On Monday I made a quick dash, just under four hours, to the Miller stud in Cumbria. Photos below.

Richard showed me an Opaline Dark green cock

Which whilst nice, I wouldn't have thought that would have produced the likes of these!

Another example of how having a well bred related stud will produce higher quality when using visually inferior specimens to higher quality partners. That said the cock would be most welcome in 99% of bird rooms in the UK, it's just that the offspring are a class higher.

A couple of videos which I think show the consistent high quality of the stud. I could have taken much more and stayed for so long.

Miller Greys.MOV

Miller Violets and Cobalts.MOV

These are uploaded from a Mac so hope all can watch.

All in all a brilliant day with great birds and fantastic hospitality!

But why was I there and back in a day?

The answer is that I treated myself and bought the 24 pairs of birds that Richard and Michael put up for sale on the EBF. The reason why I am being so public with this is that I agreed with Richard that I would pair following his guidance and record the progress of my new Miller line(:-)) on this blog. I hope and expect from seeing the whole of their stud that it will prove that it is blood that counts. We shall see.

As I pair up, I shall put it in the blog and take photos of any chicks produced and record honestly my thoughts as time moves on. I am planning to run the two sides of my birds independently and breed for about 18 - 24 months without adding any other birds to the stud and see where I am then.

I hope this will be of interest, particularly from fellow beginners.

Fingers crossed :-)

Cheers

Simon