Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!noonan
From: noonan@cbnews.ATT.COM (D. J. Noonan)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Another question regarding budgies
Message-ID: <11294@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 9 Nov 89 19:50:12 GMT
References: <8910291210.aa15790@BONNIE.ICS.UCI.EDU> <2494@cbnewsl.ATT.COM> <7405@warpdrive.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 43

In article <7405@warpdrive.UUCP>, stewartw@warpdrive.UUCP (Stewart Winter) writes:
> >birds.  These comments are based on my own experiences with our budgies
> >(which we have over 150 of) and from discussions with other budgie and
> >hookbilled breeders.
> 
>     Since you have 150 budgies, I would be really interested in knowing
> what kind of a set up you have to manage so many birds.  I suspect others
> might too.


We have in our basement an aviary (approx half of the basement).  We have
3 large indoor 'flight' cages.  These are large cages (from floor to ceiling)
which the birds are free to fly in.  The smallest of these cages is
approximately 6 feet by 6 feet. The largest is about 6 feet by 20 feet long.
A fourth cage (~6 feet by 10 feet) is an outdoor flight that adjoins
the largest indoor flight through a basement walkout door.
The majority of the budgies are in these cages.  The birds are separated
based on various reasons depending on the season.  Typically young birds that
have not had their first moult ('bar heads') are kept in a separate flight.
Breeder hens are kept in another and the remaining birds that are not being
bred remain in the largest flight (and outdoor flight in fair weather).

In addition to these 4 flight cages, we have about 24 breeding cages.
These are cages that are approximately 24 by 18 by 18 inches high.  Attached
to each of these cages is a nest box (~8 by 8 by 8 inches) in which the
hen lays eggs.

Controlled lighting is used to simulate normal outdoor conditions.
Special (i.e. expensive) flourescent lights are used which produce light
which is practically just like indirect sunlight. (Vita-light)
(Plus there is light which comes in through the windows)

To identify birds, they are all banded using bands obtained through the
American Budgerigar Society, which we are members.

My wife keeps records on all birds on a computer database.  She can keep
track of breeding records, traits, etc.  and produce pedigrees to examine
individual birds' lineage.


Well that's probably more than you wanted to know, but you asked.

Dennis Noonan