Ron Payne's Budgerigars - The Moonraker Stud - 2004 Season
The 2004 Breeding and Show Season
My plans for the 2004 breeding season were mostly focused on the improvement on the family of birds being developed from the purchase of birds from the Moffatt stud. One particular bird, no. 115 from 2001, was already proving his worth as he had sired a cc winner in 2002 and had produced several promising birds in 2002 and 2003. It seemed he could produce good birds with any hen from that line. Unfortunately, he died early in the breeding season of 2004, but not before he had left another good batch of babies. Although it was not done deliberately, it seemed that a lot of birds being paired in 2004 went back to no 115. By a total coincidence there was a bird also rung 115 but with a 2003 ring on, this was a son of 115 2001. This bird has not ,to date, produced any youngsters and was only shown twice but this was the bird that won the light green adult cc at the world show in Doncaster.
The overall quality produced in 2004 was, by my standards, exceptional. Numbers produced were excellent, about 140 from 25 pairs, and I approached the forthcoming show season with a feeling of anticipation - although this was tempered by a worry at the back of my mind that I may have been expecting too much. If I had produced good birds you could reckon that several others had produced better!!
My first show, South Hampshire BS, was a success with best opposite sex and a cc won with a baby bird. Further success, and challenge certificates, followed at every show I entered. Norwich and Norfolk BS was a particular success with best young bird and best opposite sex in show being achieved. The only show I failed to win a challenge certificate at was my own "home" show at Swindon BS. This was tempered by winning best opposite sex young bird and best opposite sex in show with a cinnamon light green hen.
Following on from my best ever show season I decided to enter and take some birds to the BS Club Show at Doncaster in November. This was the first time I had entered birds for many years, the previous time I had managed to take 5th best champion young bird with a grey cock.
All of the birds I took finished in the "cards", with a cinnamon light green hen taking best champion young bird opposite sex and drew many admiring glances over the weekend. I actually had four birds entered in that class and they finished first, fourth, fifth and seventh. Unfortunately the winning hen died about three weeks after the club show so I never got to breed from her. Four other birds also won their classes but the real thrill was a light green cock that took the champion light green class (adult) and then went on to win the challenge certificate.
As stated earlier, this particular bird has not produced in the breeding cage but three of his brothers and a sister bred very well in the 2005 season. The breeding season 2005 has been very successful and I look forward to the show season with renewed optimism. Whether I can repeat the success of 2004 remains to be seen but I will give it my best shot!