Rings & Things
Ringing a chick that is very tiny presents no problems after your first breeding season is behind you.
Slide the ring over the three front toes ----- now slide it a little more over the back toe ---- now using a blunt matchstick pull the back toe through the ring.
This should be done between 7 and 10 days old, for the next two days check that the ring has not slipped off,do keep the ring clean and check no foreign objects lodge between the leg and the inside of the ring during the chicks stay in the nest boxes.
Once all my chicks in the box are rung i remove them into my chickie box ( see tools) and using the hoover nozzle give the nest box a quick clean out and place a handfull of clean wood shavings in,from this time in my breeding cages all boxes are cleaned weekly.
Before the chicks leave the nest box i have my gazunders in the cage ready ( see tools) each with sawdust and a millet spray inside,this is a precaution,a safe haven for the chicks.Sometimes the chicks are harassed by the adult cock once they leave the nest box,he may try and mate with the young hens or see the young cocks as a threat to his breeding partner,he then may become bad tempered and attack the chicks which sometimes may end in death.I always have a low perch for the chicks and a high perch for the adults,this works well and a clever chick knows he will not be hurt if he keeps off the top perch.
I like my chicks to be at least 42 days old and i have observed that they are feeding independantly before they leave their parents.Prior to this i will have the nursery/nappie cages ready for the chicks ,they all go in together and remain there until they are twelve weeks old and then they go into the avairy.
Our success is seeing our own bred budgies reach independance.
2008 chicks.