Innholdsfortegnelse for May 7, 2025 i Cage & Aviary Birds

CANARIES AT A SPARSELY attended but quorate AGM of the Canary Council (CC) held on April 5, 2025, at the Fieldhead Hotel in Markfield, Leicestershire, the officers made the decision to wind up the CC in accordance with rule 8.3 of its constitution, writes Barry Mills, outgoing CC chairman. The future of the CC was the first agenda item after officers’ reports and the fact that so few of our former members were in attendance reflects the state of play in the hobby at the moment. Simply put, there are too few people able or willing to take on roles on national bodies while their own clubs and societies are often suffering the same difficulty. The chairman himself wished to step down from the role after many years in post…

WHICH BIRDS ARE breeding as I write this on April 25? I have cockatiels, Port Lincolns, pineapple green-cheeked conures, Indian ring-necks, budgerigars and red-fronted kakariki with babies. There are more babies than at this stage last year, as the weather is warmer this time around. This morning, I checked a pair of ring-necks who have two babies, which I closed-ringed a couple of days ago, and the rings were nicely in place. I have known rings to move up the leg past the joint. If you do not push them back down they can permanently become stuck and you then need to cut them off. What other “action” is there in my aviaries? The Australian king hens are interested in their nest-boxes, so that looks rather promising, I have Barrabands…

THANKS TO TROPICAN, we have three 1.8kg bags up for grabs. Tropican says its Tropimix for small parrots is a premium food mix full of grains, fruits, nuts and Tropican granules. This special blend is fortified with essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids for optimum health and nutrition. Tropican granules are a great addition to this mix, as not only are they bursting with peanut flavour they contain premium sources of protein. It is 100 per cent edible and does not contain any messy shells; eliminating waste and the risk of pathogens. It provides a stimulating eating experience and foraging opportunities making it great for enrichment! Three x 1.8kg bags to be won! As it contains Tropican granules and is de-husked, it also makes a great diet to assist in…

CANARIES FIRST, I asked Bob what it was that had originally attracted him to Borders. His reply was both straightforward and understandable: “I just love the jaunty style and position of the Border”. I know just what he means. Bob acquired his first Borders from a man named Harry Bradley (“Harry won the National of the day with a white Border,” Bob remembers) and another fancier called Len Revell. Both men lived in Kent. Bob continued: “Attending the Southern BFCC show many years ago, I was fortunate enough to strike up a conversation with a chap called Tom Foster, who sadly is no longer still with us. That developed into a long friendship over many years, and it was Tom's influence that gave me the final push to improve my…

BENGALESE A WEEK after setting a new pair, I start to check for eggs every day. I also do this for pairs when they have been reset after a clear round of eggs or when all their chicks have been fostered. For pairs where I have removed their independent chicks, I start my checks immediately. I like to know the date on which the final egg is laid. From this date, I add seven days to determine the latest date when eggs should show signs of being fertile. Once this date has passed, I stop doing regular checks. When the eggs are due to hatch, I like to resume nest-box checks at least once per day. Sometimes I notice an egg where the chick has begun to break out. Later…

PICTURE OF THE MONTH! C&AB TEAM PICKS THEIR FAVOURITE ENTRY EACH MONTH Starling at Chester Zoo and a bullfinch GARY PANNETT, VIA FACEBOOK SEND us your birdkeeping pictures and we'll publish them on this page. Each month the C&AB team will pick their favourite picture(s)! Simply email your picture to: birds.general@kelsey.co.uk with “Readers’ Gallery” in the subject line or put them on our Facebook or Twitter pages. Unfortunately, the Kelsey Media offices at Welbeck Way, Woodston PE2 7WH are now closed so it is not possible to receive entries sent by post. Don't forget to include your name and address and a caption. NB: you must send only images for which you own the copyright. We cannot guarantee to print everything we receive. Readers’ Gallery will return next month. Closing date for…

SHOW DATES SWANSEA GLOSTER SOCIETY has announced the judges for its open show on November 9 at Morriston Memorial Hall, Heol Gwernen, Morriston, Swansea SA6 6JR. Judges will be Keith Baker and Martin Fairfield. Further details will be issued in due course. All enquiries to John Richards on 01792 533 573. CLUB NEWS NORFOLK FBA held its last meeting on April 8 at Lady Roman Catholic Church. The chairman welcomed a large gathering to the meeting. After a few notices, the main part of the evening was taken up by the members who had been asked to bring along samples of soakseed they use, and egg foods with anything else they add to the mix. General discussions followed as to what other members liked any how it differed. Some members…

FURTHER BIRD-FLU ZONES ON APRIL 7, four new areas across the UK were put into an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory housing measures: County Durham, Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear. They join the following areas: Cheshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Herefordshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, part of Shropshire, Suffolk, Worcestershire and York. All birdkeepers in these areas must keep their birds housed. SONG EVOLUTION DISCOVERED A NEW STUDY has revealed that the song type of the thrush nightingale (Luscinia luscinia) in Finland has completely changed over a period of 33 years. Researchers from Charles University in Czech Republic compared song recordings made in 1986 and then in 2019. Focusing on syllables and song types, they found that no song…

DOWNSIZING IS NEVER popular. It's seen as an admission of being at a late stage in life. You reach a point when you feel obliged to sell the family home and move into a bungalow. That entails disposing of most of your possessions. Or you decide that 30 pairs of birds are too many to cope with pleasurably and you cut back to 15. Are you really going to dispose of your now-surplus breeding cages? It feels terribly final if you do. Maybe just stick them in storage, eh? Downsizing takes guts. It means facing facts, an activity that many of us view with reluctance. Everybody likes to be known for starting up; nobody wants to be known for winding down. That's why I sympathise with Barry Mills and his…

“HAVING kept budgerigars for a couple of seasons now, I would like to give celestial parrotlets a try. Could you give me some advice on accommodation for them? For example, will my double breeding cages and budgie nest-boxes be suitable? Also, what is the best diet for them and which colour mutations are available? IF YOU have bred budgerigars successfully for a few seasons and are now ready to try something a bit different, celestial parrotlets are the ideal step up you're looking for. These charming little birds pack a big personality into a small body. They can make both delightful pets and rewarding breeding birds for the experienced aviculturist. Out of all the parrot family, parrotlets are the second smallest. Celestial parrotlets (Forpus coelistis) are between just 4½ and…

Club meetings nationwide All clubs welcome new members but you are advised to check with the club before attending ABERDEEN BS – May 8, Northern Bowling Club, Orchard Road, Aberdeen AB24 3DP, 7.30pm. Barhead and moulted out show. Other club business to discuss. Enquiries: 01358 721 550. AUSTRALIAN FINCH SOCIETY – May 11, Village Hall, Cheswick Green, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4JA, 10.30am-2.30pm. Council meeting. Enquiries: 01473 626 938. BASILDON CBS – May 12, Felmores Community Centre, Northland's Park, Basildon, Essex SS13 1SD, 7.30pm. Meeting. Guest speaker. Enquiries: 07880 707 502. BRISTOL BS – May 12, Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway, Bristol BS34 6JW, 7pm. Meeting. Enquiries: 07748 740 794. COLCHESTER CBS – May 15, Stanway Village Main Hall, Stanway, Colchester, Essex CO3 OHR, 7.45pm. Meeting. General chat and breeding…