Update again!

March 7, 2009
Today in cleaning out the aviary, I took out the old bamboo which scared all of the breeding pairs out of their nest boxes.  I took the opportunity to do a 5-nests-in-30-seconds egg candling, and here's the update:

  • Mondrian x Sprite - all 4 eggs fertile
  • Constantin x Danube - all 3 blue babies who hatched yesterday are looking good 
  • Orange Guy x Silvie - 4 out of 5 eggs fertile 
  • Peep x Marie - all 5 eggs fertile 
  • Brahma x Judith - very early, but looks like all 5 might be fertile 

Not to count our finches before they hatch, but this breeding season looks promising! 

Posted by Rachel

 

Update on breeding pairs

March 5, 2009
Just a quick update on the 5 pairs we have set for breeding:

  • Mondrian x Sprite - 4 eggs, possibly starting to sit.
  • Constantin x Danube - 5 eggs, 3 fertile.  Due to hatch within the next few days. 
  • Orange Guy x Silvie - 5 eggs, 3 fertile.  Due to hatch in the second week of March sometime.
  • Peep x Marie - same as Orange Guy and Silvie.  With both pairs we somehow missed when they started sitting.
  • Brahma x Judith - 3 eggs!   Didn't even know she was laying till today.  

Our new OH PB YB hen, Pixie (who is Sprite's sister) is going to take the place of the next pair to leave the breeding cabinet.  Mikey keeps singing to his mother, but fortunately Zelda's not showing any interest.  

So far 2 of the 3 fledglings in the aviary are boys.  We plan on selling at least one of them - the orange head green back boy who looks like he's got a white breast coming in!  That would be a surprise in terms of his known genetic background.    

Posted by Rachel

 

Pair updates

February 25, 2009
In the past couple of weeks, we have ended up setting a total of 5 pairs in breeding (a new Aerie Aviary record!).  They include:

  • Mondrian x Sprite:  they have 2 fledglings, and look to want to start another clutch, but the babies keep going back in the nest box (even though it was closed off for a week!).  May have to wait till the babies are weaned before their parents lay another clutch.  These are our yellow and dilute-producing parents.    
  • Constantin x Danube:  3 out of 5 eggs looking fertile... babies will include blues and greens split to blue, with red and black (split to orange) heads and purple breasts.
  • Orange Guy x Silvie:  still early on but it looks like some of the eggs are showing signs of fertility.  We *think* he's split to blue and know she is, so hopefully blues and split to blues in this clutch too... 
  • Peep x Marie:  more early stage eggs that are starting to look fertile.  Another probable split to blue boy (waiting on records from breeder) and she might be... so yet another chance for blues!
  • Brahma x Judith:  no eggs yet but only set in the last few days.  Very interested in one another!  Both might be split to blue... purple and white breasts should be in this clutch, but all black heads.

We ended up taking Link and Bella out of the breeding cabinet as they did nothing but flutter nervously in their cage. 

Posted by Rachel

 

New Birdie Babies Pictures Database!

February 16, 2009
I have compiled the best photos I've taken of babies in the nest box, fledging, and coloring up into a database for those interested in seeing what baby Goulds look like before they obtain their adult plumage, and as an aid in determining coloration of hatchlings.  There are also photos of a clutch showing their progress from 10 days old through fledging- and one of them is our first yellow baby!  Click the Birdie Babies link to see more.

Posted by Rachel

 

Welcome to our News Blog!

February 16, 2009
Aerie Aviary now has a News Blog to let you know of what is going on in the aviary.

This weekend we put 2 pairs and their weaned babies back in the aviary, and switched them out for 2 new pairs in the breeding cabinet.  Right now, the breeding cabinet contains:

  • Mondrian (RH PB / WB or LB GB / BB male) x Sprite (RH WB YB hen) + yellow and dilute fledglings 
  • Constantin (RH PB GB / BB male) x Danube (BH ytb WB BB hen) + 1 egg in nest box 
  • Orange Guy (OH PB / WB GB / BB male) x Silvie (BH PB GB / BB hen)
  • Link (RH PB BB male) x Bella (BH WB GB / BB hen)  
We are considering setting a fifth pair today.  Of the four pairings currently in the breeding cabinet, we should end up with lots of greens split to blue, blues, and some more yellows and dilutes.  Keep an eye on our available birds page in the coming months! 

Posted by Rachel

 
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