Gouldian Finch Chicks

My Gouldian hen has hatched four chicks out of five eggs.

She actually gave me a look when she exited the box for the first time yesterday.

They are very tiny as to be expected and quite ugly with the little shiny growths on the side of there beaks.

I very stoked to get my first success with finches. 

The female has done all of the sitting on the eggs that I have witnessed occasionally joined by the male (even though I have read they share). The male has spent more time in the box since the chicks have hatched however.

The chicks have grown quickly and there parent have allowed me good access as the spend most of the day out of the nesting box.

Another Rescue Mission

Where I work its a big glass building and we tend get a few birds hit from time to time. This poor little King Fisher was stunned and unable to move after a hard hit. 

Happy to say it made a full recovery after some quiet time in a dark cardboard box and flew away after a few hours later.

Gouldian Finches

I though I had lost my Gouldian finch female, after believing for a moment she had escaped I found her in the nesting box.

They have added to the dried grass I put in there and I'm unsure how many eggs she has as I don't want to spoil any nesting activity.

The Gouldians have added to my Bourkes in a late summer/early Autumn nesting that I have not had in previous seasons.

Bourke Parrot - Second Clutch

My Bourke female has decided to sit on a second clutch for the season. I did expect it after her first clutch failed to hatch a egg.

She has been very protective from the start this time and she is sitting on four or more eggs (she wont give me decent look).

Hopefully this clutch will be more successful for her. 

Worming

All my chicks are fledged so time to worm all my birds. Twice a year occurance for me but I have had advice to worm even up to three times a year.

It seems to be a common occurance when I purchase a bird from expirienced breeder that they tell me if the bird has been wormed or about the importance of worming and I thus pass this same advice on to the people who purchase my birds.

Indian Ringneck Parrot - New Pair

I have made my new Indian Ringneck pairing. "Turk" my turquiose male and "Blondie" my young Creamino female. She is a bit of a bully to Turk but she has done well being seperated from her family in the ajoing section. I don't believe they will breed next season and won't even introduce a box because she will be too young. Its more about bonding them at the moment.

New Princess Parrot female

I have been lucky enough to pick up a new female Princess Parrot to pair with my male from a breeder not too far from where I live.

She is a split blue (blue farther) and has a interesting yellow spot on her head. Being purchased from a breeder allowed me some great information about breeding Princess Parrots I haven't been able to get to date. The biggest was what type of nesting box to use (Z type in this case).

I have introduced her to the aviary and although caused a bit of commotion early she has settled in nicely. 

Parrots for Sale

The time has come to sell last season young. I'm going to list my blue male and albino female Indian Ringnecks for $80 each and my Green Cheeked Conures for $60 each.

I list on two sites Petlink and Gumtree.

25/1 I have had the most response from Gumtree and I have managed to sell two Green Cheeked Conures and my blue Indian Ringneck.

I have used some of this income to purchase a new female Princess Parrot for $70.


28/2 My Gumtree add is still running, I sold my last Green Cheeked Conure during the week and although I have had several inquires about my Indian Ringneck I'm yet to sell her.

3/3 Final sold my last bird of the season (Albino Indian Ringneck). Just got to be patient and wait to find the correct buyer. I notice when I get a email if I get a name at the end of the email I'm much more likely to get a buyer that is actually interested. grte 

DNA Testing

I have decided to DNA test my Indian Ringnecks. I wish to pair a female with my Turquiose male "Turk". I most hoping the Creamino mutation will be female but I will also be happy if the Blue mutation is.

It should add some value when I sell them anyway. I'm using DNA Solutions as I have used them before for my male Albino Indian Ringneck "Nippet".

Each bird will cost $17.90 and I'll update the results below.

Creamino            Female

Albino                Female

Blue                   Male

17/1 - I bank deposited and it took about a week for the results to come back after I posted the feathers.

I will keep my Creamino to mate with my spare Turquoise male "Turk".

Green Patch

A New Years camping trip to Green Patch has allowed me to relive an expirence from my youth which sparked my interested in Aviculture.

Feeding the Rainbow Lorikeets and Crimson Rosella's I used to love when I was a kid althought it is now discorraged, I still managed to feed a few with some sunflower seeds another person had already fed the birds with and left on a table for them.

Great expirence to share with my son, although in a limited capacity. Great to get up close with the wildlife, even found a Bandicoot close to our camping site.