Cage & Aviary Birds

ON NOVEMBER 7 a national housing order was introduced across England, making it a legal requirement for all birdkeepers to “keep their flocks housed” to help slow the spread of avian influenza. The whole of Great Britain has been placed in an Avian I

“I was so surprised and delighted! What an incredible start to my showing career.” - Border canary beginner Andy Johnson gets a wonderful boost at his debut exhibition, page 9

THE WINNERS OF the Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder 2022 are Josiah Evans, 13, and Ben Rumsby, 15, who took top prizes in the junior and senior categories respectively. Run by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Spurn Bird Observatory Trust (

YOU CAN'T ESCAPE it, wherever you look – papers, radio, television and social media – the talk is of financial woe and hard times ahead. Families are tightening up on non-essential (and sometimes essential) expenditures to cope with higher prices and

EACH year, Cage & Aviary Birds includes articles that remind us how to ensure it is as easy as possible for helpers to look after our birds while we are away. I would like to give some more advice to those people who are taking temporary care of bird

I SHALL WELCOME the next issue of Cage & Aviary Birds that does not include any bird-flu news. There's plenty to report this time, however, starting with the confirmation that DEFRA has extended its mandatory housing requirements for all captive bird

www.cageandaviarybirds.co.uk CAGE & AVIARY BIRDS Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent ME18 6AL Editor: Rob Innes. Tel: 01959 541 444 Email: birds.ed@kelsey.co.uk Deputy Editor: Laura Welch. Tel: 01959 541 444 Email (New

TO A large extent, opalines are a lost variety. During the 1950s, 60s and 70s they were popular with most breeders and regularly took the top awards. Today the numbers at shows have been decimated and they rarely take the top awards. And most of what

Opaline cock x non-opaline hen = 50% opaline hens & 50% normal/ split opaline cocks Opaline cock × opaline hen = 50% opaline cocks & 50% opaline hens Normal/split opaline cock × non-opaline hen = 25% opaline hens, 25% normal hens, 25% normal cock & 2

STAFFORD has come and gone. As I said in my last Lizard Chat, many breeders of all types of canary commented that the birds were slow in the moult, and this showed in the entries for some clubs. The reason why they had been slow to moult was a popula

Border Bulletin, with Andy Johnson SINCE my last article, Jane and I have both been struck down with covid and spent a good deal of time in bed feeling pretty horrible. Jane sorted out the birds for me while I was ill. Each morning, she asked me what

AS SHOWMEN and breeders we are always striving to achieve at the highest levels of competition. For Gloster fanciers, the pinnacle of the show year is to compete at the International Gloster Breeders Association (IGBA) show. The association was forme

WELL, we managed to stage the annual Morpeth open show! Admittedly, the announcement about the increased restrictions for flocks of birds because of the bird-flu epidemic did cause some doubts for a while. I had already informed the Animal & Plant He

NOVEMBER already. As I write, I still have a few later-bred birds finishing off their moult, but in the main my stock has been thinned down nicely, and I can more or less concentrate on the birds I shall be keeping for next year's breeding programme.

TRENT Valley BS held its members' show at Willington Village Hall on October 9 2022. Judge John Punchard had 138 birds to judge for the day, including new classes for colour budgies. The winners of the day were as follows: best in show, best any age

ON A fine Saturday in September the society held its autumn social meeting at Cotswold Wildlife Park, where members enjoyed generous hospitality and excellent facilities. Internet access in the AZRA room enabled some council members to join the morni

ABERDARE CBS will host an open show on December 10 at The Penywaun Club and Institute, Gwladys Street, Penywaun, Aberdare CF44 9DE. Birds to be booked in from 9-11.30am for judging at 12 noon. All enquiries to Les on 07765 378 191. CAMBRIDGE & COUNTY

All clubs welcome new members but you are advised to check with the club before attending ALDERSHOT CBS – November 24, Victoria Hall, 121 Ash Hill Road, Ash, Aldershot, Hamp-shire GU12 5DH, 7.30. Pre-Christmas party. All refreshments and drinks will