This
Interview was Emailed to me without any introduction
to Daniel. The only result I got from enquiries was
"He is near the top on the World scene and may
even be the next Mannes". I tought that made
the article worth printing and I have copied his advertisement
from the Budgerigar World as an appropriate introduction.
1. DANIEL, YOU HAVE CERTAINLY SET THE WORLD ABUZZ
WITH THE QUALITY OF BUDGERIGAR YOU ARE BREEDING, WHAT
INSPIRED YOU TO COMMENCE IN THE HOBBY?
A. AS A CHILD I WAS FASCINATED WITH ANYTHING TO DO
WITH FLIGHT, I WANTED TO BE A PILOT.
FIRST I LOOKED AT LARGER TYPE BIRDS, THEN AROUND THE
TIME I WAS 12 YEARS OLD I GOT A PAIR OF CAGE BIRDS
FROM MY RELATIVES. FROM THESE BIRDS I SOON GOT YOUNGSTERS.
THIS WAS DUE IN PART TO BUYING A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.
WHEN I RETURNED HOME WITH MY NEW SHOES, I TOOK THEM
FROM THE BOX AND PLACED THE BOX IN THE BIRD CAGE.
THE HEN LAID EGGS, HATCHED AND REARED THE YOUNG IN
THE SHOE BOX. I ALSO BOUGHT SOME MORE BIRDS, MAINLY
IN NICE COLOURS LIKE VIOLET AND LUTINO.
Q2. WHERE DID YOUR FIRST BIRDS COME FROM AND OVER
WHAT PERIOD OF TIME DID YOU CONTINUE WITH THESE LINES?
A. WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD I MET HEINRICH OTT FOR
THE FIRST TIME. I GOT MY FIRST REAL SHOW BIRDS FROM
HIM. AFTER SOME YEARS WE BECAME GOOD FRIENDS, WE ARE
STILL GOOD FRIENDS TODAY.
BIRDS FROM THE STUDS OF EMIL SCHWEIZER AND JANOS PECE
FOLLOWED. JANOS WON THE PRIZE FOR THE BEST BIRD OF
SWITZERLAND TWO TIMES. I HAD THE LUCKY CHANCE TO GET
TWO BROTHERS OF THIS BIRD. JANOS PECE GOT HIS BIRDS
FROM HANS RUOSCH. HANS RUOSCH BOUGHT HIS BIRDS FROM
JOSEPH SPECK, VERY WELL KNOWN IN THOSE TIMES. THE
BIRDS FROM JOSEPH SPECK WERE BASED ON THE FAMOUS OLD
STUDS OF SADLER, ORMEROD, FINNEY, MOFFAT, LANE &
SON AND MRS MOSS.
THE COMBINATION OF OTT BIRDS, WHICH HAD VERY LARGE
FEATHERS AND THE VERY FINE AND ELEGANT PECE BIRDS
TOOK ME A BIG STEP FORWARD.
Q3. ARE YOUR PRESENT BIRDS FROM THESE SAME BLOODLINES,
IF NOT WHAT BLOODLINES HAVE IMPACTED MOST WITHIN YOUR
STUD?
A. YES, I STILL HAVE THESE BLOODLINES. UNTIL 1996
I ONLY HAD BIRDS FROM SWITZERLAND. AFTER 1996 I GOT
BIRDS FROM RALPH JENNE, RICHARD KUHR, JOSEPH MANNES,
KURT VOGT, BERND STEGEMANN AND IN THE LAST SOME YEARS
REIHHARD MOLKETIN.
Q4. HOW DO YOU PREPARE YOUR BIRDS FOR THE BREEDING
SEASON?
A. ALL OF MY BIRDS FLY IN THE MAIN FLIGHTS TOGETHER.
BARHEADS, YOUNG BIRDS, ADULT COCKS AND HENS. THE REASON
FOR THIS IS THAT THE YOUNG BIRDS SEE THE WHOLE BEHAVIOUR
OF THE ADULTS, LIKE MATING AND SOON LEARN WHAT TO
DO. IF THE SEXES ARE KEPT SEPARATE THEN WHEN THE YOUNG
BIRDS GO INTO THE BREEDING CAGES THEY NEED TO LEARN
WHAT TO DO. THIS WASTES TIME AND IS THE CAUSE OF MANY
INFERTILE EGGS. I FEED THE SAME DIET ALL YEAR ROUND
SO THERE ARE NO CHANGES IN THE DIET. I CUT THE VENT
FEATHERS; I DO NOT PULL THEM OUT. I JUST CUT THEM
SHORT, NOT BACK TO THE SKIN LEVEL.
Q5. WHEN PAIRING UP DO YOU GO BY PEDIGREE OR VISUAL
APPEARANCES OR BOTH?
A WHEN PAIRING UP I LIKE TO LET THE BIRDS SELECT THEIR
OWN PARTNERS WHERE
POSSIBLE IN THE AVIARY. WHEN I SEE TWO BIRDS PAIRED
UP IN THE AVIARY, I PLACE THEM IN SHOW CAGES TO ASSESS
THEM FOR COMPATIBILITY, IF ALL LOOKS FINE I HAVE A
LOOK AT THEIR PEDIGREES AND IF THEY ARE NOT TOO CLOSELY
RELATED I PUT THEM DOWN TO BREED. WHERE POSSIBLE I
DONT!!! PUT BEST TO BEST. OTHERWISE THE RESULTS
MIGHT BE FEATHER DUSTERS.
Q6. HOW CLOSELY DO YOU MATE YOUR BIRDS AND WHAT
RELATED MATINGS HAVE BEEN
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL?
A. THE CLOSEST I MATE MY BIRDS IS COUSINS, (YOU ALSO
DONT MARRY YOUR SISTER!!!), IT IS THE SAME WITH
BUDGERIGARS. I DONT USE LINE BREEDING AS I FEEL
THIS BRINGS TOO MANY PROBLEMS IN PARTICULAR FEATHER
PROBLEMS. IT MAY WORK FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT EVENTUALLY
YOU WILL HAVE PROBLEMS. I LIKE BREEDING WITH OLDER
BIRDS AT THE AGE OF 3 TO 4 YEARS OLD OR EVEN 5 YEARS
OLD. I PREFER TO PAIR AN OLD PARTNER WITH A YOUNG
ONE.
Q7. WHAT VARIETY MIXES DO YOU USE FOR IMPROVEMENT
IF ANY OR IS IT BEST TO BEST?
A. I BREED NORMALS, OPALINES, SPANGLES, PIED, RECESSIVE
PIED, DILUTES, CLEARBODY, CINNAMON AND THIS YEAR I
HAVE STARTED WITH CLEARWING. AT DIFFERENT TIMES I
HAVE PUT SPANGLE TO EVERYTHING, I STILL DO. IT DOESNT
MATTER WHAT THE COLOURS ARE AS LONG AS THE BIRDS ARE
SUPER BIRDS. THE HEN DOESNT HAVE TO BE A SUPER
BIRD, THESE HENS BREED FAR BETTER NORMALLY AND YOU
CAN MAKE A SELECTION AT THE END OF THE BREEDING SEASON
WHEN GETTING 10 OR 15 CHICKS FROM ONE COUPLE. THE
SELECTION IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN
THE HOBBY. I SEE MANY BREEDERS THAT SELL THEIR WRONG
BIRDS. THEY ALL JUST LOOK AT THE PHENOTYPE (visual
quality) AND NOT THE GENOTYPE (pedigree). SO THEY
LOSE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WOULD NEED. I ALWAYS BRING
IN NEW BLOOD SO AS NOT TO GET TOO CLOSELY RELATED
BIRDS. IF I CAN BUY A SUPER BIRD I DO, BUT THEY DONT
HAVE TO BE BECAUSE I OUTCROSS AND THEN CROSS BACK
AGAIN. IF THEN, THERE IS NO QUALITY, THEY GO, UNLESS
THEY ARE FROM A SUPER PAIR.
Q8. HOW MANY CHICKS AND ROUNDS DO YOU ALLOW YOUR
BIRDS TO HAVE?
A. SHOW HENS HAVE TWO ROUNDS OF EGGS AND RAISE 3 TO
4 CHICKS. IF THEY LAY AGAIN, THE EGGS ARE TRANSFERRED.
THE COCKS BREED FROM OCTOBER TILL MAY OR JUNE, IF
THEY STAY IN CONDITION.
Q9. WHAT FEATURES ARE THE HARDEST TO PUT ON A BIRD
AND HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT ESTABLISHING THAT FEATURE
AND RETAINING IT, THE DIRECTIONAL FEATHER, STRAIGHT
BACKLINE, SHOULDER & LENGTH?
A. I HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS THE NORMAL THING TO HAVE
SMALL BIRDS WITH GOOD HEAD QUALITIES OR BIG ONES WITH
SMALL HEADS. MOST TIMES IF BIRDS HAVE GOOD LENGTH
THEY DONT HAVE THE HEAD QUALITIES. THE BEST
WAY TO FIX THIS IS TO PUT THESE TWO TYPES TOGETHER
AND SLOWLY IMPROVE BOTH LENGTH AND HEAD. I THINK IN
THE FUTURE THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE IS DIRECTIONAL
FEATHER.
Q10. YOU HAVE GOT AN EXCEPTIONAL DEPTH IN YOUR
STUD, QUALITY OF DIRECTIONAL FEATHER ABOUNDS. PLEASE
GIVE A SUMMARY OF HOW YOU HAVE GOT THE BIRDS TO WHERE
THEY ARE TODAY AND CAN FANCIERS GO TOO FAR?
A. THIS QUESTION I FEEL HAS BEEN MOSTLY ANSWERED IN
THE PREVIOUS QUESTIONS BUT 5 YEARS AGO I USED MOSTLY
CINNAMONS AND DILUTES WITH GOOD RESULTS, THEN IT ALL
CHANGED WHEN I BROUGHT IN THIS BIRD, AN OPALINE GREY
GREEN HEN. SHE WAS A GRAND DAUGHTER FROM THE OLD OPALINE
GREY GREEN COCK BORN AUGUST 1997. HE WAS MY VERY BEST
BIRD I EVER BRED, BUT HE WAS A FRENCH MOULTER AND
SO I COULD NEVER SHOW HIM. FROM THIS BIRD I HAD 47
CHICKS IN 3 YEARS WITH
DIFFERENT HENS. GENERALLY I BRED SOME OUTSTANDING
BIRDS IN THE NINETIES AND GOT THESE BIRDS TO BREED
AS WELL. BREEDERS GO DEFINITELY TOO FAR IF THEIR BIRDS
GET FEATHER PROBLEMS AND CYSTS OR CANT FLY ANYMORE.
ALWAYS REMEMBER WE ARE BREEDING BUDGIES, NOT CHICKENS!!!!!!
Q11.
WHAT IS YOUR FEEDING PROGRAMME DURING THE BREEDING
SEASON AND DOES THIS DIFFER DURING THE NON BREEDING
SEASON?
A. I HAVE MY OWN SEED MIX. EVERY SECOND DAY, SOFT
FOOD AND SOAKED OATS.
SOFT FOOD CONTAINS 8 EGGS BOILED (SHELLS INCLUDED
IN MIX) AS MANY ORGANICALLY GROWN VEGETABLES AS ARE
AVAILABLE (CUT UP SMALL) OLIVE OIL WEIZEN OIL (WHEAT)
HONEY (FOR POLLEN CONTENT) ALGAN (SEAWEED) THIS IS
FED TO ALL BIRDS BREEDING AND NON BREEDING.
Q12. PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR AVIARY DESIGN, SIZE,
FLIGHTS, BREEDING CAGE DESIGN AND NUMBER OF CAGES
ETC?
A. I HAVE 60 BREEDING CAGES. 2 FLIGHTS, ONE UPSTAIRS
AND ONE DOWNSTAIRS. MY AVIARY IS TWO STOREY.
Q13.
DO YOU USE PREVENTATIVE MEDICATION DURING AND PRE
BREEDING SEASON AND IF SO WHAT AND WHY.
A. YES, TETRACYCLINE PASTA AND BAYTRIL
Q14. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE GREATEST ASSET OF BEING
IN THE HOBBY AND WHERE DO YOU SEE THE HOBBY HEADING
WITH SO MANY BREEDERS LEAVING TODAY?
A. I FEEL THIS GENERATION OF BREEDERS IS TOO OLD.
WE NEED YOUNG BREEDERS AND WE NEED TO GIVE THEM AS
MUCH ASSISTANCE AS THEY REQUIRE, WE ALSO MUST ENSURE
THAT THEY GET IT.
Q15. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A NATIONAL SHOW?
A. THESE ARE THE BEST SHOWS FOR ME. WE GET INTERNATIONAL
JUDGES AT THESE SHOWS. IT GIVES YOU A BETTER IDEA
OF HOW YOU ARE GOING. ALSO I LIKE THE COMPETITION.
I TAKE PART IN THE THREE BIGGEST SHOWS IN SWITZERLAND
AND THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN KARLSRUHE.
Q16. HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT POINTING A NOVICE BREEDER
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO ENABLE THEM TO REACH THE
TOP BENCH IN AROUND FIVE YEARS?
A. I SUGGEST IT WOULD TAKE A LOT LONGER THAN 5 YEARS
TO REACH THE TOP BENCH. NEW BREEDERS SHOULD BUY CHEAP
BIRDS FIRST AND WORK WITH THEM, HANDLE THEM AND LEARN
FIRST. READ EVERYTHING AVAILABLE AND ASK QUESTIONS
OF THE EXPERIENCED BREEDERS. EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
ARE THE KEYS. THEN BUY EXPENSIVE BIRDS, IF THEY BUY
EXPENSIVE BIRDS FIRST AND THINGS GO WRONG, THEY GET
FRUSTRATED AND LEAVE THE HOBBY. ALWAYS REMEMBER IT
IS A HOBBY, NOT A BUSINESS.
Q17. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH BIRDS WITH FEATHER DISORDERS?
A. FRENCH MOULTERS CAN BE USED, ONE OF MY BEST BIRDS
EVER WAS AN OPALINE GREEN COCK (FRENCH MOULTER) BUT
A MAGNIFICENT BIRD OTHERWISE. HE BRED A LOT OF EXCELLENT
CHICKS WITH NO FEATHER FAULTS. IF YOU DO USE THEM,
THEY MUST BE OF THE BEST QUALITY. AND IF YOU GET CHICKS
FROM THEM WITH FRENCH MOULT, STOP BREEDING WITH THE
PARENTS, CLEAN OUT THE NESTING QUARTERS THOROUGHLY,
WAIT FOUR MONTHS AND START AGAIN. IF FEATHER PROBLEMS
CONTINUE, DON`T USE THEM AGAIN!
Q18. WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU THE MOST IN THE FANCY?
A. DEFINITELY HEINRICH OTT .
Q19. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, GIVEN ALL OF THE ABOVE,
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER TIPS OR HINTS ON HOW TO IMPROVE
AND SUSTAIN AN EXHIBITION BUDGERIGAR STUD?
A. KEEP THE BEST CHICKS, ESPECIALLY MANY HENS, SELL
THE REST. MIX THE COLOURS, MIX THE FACTORS. EXAMPLE
OPALINE GREY GREEN/BLUE AND CINNAMON COCK WITH A COBALT
CINNAMON SPANGLE HEN, DARK GREEN OR GREY GREEN OR
OLIVE X LUTINO. VIOLET X ALBINO (NO SHEEN).
ALL BIRDS SHOULD FLY WELL AND HAVE ALL FEATHERS FOR
SHOWING. SHOW BIRDS MUST BE IN PROPORTION. IT IS BETTER
TO HAVE A SMALL BIRD IN PROPORTION THAN A LARGE ONE
THAT IS NOT.
KEEP ALL THE BABIES FROM YOUR BEST BIRDS, ALSO IF
THEY LOOK LIKE RUBBISH. LET THE BIRDS CHOOSE THEIR
PARTNERS; YOULL GET MUCH MORE FERTILE EGGS TRY
TO CREATE YOUR OWN STYLE OF BIRD THAT EVERYBODY WILL
RECOGNIZE IMMEDIATELY. KEEP
THE BIRDS CLEAN, CHANGE THE WATER AT LEAST ONCE A
DAY. BUY BIRDS WITH GOOD BACKGROUND. IT MAKES NO SENSE
AT ALL TO SELL YOUR BEST BIRDS.
DANIEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THE TELEPHONE,
IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.
DANIEL TOLD ME HE FELT HONOURED TO BE THOUGHT OF FOR
AN INTERVIEW, I AM SURE THE HONOUR IS ALL OURS.
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