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Golden Wings Aviaries, Romford (2025)

10/09/2025

🔥 Budgerigar Debate: Hand-Rearing vs Parent-Rearing 🔥

When it comes to raising baby budgies 🐥, one of the biggest debates among breeders and keepers is whether to hand-rear chicks 🖐️🍼 or allow them to be parent-reared 🪶👩‍👩‍👦. Both methods have strong points — but also big challenges. Let’s break it down 👇

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🖐️🍼 Hand-Rearing

Hand-rearing means the breeder removes chicks from the nest 🪺 and feeds them directly with a syringe or spoon using formula.

✅ Pros

💕 Super tame and people-friendly budgies

🛟 Can save abandoned or neglected chicks

🎛️ Full control over feeding, growth, and health checks

⚠️ Cons

🚨 Higher risks: aspiration, crop burn, sour crop

⏰ Feeds every 2–3 hours (even at night!)

🤷 Can miss out on flock behaviours and natural budgie “language”

😡 In some cases, hand-reared budgies can lose their natural fear of humans and become aggressive, biting harder and showing frustration behaviours

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🪶👩‍👩‍👦 Parent-Rearing

Parent-rearing means chicks stay with mum and dad, receiving natural warmth and care 🫶.

✅ Pros

🍼 Chicks get crop milk full of antibodies

🐦 Babies learn flock skills like feeding, preening, communication

😌 Less demanding for the breeder — parents do the hard work

⚠️ Cons

🤦 Some parents abandon, pluck, or harm chicks

😬 Less tame if not handled early

🕵️ Harder to notice issues until it’s too late

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✨ Golden Wings Aviaries Perspective ✨

At GWA, we believe in a balanced approach ⚖️:

🪶 Babies are parent-reared to gain crop milk, strong immune systems, and natural social skills.

🤲 We practice early gentle handling so chicks grow up tame and confident.

🚑 Hand-rearing is reserved for emergencies only — when it’s the difference between life and death.

This method means we raise budgies that are both healthy and tame 🐦💛 — the best of both worlds.

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💬 The Debate
Some breeders say hand-rearing = friendlier birds 🖐️💕, while others argue parent-rearing = healthier, better-behaved budgies 🪶🌿.

👉 What do YOU think? Should hand-rearing be more common, or is parent-rearing always best except in emergencies? Share your thoughts below 👇💭

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📲 Follow our journey on:

🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/?si=mqsXI3LOIVECoKzH

🎶 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/?_t=ZN-8y3EFmtZt4g&_r=1

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenwingsaviaries?igsh=MWtpaXExd3h4bTl0ag==

🟢 Band Page: https://band.us/n/a0acA1M7Z3J96

🐦 Want to learn more about nutrition for your flock? Follow Golden Wings Aviaries for more budgie care tips and updates!

✨ Golden Wings Aviaries — Where Beauty Takes Flight. 🕊️

10/09/2025

Courier day prep 🕊️💛

It’s courier day, which means it’s time to get the carriers ready for some very special little travellers. Each carrier is given a good clean and sanitise first so everything is fresh ✨. I start with a cosy base of Easichick, then add a nice thick layer of seed 🌾. A handful of oat groats goes in too, along with a sprig of millet so the birds have plenty to nibble on during their journey 🌿.

The water cup is cleaned and refilled 💧, with half a sponge added to keep the water safe from spilling while still giving them something to drink.

Next up are the Take Home Packs 🎁, which are one of my favourite parts to put together. Each one has the filled out paperwork, seed samples, fun stickers and a few little freebies. These are attached to the side of the carrier so they go home with the birds and straight into the hands of their new families.

Once everything is ready, the carriers are collected by High Flyers 🚐, who provide a safe door to door service right across the UK 🇬🇧. It gives real peace of mind knowing the birds are travelling with people who specialise in their care.

All these little touches mean the birds set off safe, cosy and with everything they need to arrive happy and ready to start their new adventure 🐦💛

09/09/2025

🐦✨ Spot the Difference! ✨🐦

Here we have two budgies side by side, one is an English exhibition type and the other is an Australian pet type. Both are only 5 weeks old, yet the difference between them is already clear.

The exhibition budgie is the big fluffy show bird with the chunky features 🧸 while the pet type is the smaller sleeker budgie that looks much closer to the wild birds of Australia 🌿.

Both belong to the same species and both make amazing companions 💛 but they have been bred for different purposes. Exhibition budgies were developed to meet show standards 🏆 and tend to be calmer, while pet type budgies are full of energy ⚡ and love to zip around the cage or room.

Size is the easiest way to tell them apart, when you see them together the exhibition budgie looks almost like a big teddy bear 🐻 next to the slim and speedy pet type 🏃‍♂️.

✨ Fun facts about budgie types
🌏 Australian budgies are closest in appearance to the wild birds still found flying across the Australian outback
🎩 English budgies are often called exhibition budgies because they were developed for showing and competitions
💚 All types belong to the same species and can breed together freely, producing mixed offspring that show traits of both parents

Which type do you prefer, the fluffy giant 🐕 or the feisty little flyer 🕊️?

Want to learn more about the different types of budgies? Follow us here and on our other pages:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/?_t=ZN-8y3EFmtZt4g&_r=1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenwingsaviaries?igsh=MWtpaXExd3h4bTl0ag==

🐦 Want to learn more about nutrition for your flock? Follow Golden Wings Aviaries for more budgie care tips and updates!

✨ Golden Wings Aviaries — Where Beauty Takes Flight. 🕊️

08/09/2025

💧✨ Supplements Spotlight: Liquid Iodine ✨💧

Did you know that iodine deficiency is one of the most common nutritional issues in budgerigars? 🐦
Because budgies originate from the dry inland areas of Australia, their natural diet is low in iodine — making supplementation essential in captivity.

🔍 Why Budgies Need Iodine

Supports healthy thyroid function (regulates metabolism and growth)

Prevents goitre (enlarged thyroid gland, which can cause breathing difficulties)

Helps maintain energy levels, feather quality, and overall vitality

Essential for fertility and breeding success

⚠️ Signs of Iodine Deficiency

Laboured breathing or clicking noises when breathing

Lethargy, fluffed-up appearance

Poor feather quality or slow moulting

Enlarged thyroid (goitre), visible as a swelling in the throat area

In advanced cases: males may develop a scaly brown coating on the cere, often mistaken for a hormonal change but in fact a key deficiency sign

Severe deficiency can lead to sterility in both c***s and hens, making successful breeding impossible

💡 How to Use It

Recommended products: Lugol’s 15% Liquid Iodine or Morning Bird Liquid Iodine.

Dose: 1 drop per 500mls of drinking water.

Use twice a week, making fresh solution daily.

If iodine has never been used before, it’s recommended to give a 5-day treatment course to restore healthy levels, then continue with the twice-weekly routine.

Over-supplementation can be harmful, so always measure carefully.

🥦 Natural Sources of Iodine
In addition to supplements, certain foods naturally provide iodine. Safe options for budgies include:

Seaweed (kelp) – a rich natural iodine source, offered in very small amounts

Spinach

Broccoli

Green beans

Watercress

✨ Golden Wings Aviaries Practice
Here at GWA, we use liquid iodine to ensure our flock never falls short of this vital mineral. Alongside a varied diet and balanced supplement plan, it plays a key role in preventing thyroid issues, maintaining fertility, and keeping our budgies in peak condition.

👉 Follow our journey on:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/?si=mqsXI3LOIVECoKzH

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/?_t=ZN-8y3EFmtZt4g&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenwingsaviaries?igsh=MWtpaXExd3h4bTl0ag==

Band Page: https://band.us/n/a0acA1M7Z3J96

🐦 Want to learn more about nutrition for your flock? Follow Golden Wings Aviaries for more budgie care tips and updates!

✨ Golden Wings Aviaries — Where Beauty Takes Flight. 🕊️

07/09/2025

Budgie Vlog - Bubbles and Crystal - Nest Eagle - TCB babies 🥰

06/09/2025

🩺 Budgie Health Series: Scaly Face Mite (Knemidokoptes pilae) 🩺

One of the most common health issues seen in budgerigars is Scaly Face Mite, caused by a tiny parasite called Knemidokoptes pilae. While invisible to the naked eye, these mites can cause very visible problems if left untreated.

🔍 What to Look For

Crusty, scaly build-up around the cere, beak, eyes, or legs

Overgrown or deformed beak due to mite damage

Itchiness or irritation (some birds scratch excessively)

In advanced cases, difficulty eating if the beak becomes misaligned

⚠️ Hidden Risk
Budgies can be carriers of scaly mites without showing any outward signs. The mites burrow deep into the skin around the beak, cere, vent, legs, and feet, sometimes lying dormant. This is why regular preventative treatment is essential — even for healthy-looking birds.

⚠️ How It Spreads
Scaly Face Mite is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact or contaminated perches, food bowls, or nest boxes. Young or stressed birds are particularly vulnerable.

💡 Treatment

The most common treatment is a tiny drop of Ivermectin applied to the skin (usually on the back of the neck) — repeated as directed.

Severe beak overgrowth may require a vet trim.

Thoroughly disinfect cages, perches, and feeding equipment to prevent reinfection.

✅ Prevention

Indoor birds: treat every 3 months to keep mites under control.

Outdoor birds (aviaries or birdrooms): treat monthly due to higher exposure risk.

Quarantine all new birds before introducing them to your flock.

Keep cages clean and disinfected.

Provide a balanced diet and supplements to strengthen immunity.

✨ Golden Wings Aviaries Prevention Routine
At GWA, we use a layered approach to keep our flock healthy:

Exzolt every 6 months – to prevent mite infestations across the flock.

Moxidectin monthly – for ongoing internal and external parasite control.

Avian Insect Liquidator – sprayed into nest boxes to deter mites and keep them safe for chicks.

Check Mite by Colin Leask (Clean and Clear) – used in our cleaning routine to ensure cages and nest boxes stay parasite-free.

Regular, preventative care keeps mites at bay and ensures our budgies stay healthy, confident, and thriving.

👉 Follow our journey on:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/?si=mqsXI3LOIVECoKzH

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/?_t=ZN-8y3EFmtZt4g&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenwingsaviaries?igsh=MWtpaXExd3h4bTl0ag==

Band Page: https://band.us/n/a0acA1M7Z3J96

🐦 Want to learn more about nutrition for your flock? Follow Golden Wings Aviaries for more budgie care tips and updates!

✨ Golden Wings Aviaries — Where Beauty Takes Flight. 🕊️

05/09/2025

✨🐥 Baby Budgie Photo Drop 🐥✨

It has been a very busy season here at Golden Wings Aviaries and I am so proud to share some of the beautiful babies we have raised recently. Each chick is unique, from rare Hagoromo types to our colourful Rainbows 🌈, every little face represents the careful work that goes into pairing, hand taming and raising them with love 💛.

At Golden Wings Aviaries all of our babies are bred in specialist breeding cages, handled from an early age to grow into confident companions, and raised on a carefully balanced diet 🥦🌿 with supplements to give them the best possible start.

💛 These photo drops are always a joy, as they give me a chance to celebrate not just the colours and crests, but also the time and care that goes into every chick before they leave for their new homes 🏡.

📸 I hope you enjoy this little gallery of Golden Wings babies. Which colour or mutation is your favourite from this photo drop? 💬 Let me know in the comments, I love hearing which ones catch your eye 👀.

📝 If you are interested in a future Golden Wings baby, I do keep a waiting list. This helps make sure each chick finds the right home, and gives you the chance to register interest in the colours or types you are hoping for.

📲 Follow along for more updates, videos and daily flock life here:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/?_t=ZN-8y3EFmtZt4g&_r=1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenwingsaviaries?igsh=MWtpaXExd3h4bTl0ag==

🐦 Want to learn more about nutrition for your flock? Follow Golden Wings Aviaries for more budgie care tips and updates!

✨ Golden Wings Aviaries — Where Beauty Takes Flight 🕊️

04/09/2025

🔥 Budgerigar Debate: Breeding in Colonies vs Breeding in Cages 🔥

When it comes to breeding budgies, there’s always been a lively debate between colony breeding and cage breeding. Both have their place in aviculture, but they serve very different purposes. Let’s dive deeper 👇

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🏠 Colony Breeding

In colony setups, multiple pairs share an aviary with several nest boxes. It’s the most “natural” way to breed, as it mimics wild flocks.

✅ Pros

Birds are free to choose their mates, often resulting in strong pair bonds.

Encourages natural behaviours like flock chatter, feeding, and social interaction.

Requires fewer cages if you have limited space but a larger aviary.

⚠️ Cons

Aggression & competition: hens often fight over nest boxes, which can lead to injuries, broken eggs, or even dead chicks.

Loss of control over pairings: if you’re working with specific mutations, it’s impossible to guarantee bloodline outcomes.

Health risks: one sick bird can quickly infect the entire colony.

Parentage confusion: multiple c***s may feed chicks, making it hard to know which bird is the true father without DNA testing.

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🪶 Cage Breeding

In cage setups, one pair is housed per breeding cage with a dedicated nest box. This is the method used by most exhibition breeders and mutation-focused aviaries.

✅ Pros

Total control of genetics: allows breeders to carefully select pairs for mutation projects and bloodline improvement.

Close monitoring: you can candle eggs daily, track fertility, and watch chick development with ease.

Reduced risk of fighting, damaged eggs, or chick losses.

Easier to record-keep (ring numbers, hatch dates, mutations).

⚠️ Cons

Requires more space and cages for each pair.

Birds can’t choose their mates, which occasionally means pairings may fail if the pair doesn’t bond.

Breeder must be very hands-on: feeding, monitoring, and stepping in if parents don’t care for chicks.

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✨ Golden Wings Aviaries Perspective
Here at GWA, we focus on cage breeding because it gives us the control needed to refine our Hagoromo lines, preserve rare mutations like German Fallow Rainbows and Easley Clearbodies, and ensure chicks are handled from an early age. While colonies may suit those breeding for pets with less emphasis on genetics, cage breeding remains the most reliable choice for health, welfare, and mutation advancement.

💬 What about you? Do you prefer the freedom of colonies or the precision of cages? Let us know below — your input keeps this debate alive!

👉 Follow our journey on:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/?si=mqsXI3LOIVECoKzH

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/?_t=ZN-8y3EFmtZt4g&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenwingsaviaries?igsh=MWtpaXExd3h4bTl0ag==

Band Page: https://band.us/n/a0acA1M7Z3J96

🐦 Want to learn more about nutrition for your flock? Follow Golden Wings Aviaries for more budgie care tips and updates!

✨ Golden Wings Aviaries — Where Beauty Takes Flight. 🕊️

04/09/2025

🚨 MISSING BUDGIE – PLEASE SHARE 🚨

Smokey has gone missing from the RM7 area (Mawney Road, Collier Row end) on 03/09/2025 around 4pm.

Smokey is a very distinct hand-reared grey spangle dominant pied Japanese crested hagoromo. He is rung with a Golden Wings Aviaries ring (GWA1, red) with a personalised number for identification.

🐦 Name: Smokey
👩 Owner: Chettina Hobson
🐤 Breeder: Golden Wings Aviaries

The owner has full proof of ownership (including hatch certificate and ring details).

📞 If you have seen Smokey or have found him, please contact 07947802219 immediately.

Please check gardens, sheds and garages in the area as he may have taken shelter.

Your help in sharing this post could bring Smokey safely home. 💛

03/09/2025

Budgie Vlog - Bean and Princess Baldy - Nest Herring Court - Exhibition size and 1 foster German fallow

02/09/2025

✨ Next up: Mutation Spotlight — Easley Clearbody ✨

The Easley Clearbody is a striking mutation that first appeared in the aviaries of Dick Easley, a breeder in the United States, during the late 1950s. This rare variety was established after years of careful breeding, and today it remains one of the more unusual and beautiful clearbody types seen in budgerigars. 🐦

🌟 What makes them special?

Easley Clearbodies show a bright, clean body colour (yellow in the green series, white in the blue series) with minimal suffusion.

They often have a stronger contrast between their body and markings compared to Texas Clearbodies.

Wing markings are typically grey or black, standing out crisply against their pale body.

Unlike some mutations, Easley Clearbodies tend to hold their colour well into adulthood.

📖 Origin Story
The mutation is named after its discoverer, Dick Easley. Through selective breeding, he stabilised this beautiful mutation, which went on to be recognised as a distinct clearbody type — separate from the more common Texas Clearbody. Easley Clearbodies remain relatively rare, especially outside of America, making them a prized addition to any aviary.

🔍 Breeder’s Note
Here at Golden Wings Aviaries, we work with Easley Clearbody lines alongside our Hagoromo projects. They add stunning clarity and brightness to feather colour, and pairing them thoughtfully helps diversify bloodlines while producing eye-catching birds.

👉 Follow our journey and see more beautiful mutations on:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/?si=mqsXI3LOIVECoKzH

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/?_t=ZN-8y3EFmtZt4g&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenwingsaviaries?igsh=MWtpaXExd3h4bTl0ag==

Band Page: https://band.us/n/a0acA1M7Z3J96

🐦 Want to learn more about nutrition for your flock? Follow Golden Wings Aviaries for more budgie care tips and updates!

✨ Golden Wings Aviaries — Where Beauty Takes Flight. 🕊️

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