Budgerigar Breeding in a Flat .sx Spare Room Converted to a Well-laid-out Birdroom .sx By H. HOUGH .sx WHEN first I decided to take up Budgerigar breeding I was in no particular hurry to start buying birds .sx The first thing I did was to glean every scrap of information on the subject , from every possible source .sx Bookshops , both new and second-hand , began to recognize me on sight , the local librarian knew just what I was after , and quite a few fanciers must have begun to dread my approach in my insatiable quest for more and more facts to add to my growing store of knowledge .sx All the time I made notes on feeding problems , odd habits , minor complaints and their treatment , all the do's and don'ts , etc. , until I began to feel that I was in a position where I should certainly be able to cope with most of the difficulties which might reasonably fall to my lot .sx Now was the time to exchange theory for practice , and I began to consider how and where I was going to house my stock .sx Useful Packing-cases .sx Being a flat dweller an outside aviary , with or without controlled flights , was out of the question , but I did possess a small spare room , and this , I decided , should become my birdroom .sx From a local warehouse I was lucky enough to obtain a number of excellent packing-cases each measuring 3ft x 18in x 18in .sx After laying the lids on one side , I lined the top , back and sides with hardboard , and drilled a 1 1/2in hole high up at one end of each to furnish an entrance to the nest-boxes .sx To give a better finish to the nest-box end of the cage , I screwed on some natural cork bark , cutting an irregular hole to correspond with the nest-box entrance hole .sx Natural Knothole .sx This was to represent the natural knothole through which wild Budgies enter their nest , and I must say that this addition has proved its worth in many ways .sx When I later introduced my birds to their new quarters , it was amazing how quickly the pairs rounded and smoothed off the holes to suit their own requirements .sx The bark also gave the birds something on which they could satisfy their penchant for gnawing , without causing any material damage to the structure of the cages themselves .sx It also , I should add , formed an easy means of re-entry , when the chicks made their first tentative exit from the nests .sx It is amazing how quickly and well a young chick can scuttle up a piece of bark , and the constant fluttering of their wings during this operation must certainly help to strengthen them in preparation for early flight .sx The next job was to fit a 1 1/2in shelf at the back of the cage , with a series of carefully spaced holes in which I could hook the seed , grit and water vessels .sx A clock-spring clip was screwed below the shelf to hold a piece of cuttlefish bone , and I made a bottom tray from hardboard and beading .sx A narrow rail , under which the tray slid smoothly , also served as the bottom fixing for the cage fronts , which I bought ready made .sx All I had to do now was to attach the nest-boxes , which I fastened by means of carefully measured nuts and bolts , taken right through the end of the cage and the cork bark .sx The other essential was a good-sized flight cage , and this I made from multiple plyboard to my own design .sx It stands at eye-level ( on two strong brackets ) and is 4ft long , 2ft high and 14in wide .sx The roof is covered with 1/2in mesh netting , and the upper 20in of the front is composed of two sliding glass panels .sx This cage is capable of being divided into two halves , by means of a sliding hardboard partition .sx I can recommend this type of cage , as it is impossible for the birds to throw out any seed husks , and I found that they very quickly get used to the idea of a glass front .sx Working Table and Desk .sx The cages were arranged on tables and shelves opposite the flight cage , and right in front of the window I placed a table which was to serve as both a working table and office desk .sx A fitted cupboard in the room acts as repository for food and accessories so that the whole place can be kept neat and tidy .sx All cages are cleaned out daily , and I do think that this is a " must " when a number of birds are kept indoors , especially during the breeding season , when the hens' droppings are loose and copious , and , if neglected , will soon give grounds for complaint .sx Before obtaining my birds , I gave careful consideration to the problems of diet , not only for adult birds but for the future chicks which I hoped to raise .sx I started my food list with best Spanish canary seed , to which I added 25 per cent of white millet .sx This was to act as the basic diet , to which I would add natural greenfoods as and when obtainable .sx Among these I carefully listed chickweed , seeding grasses , lettuce , carrot , apple and groundsel .sx All these items which I still offer when obtainable contain most of the essential vitamins , and together with the basic seed and grit seem to satisfy all the nutritional needs of the adult Budgerigar .sx For feeding mothers , I decided to add a mixture of soaked groats and canary seed , with the addition of a little wheat germ , which I found was easily obtainable in the form of a " wheat germ " baby food .sx I have maintained this diet since with excellent results .sx The only addition I have made is an occasional slice of orange , of which my birds seem passionately fond .sx Care and Study .sx At last the time had arrived to purchase my first stock of birds , and this involved a great deal of study and care .sx There could be no slip up here , or all my preparations and hopes would have been in vain .sx I wanted good birds in every way- in head , type , body shape , spots and stance .sx And I knew full well that I had to stand or fall by my own judgment .sx Well , I " paid my money and made my choice " and time alone will tell what errors of judgment I have made .sx So far , I am reasonably satisfied with the results .sx I have always been fascinated by " Red-eyes , " so I suppose it was only natural that my first birds consisted of two pairs of Lutinos and a beautiful Albino cock .sx ( At least I would have no worries about spots .sx ) The Lutinos were of good size and colour , while the Albino had just a faint suffusion of blue on the breast .sx Well-spotted Pairs .sx In a strong light , his body and head have a definite pinkish glow , which makes it a most attractive bird .sx From another source I obtained a well-balanced pair of Grey Greens and a pair of Light Greens , all of good type and well spotted .sx My next was a young , untried cock , sired by a Light Green cock out of a Whitewing Cobalt hen .sx He has an ideal stance on the perch , and , with his yellow face , white wings and peacock blue back and tail , he certainly caught the eye .sx Visually he makes the grade .sx After some consideration I also bought his parents , with a view to breeding back to stabilize the strain .sx A nicely matched pair of Cobalts , and a pair of Greys , together with a well-coloured Violet cock were my next buy , and , last of all , I purchased a large Greywing/ Normal White hen .sx How these birds were eventually paired , and the many snags that arose during the first breeding session , will form the basis of my next article .sx This , I hope , will prove that there is sometimes more to be learned from a mistake than one at first realizes .sx junior BIRD LEAGUE .sx Don't Be Disappointed- .sx When Your Promising Winners are Beaten , says R. F. WARLOW .sx MAY I retract from my promise to follow up on other subjects to deal with a matter which I know to be of interest to readers of this page ?sx I am going to write about Border Canaries , but part of the lesson may be applied to other varieties .sx The subject is show birds and , in particular , those that have been amongst the winners .sx Now some fanciers , both young and old , seem to think that once a bird has beaten a number of other birds , providing that it meets the same company again it should go on winning .sx Indeed , good judges have been criticized , without just cause , when past form has been upset .sx And it is true that the opinions of judges sometimes differ , but it is not surprising that some exhibits which are very close together in merit , sometimes change places as the show season progresses .sx Sound Judgment .sx Many fanciers are not good judges of their own birds , although they may show sound judgment when assessing the merits of those of other people .sx That , after all , is a human trait which most of you will understand .sx I know , because I have passed through the phase when all the birds in my birdroom appeared to have all the virtues of great winners .sx Apart from looking good in a stock cage , a show bird has to pass an exacting test in which its virtues and its temperament are well and truly tried .sx A bird which has all the necessary physical attributes may fail , either because it has been proven that it cannot be trained to show itself off properly , or may be because it does not like shows .sx When I was a young enthusiast I liked nothing better than to listen to more experienced fanciers talking , and I sometimes found it good fun .sx Not only did I find that birds are admired when on show , I also found out that they come in for some searching criticism .sx I was always interested , and I still am today , to note how the opinions of experienced fanciers differ when they are assessing the merits of a bird .sx A really excellent bird usually meets with approval , but there are a few who cannot be convinced even by the best .sx Maybe they lack knowledge of what is required or perhaps they are just prejudiced , and , of course , that is a fault that everyone has to guard against .sx Let us look at the Standard of Excellence for the Border Canary which is laid down by the specialist clubs .sx The standard says that the position of the bird should be semi-erect , standing at an angle of 60 degrees , and that the bird should move in a gay and jaunty manner with full poise of the head .sx Out of a total of 100 marks which are to be allocated , 15 are awarded for these attributes , and it has to be remembered that a bird has to earn each one of them when on the judging bench .sx Suffice to say that many birds which have appeared under me have earned very poor markings for carriage and position .sx How About the Future ?sx .sx I wonder whether you have heard it said of a popular winner :sx " It is good today , but I doubt whether it will win in five or six weeks' time .sx " An experienced fancier can often make such a prophesy , simply because he has noticed something which is in the course of going wrong .sx Returning to the standard again , it stipulates that the plumage should be close , firm , fine in quality , presenting a smooth , glossy , silken appearance free from frills and toughness .sx In a single word , we refer to these virtues as quality .sx Early in the show season quite a number of birds win which appear to have excellent quality , but the discerning eye can already see that some of the winners are already carrying too much feather .sx Birds continue to add feathers for some time after they appear to have completed the moult , and these additional feathers can change the appearance of what appeared once as a good show bird .sx