Cage & Aviary Birds

10 x 1kg bags to be won! FANCY WINNING A 1kg bag of Aviary Mix or Foreign Finch Mix, courtesy of bird food specialists Haith’s? We are giving 10 lucky readers the chance to win their choice of product in our June prize draw. Aviary Mix is a superb al

A FATHER-AND-SON NOVICE partnership that has never exhibited before beat champion and intermediate exhibitors to take home best in show (BIS) at the Budgerigar Society (BS) Spring Event. Kevin and Tom Smith from Hartlepool, who set up their partnersh

“It can be quite therapeutic to mix a scoop of this with a scoop of that! I found mixing what was needed for a feed easier than mixing a huge batch all in one go.” Dave Collier advises on beating VAT by making your own seed mixes. See page 10. ■

NIGEL Hewston has stepped down as chairman of the Avicultural Society (AS) and is being succeeded by Philip White MBE. Mr Hewston said: “After 10 years I was keen to hand on the baton and I am very pleased that Philip has been elected to continue the

A NEW STUDY has found that jackdaws (Corvus monedula) use a “democratic” process to decide when to take off as a group. Researchers from the University of Exeter, University of Cambridge and Barcelona’s Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry App

WE ARE VERY much in the breeding season with lots of youngsters and eggs being laid by many of our avian species; even some of our older birds who haven’t laid for a while have been laying this year. A classic example of this is a female black curass

I WOULD LOVE to see more turtle doves kept in aviaries. More doves and pigeons in general, to be honest – the columbids are such an engaging family, generally good mixers and not difficult to maintain. Builders of some of the world’s worst nests, and

Editor: Rob Innes. Tel: 01959 541 444 Email: birds.ed@kelsey.co.uk Deputy Editor: Laura Welch. Tel: 01959 541 444 Email (News): birds.news@kelsey.co.uk Email (Club News): birds.general@kelsey.co.uk Design: Focused On Design Ltd Email: design@focusedo

LOOKING back to April: what a busy month for me. There was a lot going on. Previously I’d reported how my blue hen and her variegated cock were finally showing signs of being in breeding condition. At the beginning of the month, I witnessed him tread

THE time to evaluate the results of the first clutches is now. When breeders meet, the first question usually asked: how are you doing? Many fertile eggs? And the answer can be positive or negative. There are even predictions of a good or bad season

WITH good-quality softbills having become in shorter supply since Brexit and with the difficulty of obtaining new bloodlines from Europe, specialisation is becoming standard practice with some breeders. I have previously mentioned my friend Ade Youde

This jackdaw frequents a local café my wife and I go to. He is really tame and will take food from your fingers ANDY EARLY Opaline grey spangle hen baby budgerigar’s first day out of the nest-box SIMON ROBERTS This is a picture of a mystery chick tha

SOMERSET BS the gold patronage show is to be held at Bridgwater Rugby Club TA6 4TZ on July 31. The society’s stock show and sale, incorporating the AGM, will be held on October 22 at the Kings Down Pavilion. For any further information, please contac

ABERDEEN BS – June 9, RUA Club, 5-7 West Craibstone Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6DL, 7.30pm. Meeting. New members most welcome. Enquiries: 01358 721 550 BASILDON CBS – June 13, Northlands Park Community Centre, Felmores Road, Basildon, Essex SS13 1SD, 8pm