Bruno Cebulj from Slovenia,has just joined Budgerigar World as a correspondent,he has yet to write his first article,we will wait in anticipation.
Bruno Cebulj is 23 years of age,single and lives in Krvavska cesta 10, 4207 Cerklje, Slovenija (Slovenia - English).
Introduction
Bruno how did your interest in the hobby start ?
When I and my brother were in primary school we kept all kinds of animals like rabbits, fish, hamsters, turtles, guinea pigs, ducks, and more, cats and dogs were always at our house as we have a small farm and the cats and dogs are a must. One day I noticed a budgerigar on the top of plum tree in our garden in front of our house. My brother climbed up the tree, but the budgerigar flew away onto the neighbouring yellow cherry tree. So I climbed that tree. The bird then flew back to the plum tree. The bird was flying from one tree to another for quite some time. After the budgerigar had seen the seed in my hands it flew right into my hand and it was ours. We put an advertisement on the radio, but nobody come. Then after a month we bought a cock ,as we noticed that the caught budgerigar was a hen. Then every year I have had more birds and this way I started my hobby.
The photo at right is Fred Wright and Bruno at the 1997 World Titles at the Cage &Aviary stand.
Bruno where did you learn the basics in birdkeeping ?
I read the one and only book about budgerigars in Slovene at that time. It is quite good for beginners even nowadays I take it in my hands and read it. When I joined the club I get help from other bird fanciers. I have also subscribed to magazines from UK and Germany, like Cage and Aviary Birds, Bird Keeper (UK), Budgerigar World, Wellensittich and some magazines which were published in Slovenia. I also purchased some books in English and German language. I have learned a lot by my own mistakes.
What are your other interests outside of budgerigars and your aims in life in general?
I am still a student of Higher Vocational School for Catering and Tourism in Bled. Study is taking up a lot of time, but I like to travel around our beautiful country Slovenia, particularly to the mountains (Alps) by foot or by bicycle. I also like to travel around Europe, if I have the time and money.
The Hobby
Where did you buy your first birds ?
My first budgerigars I bought from diferent fanciers around Slovenia. The ''real'' ones I bought from Fred Wright (UK).
After your first year,where did you buy your new stock. ?
After a year I visited Jo Mannes (Germany) and got some birds from him.
What is your local climate like, and how does it effect your birds?
We have cold Winters ( -25 ) with lots of snow ( over 50 cm, last winter we had over 1m of snow in lowland ) and hot summers (35 ) with some rain every week or so. The climate is very similar to the Mediterranean climate.
What is your birdroom and aviary made of and its size. ?
At the moment my ''birdroom'' and aviaries are all mobile. I have my birdroom or better breeding cages in the garage. Flights are outside in the garden. But in winter I have all my birds in the garage. I have 3 flights of 1,2m wide, 2m high and 3m long. My breeding area in the garage is 2m x 3m, that is where I have the cages and all the other equipment.
What type of breeding cages do you use, wooden or wire?
I use wooden breeding cages with cage fronts. The reason is that my brother is a carpenter and he makes me all I need for breeding (nest boxes, cages, perches, etc.). I would use the wooden cages despite the fact my brother is a carpenter, because in winter time the wooden cages are better than all wire cages.
What helpful items would we find in your birdroom ?
In my birdroom I have a sieve to separate the husks from seed, brushes for cleaning, felt-tip pen for marking the eggs, pen, small scissors.
What would we normally find in your medicine cabinet ?
Vitamins, crop tube, few antibiotics, cod-liver oil for egg bound hens, eye ointment, glucose powder , kaolin, calcium, etc... Other than the Vitamins and Minerals, the rest is luckily rarely used.
If you purchase a new bird ,what is your quarintine procedure?
I have a special room for quarantine that it is far away from the stock. I have them there for 4 weeks and if there is nothing wrong I do not give them any antibiotics. But if only one starts to show fluffed feathers I give all of them antibiotics for a one week period. And I contact with the vet, if the condition does not get better.
What type of seed mixture do you feed your birds ?
I buy a commercially prepared seed mixture called Jo Mannes mixture from Versale-laga in Belgium. It consists of 50 % canary seed, and 50 % mixed millets. I feed also soaked oats and soaked millet sprays. I also feed separated seed in the dishes, so that the birds can take what they like most.
What extras do you give your birds ?
I give them lots of green food like chick weed, dandelion, carrots, fruits like apples, cherries, oranges, soft corn-on-the-cob, soft (green) oats, millet, all is collected from the field.
What do you feed your birds in the way of high protein?
I give my birds soft food all year round every day. Canary seed is fed in separate dishes, as all seed is.
When does your breeding season start and finish ?
I usually start to pair my birds in late October and finish in April. In Europe it is winter time when I pair my birds. I heat the room to 5'C or 7'C, so that the water stays liquid.
Do you pair your own birds for the breeding season ,or do you get some advise with the pairings?
I pair on my own. I start to select the pairs one month before the breeding season.
When you put your birds down to breed, what procedure do you use, cock in first or hen in first ?
As I do not have a big stud I can put all the birds down to breed in one day. I usually do this in the evening. I put both birds into the breeding cage at the same time .
Do you inbreed, linebreed or outcross your birds ?
I use line breeding and I purchase every year or every second year an outcross. I use this because features are more easily shown in related stock. The bad features are easily spotted and all closely related birds are taken from the stock, the best birds with desired features are retained for future breeding.
How do you keep your records, manually or by computer. ?
Throughout the year I keep records on paper and at the end of the breeding season I put the records into the computer. I use Microsoft Excel at the moment, but in the future I will probably purchase one of the special programs for keeping records of the stock.
What features have to be improved in your birds at the moment, what are they, and what will you do to improve them. ?
I need to improve size but not a lot, and frontal rise. My stock is powerful in spots and shoulders. For improvement I will probably have to visit Jo Mannes and purchase some more birds from him and other top budgerigar breeders around Europe.
General interest questions
Do you show many times in a season and how far do you travel to show your birds?
At the moment I am preparing my birds for European Championship Show in Karlsruhe in Germany. It is about 750 km from me. But in Slovenia we do not have to travel so far. You can travel around Slovenia in one single day from North to the South and from East to the West.
Your best win to date at a show ?
First in the class in the ones I have exhibited at. Two years ago I was second Best in Show at the National Show.
Do you have ambitions to be an international judge in the future ?
Yes, I was thinking of becoming an international judge in the future, but at the moment I have to finish my education and military service.
What is your local club,and your involvement with it. ?
My local club is called Liscek - Goldfinch in English. I am vice president of the club for the fourth year now. I have very big influence in my club and bird fanciers are prepared to listen to my propositions. I think this is not very common practice in other bird clubs.
You are a new correspondent for Budgerigar World, how did you get involved with the magazine, and what articles have you written?
I have subscribed to the magazine and the editor Terry A. Tuxford sent me an offer to become a correspondent for the magazine. I did not hesitate and now I am correspondent for the Budgerigar World magazine in Slovenia. I have not yet written any articles for the magazine, but I am writing one now, and I hope I will finish it by the end of the month.
What or who is your favourite
Variety: Normal
Colour: All
Shows: European Championship in Karlsruhe - Germany.
Music: pop, rock..
Food: I like all food.
