Animals-and-Pets
Cage & Aviary Birds
The Moult: Patience Is A Virtue
MARK JONES advises on feeding native hardbills during the moult, carefully colour feeding after it, and the need to be patient and recognise that birds can be late developers.
4 min |
September 25, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
The Collared Hill Partridge At Harewood Bird Garden
Professional birdkeeper HANNAH FRANCES AHERN introduces a little-known but beautiful gamebird
4 min |
September 25, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
Pied Perfection
Just as perky and endearing as the robin, the pied flycatcher is a delightful and interesting species that has proved a tough challenge to breed in captivity. BILL NAYLOR reports
5 min |
September 25, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
Making A Good Job Of It
DAVE BROWN takes a look at the elements and roles that help to make a show successful.
3 min |
September 25, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
Going By The Book When It Comes To Finches
What’s in a name? Plenty, when you’re talking finches, says TONY EDWARDS
4 min |
September 25, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
The Starling/Gannet
GARY BRALSFORD completes his introduction to the spotless starling, a likeable songbird that packs a serious appetite! For his previous article, see the September 4 issue.
3 min |
September 18, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
Shock Closure Of Family Bird Park
MUCH-LOVED PRINKNASH BIRD & Deer Park has closed after 11 years of battling with the landlords over land use.
1 min |
September 18, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
Northumbrian Notes With Austin Middlemiss
All it took was the availability of one gorgeous hen and Austin’s diplomatic breeding plans for next year were overthrown. But you’d do the same if you were offered this particular hen.
5 min |
September 18, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
I'm Betting On These New Pairings
SAM WILDES looks forward to a productive 2020 breeding season and describes some of his top pairings with potential.
3 min |
September 18, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
Is The Classic Lizard Canary Heading Towards Extinction?
HUW EVANS identifies the threats – which are still widely underestimated – to this historic canary breed, but offers reasons for hope that a broader appreciation of the genetic issues involved will secure its successful future.
7 min |
September 18, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
International quality Glosters: grab 'em for £1
FOR £1, YOU could be in with a chance of winning a pair of top birds from the International Gloster Breeders Association (IGBA) 2018 winners – Marnix D’Hont from Belgium and Netherlands-based Gerrit Douma.
1 min |
September 18, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
Conservation Project Goes Green
A genetic survey of a group of captive great green macaws is playing an important part in their eventual release into their natural habitat in Costa Rica, explains DR DAVID WAUGH.
2 min |
September 18, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
Common Setbacks In Breeding Budgerigars
Whether pairing up your birds this autumn or in the New Year, make sure you learn from CLIVE WAKEMAN’s experience of some of the things that most often go wrong.
4 min |
September 18, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
Canaries Month By Month:
Should you stay or should you go now? BRIAN KEENAN assesses his birds before show season gets underway.
5 min |
September 18, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
Are Birdkeepers Really Being Priced Out?
Is a shortage of affordable (i.e. cheap) quality stock hastening the hobby’s decline? DAVE BROWN expresses some doubts.
3 min |
September 18, 2019
Cage & Aviary Birds
Wins And Controversy
Two weeks ago, BOB BAGGS described his first breeding success with Glosters. Soon, show rosettes were to come his way, both locally and at the National Exhibition. Yet with winning and the attendant publicity came a couple of unexpected allegations that had to be dealt with...
2 min |
January 17, 2018
Cage & Aviary Birds
A Change Of Heart
Following on from his ‘My history of hawking’ feature in the December 13, 2017 issue, GRAHAM WELLSTEAD explains why an unfortunate series of events led him fly a Harris hawk – and how it turned everything he’d previously thought about the species on its head.
3 min |
January 17, 2018
Cage & Aviary Birds
Beyond Grey
After feeling rather indifferent to the anthracite in its early days, FRED WRIGHT now believes this new variety is showing enough promise to merit being taken up more widely. Here he sums up what has been learned so far about its inheritance.
3 min |
January 17, 2018
Cage & Aviary Birds
Rethinking Our Shows
Does the established format of the bird exhibition need a bit of a redesign? JIM HAYWARD JNR strongly believes so and sets out his ideas for clubs to consider.
5 min |
January 17, 2018
Cage & Aviary Birds
With a Z and a W: How Genes Make Up Birds
If you breed birds, the subject of basic genetics immediately becomes relevant, yet many fanciers shy away from the subject. Here PAUL DONOVAN discusses the bird basics and explains what’s a chromosome, what’s a gene, what is DNA – and most importantly, why it all matters in our hobby
4 min |
February 15,2017
Cage & Aviary Birds
Huge Aviaries, Fine Detail
On Rosemary Low’s most recent visit to Australia, she made a point of calling on the renowned Australian aviculturist RUSSELL KINGSTON – and was fascinated by the attention to detail that this great birdkeeper lavishes on his beautiful collection.
3 min |
March 15,2017
Cage & Aviary Birds
Steve And The Flight Factor
When it comes to learning all about positive reinforcement techniques, Dot knows exactly who the best man for the job is: renowned avian trainer STEVE MARTIN, who is regarded as the originator of free flight in bird shows and is still an active innovator.
3 min |
March 15,2017
Cage & Aviary Birds
2016: A Year Of Success
DONALD SKINNER-REID recalls an eventful year where he learned to manage more than one breed of canary, and made a breakthrough with his Scots fancies on the show bench
2 min |
September 6, 2017
Cage & Aviary Birds
A Man In Demand
Top Irish judge and breeder LAURENCE EDGAR tells Dave Brown about the breeding, showing and general techniques he has in place for his extensive collection of foreign finches
4 min |
September 6, 2017
Cage & Aviary Birds
Why 30 Is My Magic Number
In part one of his 2018 breeding season update, TONY EDWARDS relays his plans for the colours in his birdroom, paying particular attention to his long-established chocolate & whites, fawn & whites, dilute fawn & whites and albinos.
3 min |
January 31, 2018
Cage & Aviary Birds
The Birdkeeping Bug
After initially housing birds in her conservatory, KATARINA JECHOVA ELLIS soon became hooked on the hobby and enlisted the help of a friend to enhance, not only her set-up, but the variety of breeds and number of individual birds as well.
3 min |
January 31, 2018
Cage & Aviary Birds
Square Glosters And Organisms
Continuing from last week, AUSTIN MIDDLEMISS recalls some of the classic characters he’s known in the fancy, this time featuring the inimitable Big Lol and late great Billy Watson.
3 min |
January 31, 2018
Cage & Aviary Birds
Never A Dull Moment: A Champion First Season!
Now firmly an ex-novice, DONALD SKINNER-REID looks back on the past year with his exhibition Scots, Belgians and Gibosos and addresses the high and low points of that time.
2 min |
February 7, 2018
Cage & Aviary Birds
Time To Prepare To Pair
IVAN CHAPMAN shares some breeding tactics and tips suited to both beginners and older hands alike.
3 min |
February 7, 2018
Cage & Aviary Birds
Act In Advance, Don't Wait Around
In this new series of articles aimed at novices, IAN WRIGHT, KEVIN McCALLUM and NORMAN WALLACE provide tips for the 2018 breeding season based on their knowledge of breeding and exhibiting a range of canary varieties. First up is NORMAN WALLACE.
2 min |