Hi

I paired up a Normal G G to a Dom Pied he is nice he is a big lad decent width clean Im quite proud to say I bred him

Ive been working on this Dom Pied bit for a few years now been trying to improve on the original hen

Ive been using an outcross each time to improve the bird

This year Im using a Cock I bred from a K Allison Cock now a few generations back I used a Cock from the K Allison line & it gave me a bit of improvement so Im going to try again hoping the lines will click from the background

This year Ive quite a few blues & greys in the shed quite a few spangles & a few G G 's besides my Cinnamons

I will have to have a sort out I have an idea what can go The youngsters can stay as they need time & can change so much

Ok byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed

Morning

Well the other day I had ordered a mini skip to get rid some rubbish I had it at the back gate waiting on the skip to arrive

Knock on the back gate bloke standing there showed me his badge council van there etcetc He says that your rubbish ??????????? I replied yes IIm waiting on the skip the skip is not getting dropped off Im throwing this rubbish in & its off its arranged

Oh says you have rubbish on the highway I just looked & snarled as he was irratating me by now

Next sentance you have birds ????????? Yes I replied I have budgies

I thought go on say something I will deck you

Just then the skip arrived I asked him to move his van so that the skip could be pulled up close

5 mins later the skip was gone the rubbish at my back gate gone

Whilst I was loading the skip he had been putting notices on bins being left outside peoples homes

I just thought bog all better to do than driving round putting notices on peoples bins yet all these cuts in services but our charges are going up all the time

Must have been a Mason jobs for the boys hahahhahahahahahahaha

Ah well enough from me for now

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

ED

Great blog. You've had it rough recently in your family life. I'm so pleased your birds are doing well. Probably keeping you sane lol

Hi

Thanks for that Humpo

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Well Ive put a nest box on the G G normals cage

Ive paired up My FA1 Cock to my C C winning Hen she is a big Girl very much like her Grandmother I do like these big hens but getting them to breed is the hard part

Last year I persevered with a massive G G normal hen got one youngster from 3 rounds but it was worth it he is nice

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So I will have 11 pairs down & that should do my breeding season

at the moment I have 32 rung & quite a few hens

Ok byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed

Morning

Well today is Mothers Day first time ever in my life Ive felt like this

The Boss did not want Mothers Day stuff but daughter would not listen & sent stuff

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THe birds

THey are doing fine need to set up a nest box on a cage as I shoved a couple in a cage yesterday I will watch how they are getting on then sling the box on

South Shields B S

Monday Night is the meeting & they have a Nest Feather Show I have not decided yet If Im taking any

I will look at the youngsters & make a decision

I have not even looked at any in a show cage THere is a couple catching my eye in the flight

Maybe I should have a look but at the minute last thing on my mind

What a cafuffle not too worry I will sort my head out

Ok Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed

Hello Ed hope you well mate, I really enjoy reading your blog keep up the good work. looking forward to seeing some of your birds on the show bench

Hi Andrew

Life is crap at the moment but it will get better

Thanks for all

Ed

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Hiya

Still have not had a sort out yet but in my mind a couple of GG normals can go Cinn Sky Blue plus a couple of others

I tend to look at width in the head if it aint got enough width for me its gone Then I look at feather / backline / shoulder

A Budgie has to catch my eye but I do give them a chance to fulfil their potential

Im strict on what stays in my shed I have to actually like the bird & Im not obsessed with heads like some sheds seem to be I do try & assess the complete budgie

____________________________________________

South Shields B S

I sent my apologies to Lee as I did not attend

In all honesty Ive become very withdrawn since my Mams funeral the boss keeps at me to sort my self out & I will

But taking a couple of Y B's to Shields I just could not cope or whatever so they stayed at home & so did Im sorry but thats the way I feel at the moment

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Showing

At the minute its the last thing on my mind maybe I could not take one of my lot being beat

Ive booked in at the Holiday Inn using the BS discount scheme for Donny

I dont know about any other show I will do the Area show but the rest I really dont know

There is some adults 2012 bred deserve a chance on the bench

There is some 2013 bred I think could well do ok but I need to find that spark to get me going

Sorry for being such a wet blanket

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed

You are allowed to be a wet blanket...you have just lost your mum.

sending hugs and loves to you and Abs xxx

Hi

I have noticed for a while some of my birds have a very soft feeling feather When holding the bird the sensation of the softness is amazing

The birds with this softness are spangles

Some other birds when you hold them the feather is a lot courser

I have quite a few 2013 spangles the one I like is a dark grey spangle its nice stands out like a sore thumb

Couple of Grey's are catching my eye

There is a normal Sky blue that looks half decent

A few Cinn's look ok

A G G in the nest box the width in the old bonce lets hope it continues eh

Ah well thats it for now

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed

Hi

Well today was our visit from Lee I know he enjoys coming to see my Cinn Greys

Well one thing Lee was happy he was pleased to see the Cinns

He was happy to see this years youngsters

I explained the different birds & how they were bred

I was overjoyed as Lee pointed out that the 2013 crop of youngsters were decent

Lee also liked my spangles which is pleasing as The Boss does like her Spangles

Well Lee it was a pleasure having you over as normal we do enjoy your visits

Thanks

Ed

Thanks Ed for you and Abs's time. I think this must be the first visit of the year to your place and to your new blog on EBF now that you have told me where it is.

You should be really pleased with your chicks, the young cinnamon grey hen in the flight really caught my eye and should mature well and you have plenty on the sticks nice and early so should have a good team there if you want to do the shows.

Look forward to seeing them moulted out keep them coming

Lee

Hi Lee

Your the only visitor we have hahahahahahhahaa no - one else gets through the door

I agree Im quite impressed with what we have bred this year but ;last years stock was still good & its going to be hard to achieve or better what they did on the bench in 2012 but thats my aim to improve each year

Last year in Novice so it should be interesting & moving up Im looking foward to it

Take Care looking foward to your next visit

I will be pairing up that Cinn Grey Cock again the one you really really like

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed

Hi

When Lee was here today I was quite thrilled to hear what I have been breeding is better than my outcrosses Ive brought in

But as we agreed I needed to bring in fresh blood & a couple of years ago I was not breeding good cocks my hens were fine

But now I dont need to bring in an out cross as I have my bloodlines I can work with

Now one of the best outcrosses I bought in was in the early days was a Cinn Grey bred by Geoff Moore now he sired the Cinn Sky Blue which did quite well for us

Now with the Cinns I got from Don & Linda Ive worked the Cinn Line I brought in a Dairycoates Cinn G G he gave me a bit more depth of mask & improved the spot

Ive been working like a little trojan hahahhah to make my Cinns a bit special

What was pleasing to hear I have a nest of youngsters 3 G G's & 1 Cinn G G Lee straight away Oh Oh look at the Cinn in the box now she was bred out of one of last year Cocks & a Normal G G we bred who was bred out of a Fagan / FA1 & a G G normal we bred carrying my lines

I bred 5 cracking Cinn Grey Cocks & their sisters which did well on the bench for us now those birds are doing well for us in the breeding cages

Lee got one of the Cinn Grey brothers he was the only one I let go so Im looking foward to seeing what Lee can bred from him as all the brothers & the Dad have done well for me

What works well in my shed is the birds I have carrying FA1 they just seem to work well with my lot Thanks To the FA1 team George & his youngsters who are now producing youngsters all look decent

My Spangles are a mix of FA1 / my Line / Dairycoates & Lee liked this years crop of spangles

Hoping to get a lace wing I bred a few split Lacewing Cocks of which Ive just paired one up to another Lacewing hen we have then we will be up & running with lacewings

Ive been playing with a Dom Pied got a Dom Pied hen a few years back going back to F Silva but she was a bit small so each year Ive tried improving keeping a decent Pied hen & improving her

Well this year I showed Lee The Dom Pied Hen I have paired up to-- what Lee said she is nice & looking at her yes she can be improved but she is way better than her great grandmother which is good coz that is what you want

What was pleasing to hear I have never been & paid big money for a bird Ive paid what I think was a fair price & Ive been rewarded in what Ive bred

Yet some people are only happy going out spending stupid money & getting nowhere wanting instant success in my mind you have to work with the birds & to hell with the money side of the hobby

I have booked in at the Holiday Inn at Donny so I will be showing & after Lee's visit which lifted me out of my depression Im now looking foward to showing as Lee has always told me the truth about my breeding and does not tell me what I want to hear

I feel much more confident after Lee's visit

So thanks Lee next time bring Harvey as we love to see him & spoil him & the dog loves him

Ok bye everyone

Ed

Morning

I have been reading a post on breeding & various forms of breeding

I used to attend lectures many moons ago to learn about breeding etc etc

I prefer using cousins etc etc etc I also believe in bringing in good outcrosses to clean my lines & improve my birds

At the moment I dont need an outcross as I have bought in quite a few over the last few years as I needed to as I wanted to improve my shed & I wanted to improve the birds slowly each year so I have created my own outcrosses so Im ok for quite a while

Each year I have been in the hobby I have made a step foward by doing things the way I do

This year Lee was quite impressed with this years babies so I will stick to my method of doing things

I dont have dirty heads or tail less wonders in the shed If I want to do a show I can put out a show team I dont struggle to bench birds & I dont have a big shed

I can remember a few years back entering 20 birds at a show as I was booking them in the booking in clerk said my god you must have a massive shed I said no I only have 45 birds thats impossible your lying

I told him I dont lie & walked away before I lost my temper

In the words of the Pie Man that booking in clerk was a F!!!!!!!!! Idiot

Ah well Its only 0430 am Im going back to bed to try & sleep

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed

Morning

I think I might get the camera out today & have a look at some of our babies

Never used my camera for about 9 months should be interesting to see if i can get any of them to settle for a piccy

Mick is marvelous how he does it

Ive still got 11 pairs down & when another cage becomes available I have a hen I want to try she is a big girl but she is very nice

OK I will post later if I get any pics

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed

Hi

Went down with the camera could not get the scatter brains to sit still ok Ive no patience & with youngsters I just like to throw them in the flight & let them grow

I give them plenty of feed

They get 3 hoppers with 50/50 seed in

they have a massive tray with a mixture of veg minerals & tonic seed which is changed & washed daily

That is more important to me seeing them being happy in the flight watching them grow

Ive had a bit of a sort out 6 have gone so Ive made a start on sorting who stays who goes

I firmly believe in doing my best to make my little shed evolveI know its taking a long time & a long way to go but Im happy with my progress each year is a milestone in the hobby which I really enjoy pushing on trying to improve without spending silly money

Ok Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

ED

Hi

What a day yesterday not too worry lets hope it gets better now

We have snow again where we live not too worry

As we are slowly getting used to things the Boss has had me back in our kitchen

She has a list as long as your arm of what she likes

This week Beef Olives on Sunday

Today Chicken Curry

As its been cold she has had me making porridge in the morning

The Birds

They are fine Ive got 2 more pairings in my head when I manage to sort things out should be interesting if it works

I was reading an article from Eric Peake about budgies & some being dominant & being on the higher perches

I know my lot are all over the shop they seem to just move around at different heights

What I have noticed for years is the Hens the stroppy ones tend to be always high up & some of those I have had bother breeding them at times

I feed seed in hoppers about 2 feet plus off the ground

I feed the veg & seed in a big tray with feet so its not directly on the ground

I have Chains hanging from the flight roof running the lenght of the flight & I have wine racks up high so they have various places to sit besides the main perch

Ok I see the odd punch up but nothing nasty

Did not take my camera today not in the mood for taking pics

Ok bye for now

Ed

Hi

Thurs morning our phone line went down but we still had broadband

Fri Morning lost both

Contacted BT through mobile they said it could take 5 days problem at the exchange

It all came back on 1300 hours today thank heavens

The Birds are fine

Im trying to breed a couple of those big buff hens at the moment lets hope eh

The smaller sisters go straight down & lay no bother but I do like those big buff hens

Ah well not a lot to say except its chuffing cold

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed

It is certainly chuffing cold Ed.

Hi

Well this week we should get another 6 youngsters in the flight rung No 34 today its out of my G Tuplin Cock got him at the spring event

Should be ringing No 35 in a couple of days that one is out of my line which carries FA1

It was a bit warmer today than it has been

Once those youngsters are in the flight I will make another pairing & I think that might be it

I will check to see how many young hens I have if I have enough young hens well I will be happy

I run with about 50 birds at the start of the breeding season thats enough for me

I like to have my breeding over & done with early then I can clean & rest the breeding shed

Ah well thats my lot

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed

Hi

Just back from the shed naffed off day old pinky dead what naffed me off is its a brought in hen a lacewing I have another lacewing who I got some split cocks from one of which I used with this lace wing so Ive fostered the eggs that are left lets see what happens she is a funny hen tried her earlier she laid 1 egg gave her a rest she has laid 3 eggs & not fed the pinky

I have this once before I got a pinky of about 4 days old where they are quite vocal & it gets the hen going

All hens are different Hens bred in my shed are normally good mothers

Maybe because the stock they were from were good mothers

I will be transferring another 3 youngsters next week into the flight

Rung no 35 today

Got the shed doors open its a nice day out there

Ah well bye for now

ED

Morning

I was on the BS website last night I was reading the show results

What amazed me was CC's taken by Intermediate & Champion Breeders with bought in Birds

I showed Bought in as a beginner I dont have a problem with a beginner showing bought in but once I reached Novice I did not show a bought in

I did notice One bloke who has never stopped showing bought ins

Ok why am I banging on on my blog about it

The reason being as a beginner someone had a go at me for showing a bought in I took the C C that day

I walked over & offered the breeder the CC the breeder told me I deserved it coz he could not get the bird to win but I had & the bird was in really good condition so keep the CC he said you have worked really hard for it & I get a mention as the breeder so Im happy

This person who had a pop at me for showing a bought in I did not give it a second thought until a while later & I was reading the show results & noticed he was showing a bought in & this trend has continued with him

It seems in my opinion he is obsessed with winning so if he buys a good bird its bought not to breed from but to show as I notice he only does really well with bought ins

Well thats put to bed Ive had a little rant Im not bothered one way or the other but the fifty faced !!!!!!!! having a go at someone then continually doing the same thing is a mockery

I will talk about my home breds later

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed

Hi

Well the 2 eggs I fostered one has hatched today so hopefully the other will & the pinky's survive & we can be up & running with our Lacewings

Ive taken the Dad away from 3 youngsters 2 of them are perching so I will leave them in a stock cage for now & put them in the flight next week

The Dad Ive given him a big buff Cinn G G hen she is a big girl so lets hope eh well at least she is sitting on the perch next to him

Ah well bye for now

Ed

Hi

Happy Easter to everyone

I put 3 youngsters in the flight today so Ive got pairs down waiting on eggs

Got 3 pinks in the boxes

I was saying Ive put some big buff hens down I tend to try them in the spring lets hope it works their lesser sisters breed no bother

Ok bye everyone

Ed

Morning

Well its April fools day wonder who will get caught out not too worry

Those 2 transferred eggs hatched now to get them reared & all should be fine with my lacewings I will have a few options for breeding

People bang on about the birds breeding better in the Spring well Im waiting to find out

Out of 12 pairs I have rung 35 Im now waiting on my lot to start breeding again ok I have a few minor issues like we all do like a couple with clear eggs couple of hens not going down

My lot can be in the breeding cage with their Mam or Dad until they are 6 weeks old so thats a cage out of use for quite a while I dont leave both parents in the cage as I worry about the youngsters getting knacked by an aggressive parent as I had it once & never again

One Cock he is on his 3 rd hen I know he is fertile as He sired a pinky the hen was a maiden hen she was faffing on so I fostered the egg which has hatched & I gave him another hen now she has just raised 3 youngsters & is a good mother so lets see

So not a lot happening lets hope the second half of my breeding season is as good as my first half

Ok byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ed