Unfortunately, the rest of the panel failed to arrive. Undeterred, without notes, he lectured for over two hours explaining every aspect of budgerigar culture in down to earth language that enlightened both beginner and expert alike. He noted that the grave mistake made by most fanciers is to ease off once breeding activity has been concluded. This should be the time to build up the bird's stamina. The mistake is compounded by filling the cage with all sort of rich goodies simultaneously with the installation of the nest box.
Budgerigars are very suspicious of any new item.
The birds go off feed for a few days, losing weight. This gives a bad start to the breeding season. One-half teaspoon of cod liver oil is mixed with twelve pounds of seed. For the breeding season, the same seed mix is used but the oil is increased to two teaspoons to twelve pounds. Since the budgerigars have some cod liver oil in their feed all year round, no extreme change is ever encountered before the breeding season.