I am no expert on budgerigars but with a little common sense and a hell of a lot of patience you can succeed in this hobby, put your trust in one or two breeders who you feel comfortable with and who have the birds that you would love to own. Over time they may let you have one or two older birds that they have finished with, these could be the birds that put you on the road to success.

If you start in this hobby don't be put off by the big fancy birdrooms, we all start small, my breeding room was almost entirely built by me and i saved every penny i could for two years. My original birdroom is still standing in the form of a 10ft by 8ft shed with no electric and unlined. I bred in this very well, but i waited for the warmer months (March) before pairing.

My biggest influence in this hobby are my good friends Colin Devey and Colin Wright of the DW100 partnership, I cannot praise these two men enough, not a bad bone in their body and will bend over backwards to help you, I am sure that if I had not received the help and advice from these guys, I would be another who would have left the hobby. Not forgetting my wife Norma who I'm indebted too for caring for the birds whilst I'm at work.

It is not surprising then that my bloodline is predominantly Devey & Wright with a touch of Steve Hall who is another of the hobby's good guys with superb birds.