They've each had two clutches of eggs so far. Not one of them was fertile. I've had English Budgies before and I know that you sometimes have to trim the feathers around the bottoms. Nevertheless, none of the eggs were fertile. They're on a good diet. My little american parakeets are fertile. My bourkes and redrumps are fertile.
I've talked to the man I sold them too and he told me it must be something I'm doing wrong.
I've talked to a friend who also had bought from this guy in the past and he told me something interesting. He said that this man will only sell male budgies that have been toe clipped. I asked the friend what that meant. He said that the guy will clip the first joints off of the front and back inside toes on each foot so the little guys cannot hang on when they're breeding.
Sure enough, all three males are missing the first joint on the front and back inside toes on both feet. Sure enough, when they climb on top, they fall over. Let the buyer beware, huh? I should have checked them over better but I really wanted some blue spangles.
I asked the man I bought them from about it and he of course denies it all. Are my birds "duds" as breeders because of this?
Is this common practice? Has anyone else heard of this?
I think it's extremelly horrible and very dishonest.
I've put these guys in a flight with some non-breeding cockatiels and put some American parakeet males with the hens for now.
