So cute! They look very fuzzy and cuddlie :)                     -Ann

Oh, they are so cute.  Do you know what colors they will be?  How are all your Lovebirds doing, I haven't seen you on the boards for a long while, good to  hear from you once again!

They are so cute!  I didn't know they were covered with all that white fuzz.

Don, those little ones are darling.  I'm curious to know what colors they will be also.  My only budgie clutch had two fuzzy white babies and one fuzzy grey baby...it was exciting to see what colors they turned out to be.  Are these english or american, or both?  Thanks for sharing the pictures.  Can't wait to see what they look like in another week or so.

I'm still learning about the different color mutations for budgies, so I will just say that the father is Ernie a mint green colored yellow-face clearwing or grey wing (a blue series bird I've been told).  See attached picture - bird on the right.  Mother bird is a very light pastel blue with clear/grey wings also - so it sure looks like all the babies are going to be blue and white.  I was able to sell the entire clutch to a local pet store sight unseen, just based on pictures of the parent birds. 

 

Lovebirds are all doing great.  I have one clutch of 5 babies - 2 whiteface, one blue pied and 2 cinnamons - all sold already.  Many adults (mostly peachface) of a lot of different color mutations including pieds, Australian and American cinnamons, orangeface, whiteface, violets, seagreens, American yellows and silvers. 

 

My wife has quite a few tiels including a few whiteface and a new albino hen - very pretty.

 

I also have another new clutch of 4 budgie babies from a cobalt blue mother bird.  Not exactly sure who the father is (mutiple birds in a large cage) but these babies are all tentitively sold to another pet store.  I'll try and get a picture of this clutch to post, too.

Oops,

 

Here's the picture of Ernie the dad (on the right).  These are American budgies.  The mom is very protective of her babies, but Ernie is my friendliest budgie and always willing to come out of his cage and sit on my shoulder and nibble on my ear.

 

DonHo

Don, your babies are adorable.  I have one question, since you sell them in bulk to a pet store, are you comfortable that this pet store will make sure they go to good, educated homes with all the "creature comforts" and appropriate cages and stuff.  Just wondering, since once they are out of your control, you really have no say in the matter. I'm sure you have screened the petstores you sell to. Please don't think I'm being judgemental or critical in any way,  it's just that I have been deeply involved in bird rescues, deplorable pet store conditions, etc. and I've seen the worst retail has to offer in regards to bird care.   Thanks.

They are adorable DonHo. I've been wondering where you had disappeared to. It has been a long while since you posted. Glad to see you back and I can't wait to see more pics.

 

Wow, lots of questions.  I'll try and answer them all.

 

Snowbird - I only sell to two local pet stores.  There are at least 4 others fairly close to me that I won't sell to because of poor cleanliness or other issues.  The fact that both of these stores hand-feed their birds put them a large step above most that simply buy parent raised birds from commercial breeders.  I also sell to individuals that go through an informal evaluation process, so that I feel they understand the commitment thay are making.  I severely limit the number of babies I produce and am 99% certain I have a home for my baby birds before the parents are given a nest box.  I also strive to produce healthy and unusual babies, working with unusual color combinations for tiels, lovebirds and budgies.   

 

Momnoah,

Thanks - I've been somewhat remiss about posting because I have found a new fulltime job that keeps me very busy.  Seems like I come home from work to clean cages and feed birds and I don't have the time to boot up the computer.  My New Years resolution is to spend more time on BirdBrainz and other boards.  Good luck finding homes for the baby tiels - I know it's tough to part with them.

 

Mompjb,

Actually I'm closer to Rochester - I sell to one pet store in Rochester and the other is in a small town east of there (Palmyra).  I do hand feed some birds, most recently I held 2 whiteface tiel babies and sold their 2 siblings to the Palmyra store.  They were the two nicest, friendliest tiels I ever saw.  I plan to keep 2 lovebird babies and one budgie baby for handfeeding from the current clutches.

Our male canaries do sing all day long.  They seem to learn from the others around them - but they each seem to have their own unique sound.  People are always amazed at how long and loud they can sing.

 

Walt,

I use a budgie nest box for both my budgies and lovebirds.  It's made of 1/4" thick plywood with a 1/2" particle board floor and is 6"wide, 8"deep and 8-1/2" tall.  The hole is 2" in diameter with a 3/16"-7/16" dowel perch that extends from the outside to the inside of the box.  The box is a "reverse" configuration with a top that opens and is mounted to the outside of the cage.  I make them or quite often buy them on sale for $5-$6 each.  I usually get two or three uses out of them before I throw them out.  They get to a point where it's almost impossible to clean them, which is why I don't spend money to buy the heavier more expensive boxes.  

 

DonHo

DonHo -- could you post a picture or two of your lovebird babies - especially the whiteface -- I've never seen one and I would really love to see your babies.

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!  They are so cute that I'm FRUSTRATED!