Updates on better breeding results.

It's Been Almost Five Years, and I’m Back with Some Insights on Improving Breeding Success
It’s been nearly five years since I last posted a blog, and in that time, I’ve received numerous inquiries about poor breeding seasons. This post is a quick reply to those questions, as well as an update on how things have changed for me.
I'm happy to report that my most recent breeding season has been a remarkable success, with the number of chicks produced nearly doubling compared to previous seasons. This has been an exciting turnaround, and it came about after some valuable lessons learned during a recent trip to the UK.
Lessons from UK Breeders
During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet with well-known breeders like the McGoverns, the Millers, and Snell. Their methods gave me a lot to think about and re-evaluate regarding my own budgie management practices.
One thing I noticed across all of these breeders is that they keep things very simple. They don't rely heavily on chemical enhancements and instead focus on good-quality feed. This minimalist approach really stood out to me.
The Importance of Moderation: My Key Changes
Through my own analysis and observations, I’ve concluded that, as breeders, we might be overfeeding our birds. So, I’ve made some changes in how I care for my budgies that I believe have had a significant positive impact.
Here are the changes I’ve implemented:

1. Soaked/Sprouted Seeds – Upon returning to Australia, I immediately stopped using soaked or sprouted seeds. While I don’t believe these are inherently bad for the birds, I’ve found they can easily become contaminated or go rancid quickly. I prefer to avoid this risk altogether.
2. Coated Seeds – I also eliminated all coatings of seed with oils and other powders. There's simply no need for these force-fed supplements. In fact, I believe that some birds became reluctant to eat seeds coated with unpleasant flavors. I still use a small amount of oil on some greens for the essential Omega 3, 6, and 9s.
3. Vitamins and Supplements – After researching the vitamin supplements used by the UK breeders, I realized that no single product available in Australia met all the nutritional requirements of my birds. I found that two different brands, when used alternately, matched the ingredients used by breeders in the UK. Each product had missing components, so I didn’t mix them together. I now alternate between these two and find them easy to procure.
   A quick note: avoid using water-soluble vitamins on very hot days, as birds may overconsume them. I usually mix vitamins at about 2/3 strength and administer them for three days at a time, a couple of times a month. After each vitamin use, I’ll give a probiotic for a couple of days, though I’m not entirely convinced of its efficacy (based on human health knowledge). That said, it hasn’t caused harm, and I’m open to learning more.

Weight Management for Successful Breeding
If you want your birds to breed well, it’s crucial to manage their weight. My seed mix differs for young birds and breeders. The breeders’ mix has fewer oily seeds and high-energy seeds, while the youngsters get a mix that’s richer in those nutrients to help them grow as quickly as possible.

I hope these insights help you as they’ve certainly improved my own results. Happy breeding!

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