Dickiebirds

Like many breeders I came into the hobby by accident. We had a couple of pet budgies and decided to try to breed them, we did and successfully bred budgies (not exhibition type) for a few years. We then tried a few other types of birds, lovebirds, cockateils, finches and splendids. Due to changing circumstances, we gave up breeding birds for a period of about 10 years.

Like most budgerigar breeders, once bitten by the bug, it never leaves. Last year, both my husband (Willie) and myself started to discuss starting up breeding budgerigars again. This time, however, we wanted to try our hands at showing.

We started looking at all available sources of information, internet, books, cage and aviary, when we decided what we wanted we built the birdroom, installed the cages and flights, then started looking around for breeders. I eventually purchased my initial stock from  Lee Marshall and Derek Shotton of South Shields.http://marshallandshotton.mysite.orange.co.uk/

I joined The Budgerigar Society http://www.budgerigarsociety.com/ and eventually joined my local club, Edinburgh Budgerigar Society http://edinburghbs.mysite.orange.co.uk/ and hopefully now, the rest will be history.

 Some of the Members of Edinburgh Budgerigar Society - Aviary Visit Sep 2006

04/09/07

My first show season is going quite well, I've had a lot of 1sts, 2nds,& 3rds. Well chuffed at that. I have also had 4 major wins to date, at the Inverness show I got Best Beginner Young Bird with one of my spangle grey green cocks. My Yellowface Skyblue Cock has won 3 CC's for best Yellowface, (Edinburgh & The Scottish Area Shows). Only thing now is to keep going and build on my success.

04/10/07

Well I've had my first visit to Doncaster as an exhibitor, I didn't get any major prizes, but, I did get 2 x 1sts, 3x 2nds and 1x 6th in my classes. To most of you that will mean nothing, but to me  it was great, the feeling of turning the corner into my section and seeing the 1st and 2nd rosettes stuck on the cages was indescribable. My clearbody hen won her class and came 3rd in the line-up for the CC. It was a long way to go, but, the birds and myself survived. My thoughts are now going forward to the new breeding season and next years show season. I've had a great time this year, if you are interested in breeding or showing exhibition budgerigars, don't hesitate it is a great hobby and very enjoyable.