Steve Hutchings Budgie Site

BIRD KEEPING                

 

I am 46years old and live in the town of Clevedon which is situated on the South West coast of England.

I started keeping birds in 1990 when my son Michael asked me to build him a aviary. We built a small flight and colony bred a few birds. I soon had problems with birds fighting, and lost a number of chicks.

Like most youngsters Michael soon lost interest, it was left to dad to look after the birds. I started to purchase birds off a lady fancier on the way home from work, at first I brought the pretty ones ending up trying to specialise in Spangles and in 1997 bred my first Rainbows.
When I had a accident, I injured my spine, I needed something to do, so with the help of friends they help me build a 22 x 9 ft bird room with internal and external flights.

 

It was the birds that stopped me going mad with boredom I built 17 breeding cages, at first I tried to fill them all, and breed as many birds as I could, I now pair just over 10 cages with selected pairs. I breed about 40-50 birds a year. Though it not a lot of birds I am happy with the results each year. I do not get rid of any birds until they have moulted out.

After a year I had a problem and being a new member of the Budgerigar Society I called the Budgerigar Society's Help line. They gave me the telephone number of a local Champion Breeder John Watts who came to the rescue, informing me of the benefits of belonging to a local club and the Budgerigar Society. So the following week I visited a small bird show and  joined the Weston-S-Mare Budgerigar Society.
I have learnt a great deal from attending the meetings & Shows and specially having aviary visits to other fanciers, I held the Secretary’s as well as the Show Secretary's position for a couple of years.

 

It was hard work at times, but it has had its rewards as I have made a lot of friends through out the fancy. But a time comes when it better to let someone else try.
Since I constructed this web site I have made friends from all over the world, I have received e-mails from various fanciers, when I go to club meetings they ask me where have you heard from now.
So why not just drop me a e-mail I will read it out at our club meeting.
I have recently made a television programme regarding the budgerigars and how they can benefit disabled people, it was shown in March 98. Over the last couple of years I been publishing the schedules and catalogues for the club. I also go to a number of shows a produce a result sheet.

I used to try and keep up to date records for the birds especially when they were breeding, I kept a diary everyday and used a simply form with all the information on. I also kept my birds on the computer pedigree program, but this is not necessary but makes life a lot easier.

(copy of breeding sheet) 

         

I fed my birds with TRILL seed and use their soft food, I have been a collection point operator for about 4 years. This is a scheme where Trill ( Pedigree Masterfoods ) Please Note that  Trill is no longer available from the 31st May 2000.

This is because George Bucktons Ltd has taken over the sponsorship deal with the Budgerigar Society they have now approached the ex trill outlets and many of them have taken deliver bags

of seed, so fanciers can still collect them at a discount price.

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