show bench, and very importantly one who has a personality that works for you. When I first got started in the U.S., back in the late 70s, one of the first shows I attended was an All American in Connecticut. This provided an opportunity to see some of the best birds of that era and meet top exhibitors from around the country. Hugh Wilson from California won the show and with Don Langell from Massachusetts shared most of the top ten placings. I immediately loved what I saw in the Langell birds and decided that was who I wanted to work with. Having selected your mentor, visit the breeder s aviary if possible. Tell him in advance that you would like to get started with a few pairs. That can be tough if his birds are in big demand as Don s were, but the more I visited and spent time in his birdroom, the more I learned and in the process we also became close friends. Be realistic with your budget. Only you know what you can afford. But most importantly, don t make the mistake of substituting quality of quantity. It s far better to start with two or three pair of quality stock than six pair of inferior quality. Keep in mind that your success in breeding winners with the birds you select is almost as important to the seller as it is to you. If you are successful on the show bench you will sell your excess stock but your success will ensure he does too, assuming you tell others about the foundation of your birds. Don often joked that I was his best advertisement around as everyone knew our winning birds were from Langell bloodlines. Assuming the fancier you have selected has a reputation for success and honesty, allow him to make some suggestions on suitable pairings. The fancier knows how his birds breed and will pair them up as he would to have the best chance of success. While it is often possible to purchase an outstanding cock, a quality breeding hen is gold. There is a saying that you have to breed your own good hens. Be prepared to take a well bred hen from the same bloodline which may not be as visually.pleasing as the cock. The cocks you select should have good size, desirable head qualities and depth of mask while the hens should have good length and mask. Avoid small spotted hens as they tend to pass this characteristic to their offspring. While it is quite acceptable to purchase a two or three year old cock which is a proven breeder, one is advised to buy current year hens whenever possible. The cocks you bring in will usually have a longer breeding life than the hens which tend to be more temperamental. The fact that a hen has bred successfully in one aviary does not necessarily mean she will go to nest in another. The virgin hens should give you at least two productive seasons and is more likely to accept her new surroundings. One exception to this rule is the outstanding hen a breeder has used successfully for a couple of seasons and has then discarded from the breeding team. This usually means she has produced young hens superior to herself. Such hens are often purchased for a nominal sum because the owner feels she has served her purpose and if the price is right there s always a chance she ll produce an outstanding youngster or two for you. Keep in mind there was a specific reason the bird was retained in the breeding team for multiple seasons. The pairing together of your new arrivals, especially temperamental hens, is not always easy. I usually segregate the new birds in a separate room within earshot of my other birds. Then I pair up the new birds quickly, as soon as they come into condition. This practice seems to help them acclimatize to their new 7

8 surroundings faster and eliminates some of the stress factors involved in settling in to a new aviary of strange birds, finding their place in the pecking order, and adjusting to new procedures and feeding. The old adage feed, breed and weed now comes into play. A well balanced diet of seed, greens, grit, minerals, and a high protein supplement or soft food should be fed throughout the year. Your goal during your first year is to produce a satisfactory number of young birds that are keepers to form the nucleus of a stud of budgerigars with emphasis on the number of hens. Do not expect to breed winners your first year. If you do it s a bonus. Keep in mind you are working with someone s sale birds, not their best and stay focused on the goal of breeding enough keepers to work with next season. In order to achieve these goals avoid the temptation to overwork your birds, especially the hens. They are not merely egg laying machines and after a couple of nests should be rested for several months before they are put up to work again. At the end of the first year keep the best and cull the rest. Discard all the young cocks which have obvious faults, or who, after their second moult, are not up to the quality of the cocks you originally purchased. Be ruthless in culling your cocks retaining only the very best. Many exhibitors inhibit their progress for years by breeding with mediocre or middle of the road birds. While hens appear to be able to mask or carry hidden desirable qualities I have rarely seen outstanding birds bred from a poor quality cock. After your first breeding season you should also cull all hens with obvious faults eg crossed wings, poor backline, hinged tail, small spots, but retain the balance to breed back to your best cocks during the next breeding season. You may wish to ask the advice of your mentor when it comes time to determine which birds to keep and which to sell, especially if you have not yet developed an eye or feel the young are all of equal quality. Before the second breeding season you should return to your original source and buy one or two additional birds. These birds, preferably cocks so they can be mated to multiple hens, should be superior in quality to your original purchases. After the third and fourth breeding season purchases should only be made to bring in specific features lacking in your stock i.e. feather texture, depth of mask, size of spots, head qualities, or directional feathering. To increase the genetic compatibility you should continue to purchase from your original source whenever possible or from aviaries where the birds come from similar bloodlines. When I first got started here I began with birds from Harold Trethaway, Joe Lastella and Don Langell who all had birds with Ormerod (UK) backgrounds. In later years, after I had established my families I brought in birds from Don every couple of seasons to enhance or bring in specific features. Birds from these four aviaries successfully blended together because in effect they all go back to the same gene pool. Outstanding birds from new bloodlines are not always compatible when introduced and may fail to blend in and produce the desired features. Over the years I tried introducing several into the Langell families, but the only one that worked came from Clare & Terry Pilkington in England which many generations ago had Ormerod in the background. 8

9 This procedure has worked for me several times in the past. First as a teenager in Australia, again after college, during my short stay in New Zealand, and a couple of times since I arrived in the U.S... Now I m back in the hobby and testing it once again. The one thing I do know from past experience is.. If you have the patience, and want to really learn the hobby just follow this plan year after year and the overall quality of your birds will steadily improve. It won t be long before you are winning classes, sections, divisions, and even Best in Show. TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS. Birds and other Bird STUFF, FOR SALE. Eric Davis, has Breeding Cages, including nest box and drinkers. $40 00 each Eric also has Budgies for sale. Ph,,, Milton has done a cull; there are Recessive Pieds, [My lines] all colours, Spangles [Mal Reid bloodlines], Normals, Opalines and Dark Factor birds, G Gazzard, C Ault, T Broadbent Blood lines. Ph CLUB MEETINGS... September 10th,,,,,,,,,,,,,Ken and Allan will do a presantation. October 8 th,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,keith Gough will present the Nat, slide show Seed For Sale. Seed is available at a reasonable price of:-- Budgie seed,,,,,,$29-00 per 20kg bag. Small Parrot,,,,$24 00 per 20kg bag. Phone Bill S on A government survey has shown that 91% of illegal immigrants come to this country so that they can see their own doctor. Don t forget to nominate your birds for the Spring Festival, by Monday the 1 st Sept. 9

10 UNTIMELY ANSWERED PRAYER During the minister's prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews. Tommy's mother was horrified. She pinched him into silence and, after church, asked, Tommy, whatever made you do such a thing?" Tommy answered soberly, "I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He did!" CLUB NEWS. RING Requirements for the rest of this year. If you need more rings OR you think you might need more rings for this year, please ring Bill S as soon as you can and place your order, as rings are in high demand at present. Don t leave yourself short on rings. THINK AHEAD. Xmas Party. The club Xmas Party is set down for Saturday night, 22 nd November. Where, the Touch Football Club House same as last year. Aviary Visit. Your committee has organized an Aviary visit for the 13 th September. We are going to visit Phil Edgar and Glen Winch. Both aviaries have very nice birds, which will not disappoint your expectations as to what type of birds you need to assist your breeding program. LOOK towards your Box for details. More will follow in your box. Don t forget to nominate your birds for the Spring Festival, nominations close 1 st Sept. Sunday, 7 September 2014 Ipswich B.S. Derby Show Friday, 5 September 2014 Wynnum Redlands Strawberry Festival Sunday, 7 September 2014 Fraser Coast BS Young bird & Nestfeather Sunday, 14 September 2014 Sunshine Coast BA Old Young & Nestfeather Saturday, 20 September 2014 S.Q.B.B.A. AGM Sunday, 28 September 2014 Brisbane & N.S.B.S. Any Age & N/feather & Juveniles Sunday, 5 October 2014 I.B.S. Julie Trebbin Tribute Show Nestfeather, Young & Any age Saturday, 11 October 2014 SQ Exe forum A very good day, for members, see Bill. Sunday, 19 October 2014 Toowoomba BA Young and Nestfeather Show with Gold Br Sunday, 19 October 2014 Fraser Coast BS NF, Young & Any Age show Sunday, 26 October 2014 BCCB All Age Show Budgerigars Sunday, 2 November 2014 Wynnum Redlands N/feather, Young & Old Saturday, 22 November 2014 Wynnum Redlands Trophy Night 10

11 CHIA SEED. For you, birds, cats & dogs... Share it around as it is suitable and beneficial for all. Chia Seed Mix - (Salvia Hispanica) - Australian Grown Chia. (Black or White/ depending on availability) (No nutrition difference between Black or White Chia Seed) Super Food for all birds, cats, dogs & humans 200% more iron than spinach 500% calcium than whole milk 100% more fibre than bran flakes 100% more potassium than banana 300% more selenium than flax seed 1400% more magnesium than broccoli 800% more phosphorus than whole milk 700% more Omega 3 fatty acid than wild salmon. Dose Rates: Birds - liberally mixed in dry seed or soft food mix. Cats - 1 teaspn mixed daily. Dogs - (Small - 1 teaspn) (Large - 2 teaspn) mixed in food daily. Horses - 1/2 cup mixed in feed daily Humans - maximum 3 teaspn per day. Health Benefits for Humans:- * Heart Health * Increase Energy * Relief from Rheumatoid Arthritis * Feeling Good * Anti Aging * Regulated Blood Pressure * Reducing Menopause Symptoms * Gastro-intestinal Health *Bone Health * Mental Health * Control Of Type ll Diabetes * Prenatal Health * Breast Health *Prostate Health. See professional medical advice before adding any supplements to your diet. A.V PRICING: 150GRM = $4.00 1KG = $22.00 (R.R.P 1KG = $ ON SPECIAL). So, visit our "Bird / Cat / Dog or Herbs & Spices Shop and get yours with your next order Have healthier birds and animals. Ideal in your cooking, in shakes, and in the summer on salads. www,avianvitality.com or Your local Supermarket, Woolies or Coles. The Club wishes to thank STEVE DAVIES M.P. STATE MEMBER FOR CAPALABA = P: (07) F: ( PO Box 523, Capalaba QLD Shop 60 Capalaba Park Shopping Centre, Mt Cotton Rd Capalaba QLD 4157 for the printing of the Club s Newsletter and all other printing that your Club requires. 11

12 SPRING Festival. 5 6 th 7 th Sept. Yes its on again and we need a good display of birds for the general public, and we need plenty of Pretties for the sales table. By suppling what the public need you will sell your birds. We also need some pretties for the raffle, can you donate a couple for the raffles. Dont forget to nominate your birds for the show by the 1 st Sept 12