And the two clips. My voice didn't come over very loudly.

Some photos of the start of show cage training and a couple of short clips of the same.

To get the youngsters used to going into and out of the show cages, I attach the show cages to the side of the main flight cage. This way the birds get used to being in a smaller space. They eventually sleep in the show cages and once used to them, will pop into them at command when you present a show cage at their door. This minimises stress in moving them round the room. That's my stress as well as theirs!  

This long yellow chick is Elizabeth's half brother. He has good length.

This white is also a half sibling of Elizabeth - her late mother's chick which hatched after their mother died this year. He was fostered out to Elizabeth's father and mate.

I like this little green bird.

A nice piebald, not showing herself off yet!

Elizabeth's "lone parent family" of three yellow chicks. Her mate died while she was incubating.

Elizabeth viewed from her chicks' nest.

This little chap is Elizabeth's nephew or niece. 

I have had less time to blog this year largely due to having all ten hens in breeding condition and letting them go for it. It's been a challenging season. I have lost three adult birds for no apparent reason; lost two chicks to mite; lost another chick to unknown causes but have 21 chicks in the weaning cages and 2 still in the nest. I've three hens left breeding - one on 4 eggs, another waiting to hatch her four eggs and one just laying. I will stop after that. Here are some pictures of the youngsters in their weaning cages.

This little bird and its sibling were badly attacked by their father. I had to move him out and let the hen rear them herself. I'd had three aggressive males this year - all young birds.

I like these two though there are better curves on some of the others but it's early yet to tell how they wil moult out.