PRACTICAL BUDGERIGAR BREEDING

ALAN KENT BUDGERIGARS

AVIARY TOUR

Ken Dunk, Bob Smith, Shane Von Pien and myself all attended the HIlls Budgerigar Auction on on Saturday July 3. I flew down on the Friday so as to visit with my mother (103) and my brother on the Friday whilst the ‘boys’ drove down in Bob’s new Volkswagon diesel Tourag. We all met up at Peter Traynor’s place at St Clair and with James Matthews in tow went out for dinner and a fun night.

After the Auction we drove to Maitland and stayed the night. Next morning we set out to visit three of the leading breeders in the Country. The first port of call was at Alan Druery’s aviary.

Alan, Ken, Bob and Shane

Alan Showed us his lovely Sky hen and her almost as impressive Grey Green sister, both of these hens are top shelf and would be the envy of any breeder in the country. Alan has also is breeding Lacewings which seem to be the ‘IN’ variety at the moment with Alan, Mark Fellows Ian Hannington and Bob Smith all trying their hand with this beautiful variety.

The photos below are a selection on some of the birds at the Aviary of Alan and Chris Druery.

A & C Druery Lacewing Cock

A & C Druery: Normal Sky Hen

Our next port of call was Gary and Mary Gazzards, the last time we were at Garry’s two years ago the construction of the new house was finished and was in the process of being painted. It was a real eye opener to see the completed house complete with aviary for the first time.

Gary has been working with the Australian Yellowface variety, now more popularly known as Goldenfaces, the name given to them by UK breeders. I first saw Garys Goldenfaces at Ian Hanningtons whilst I was in Port Macquarie for a reunion of former workmates in 2008. Ian was baby sitting some of Gary’s birds whilst the new house was being built.

Gary Gazzard Goldenface

Gary Gazzard Goldenface Hen

After a excellent lunch with Gary and Mary we headed of with Gary to Mark and Rebecca Fellows who are only a short drive away. Mark showed us some of his Blue Ring young birds of outstanding quality which will no boubt have a big impact on the Showbench over the next year and if good fortune is with him they will contend a National level.

M & R Fellows Cinnamon Gy-Gr Cock

MRF Opaline Spangle Cock

The standout young birds were a Cinnamon Grey Green Coc k, a Opaline Spangle Cock. There was also a Opaline Grey Green Cock young but showng a lot of potential and not surprisingly quite a few Cinnamon Opaline Grey Greens.