MY PROFILE
| When I was a young lad we lived near dense woodland and it was natural for us to have Jackdaws, Magpies, Sparrows and wild Rabbits for pets, our parents used to make hutches, cages and small sheds out of orange boxes. My Introduction to Budgerigars was in 1954, I was in the army stationed at Donnington in Shropshire. When we marched to the workshops, we used to pass an aviary full of Budgerigars and I was fascinated by them. When I was demobbed in 1955 I arrived home at 4pm and by 8pm I had purchased my first three pairs of Budgerigars. By 11pm I had built three breeding cages. My first birdroom was an old 5ft X 6ft shed, with no heating and only lighting was by candles. In winter the drinking water was often frozen. In 1958 a friend built me a timber birdroom, equipped with electricity - a 'Rolls Royce' birdroom as far as I was concerned. |
| I left the fancy in 1968 and returned in 1978. I now have a brick built-birdroom with all mod-cons very different from the early days. I only use 12 breeding cages, the most I have bred in one season is 117. This season has been my worst on record I have struggled to breed 40. I start making pairings at the end of November - beginning with what I call 'iffy' birds; ones that failed to breed the previous season. The main pairings are made at the beginning of January. I pay as much attention to the cocks being fit as the hens. If the cocks are out of condition the result is clear eggs. With the the odd bird that has been brought in as an outcross, all my birds are related. |
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When selecting Budgerigars for breeding I look for what I call a pussy face, directional feathering on the head, depth of mask, of course, condition. I would not use any Budgerigar that has crossed wings, a hump on its back or a normal that displays head flecking. I have never paired and will never pair Budgerigars just to breed numbers. I am often asked which are the features that are most difficult to get right on an exhibition Budgerigar? Without good head qualities it is impossible to make progress on the show bench. The features that make a Budgerigar stand out from the rest are: width of face{as wide at the front as the distance between the eyes}; depth of face{to give squareness}; directional feather above the beak and eyes; wide shoulders; good back skull and a smooth transition between head and shoulder that shows no sign of a neck. I sincerely hope that you find these pages interesting and that it encourages you to enjoy our wonderful hobby. |
Past and Presidents,RONNIE SIMPSON Congratulating me on becoming
Yorkshire Budgerigar Society PRESIDENT Year 2000.
Mouseover Picture.
Judging Sheffield Budgerigar Society Young Stock Show