njbarrett's Blog

Re: champion

Hello Alan,  welcome back to the fancy! I can remember Ron very well, but can't place you. Alan "once a champion always champion" you come back the same way you left no matter how many years pass by! 

Good Luck!

Nick.

Re: Buying quality Gloster Canaries in Spain

Dear Gordon,

I do not know of any successful breeders in Spain, but if you are willing to travel to the UK, I could put you in touch with several successful, genuine fanciers who I'm sure would be able to help.
You must obtain the best possible stock to make progress with this breed of canary. 
Kind Regards
Nick

Re: Gloster Fancy Canary Long Awaited Second Edition

Hi Mario,

Thank you for all your organising and hard work.  We are very much looking forward to our visit to Malta this week to the official launch of our book.
Best Regards
Nick

Just worth a mention...

Hello Gloster Fanciers,
 
I thought this was just worth a mention;
 
I have jsut returned from Tullamore, Co Offaly, Republic of Ireland with Peter Warfield.  Had  a most enjoyable day with my good friends Tommy McGrane and Harry Smith of Dublin.  Tommy requested from me some more breeding stock for his bird room, not bad for a fancier of 83 years of age!!  Also saw at the cattle show, South of Ireland Gloster Show Secretary, Jim Kavanagh of Kildare.  Small world isn't it.

Re: first breeding season

Good afternoon, apologies for not being able to address you by name, please can you enlighten me as to your name and County?
Your breeding birds will certainly need less visits into the breeding room at this time.  Disturbing them is not necessary.  Regarding the soiled vent area this is probably due to excess protein in the diet.  May I suggest less visits to the birdroom; clean wholesome food possibly given twice/three times a day; discarding the previous food completely and using a new sterilised feed pot for each mixing of food.  Never use the same soft food pot without thorough cleaning.  Please keep in touch, slow down and work clean!
Best wishes
Nick 

Re: Having to give up

Dear Mr Richardson,

very sorry to hear that you have decided to give up the hobby of canry keeping, however I hope you will keep involved witht the fancy through the forum and by other means.  All the best for the future
Nick

Gloster Fancy Canary Long Awaited Second Edition

I am delighted to announce that the Second Edition of the Gloster Fancy Canary book will be available from the end of August.  This book follows the first very successful edition published in 1990 and includes an update on management, breeding and exhibiting of Gloster Fancy Canaries considering modern ailments and treatments.  It also includes a brief history of the humble beginnings of the Gloster Fancy Canary through to modern times, and the breeders and fanciers which made it the worldwide phenomenon that it is today. I sincerely hope you find it to be an enjoyable and informative read.   To reserve your copy please either contact Nick and Annalain on  44 01553 672440 or e-mail njandambarrett@yahoo.co.uk .  The book is priced at just £19.50, €22.50 or $27.50 plus packaging and postage.

Re: got light

Dear Barbagann,

Re:  your hen going light, some hens will sit very tight and will not come off the nest.  May I suggest that you place interesting food in the cage (various green foods and seed) also a bath.  This usually encourages the hen to leave the nest to feed and progress.  If the hen does not get off the nest voluntarily you may need take steps to move her off yourself.  If she is sitting on one egg it is probably better to move the egg to another hen, remove the nest and re-pair in about 3 days time.  I hope this helps

Nick

Re: Nesting materiel

NESTING MATERIAL

Well done everybody on your thoughts and ideas on nesting material.  Here in Norfolk, UK I use hair grass and moss which is found on heathlands.  IMPORTANT:  Always gather this natural product in the WINTER TIME.  This avoids taking the dreaded mite from the soil and undergrowth straight into you bird room.  Cut string or a similar product which is available can be given as a nest liner.  REMEMBER to thoroughly dust your nests with Py Powder at the commencement of incubation.

Nick

Re: Thanks to Nick and Annalain Barrett,

Dear Kostas,

Thank you for your letter and photographs.  We enjoyed your company and friendship.  Wishing you every success with your canaries - some of the best I have seen in recent years.

All the best
Nick

Re: Yellow X Buff every generation???

Dear Gianfranco,

Having read your letter twice I would alsmost agree with your comments about the use of the yellow cockbird.  It is some years since I produced yellow blues, they are truely magnificent in colour as you suggest.  Thank you for your very valuable imput.

Best wishes
Nick

Re: Interested in Importing Gloster Canaries

Dear Sean, (from Singapore)

Thank you for your interest in the forum and Gloster Fancy Canaries.  May I first of all say that you are keeping too many varieties of birds to be successful, however several prominent breeders in the UK do export canaries around the world, including Gloster Fancies.  The usual costings would be the price of the canaries, the veterinary surgeon and the forwarding company who deals with the shipment.  If I can be of any further contact on this matter, please contact me by letter or telephone (see my details on the main webpage). 

Best wishes
Nick

Re: Single chicks

SINGLE CHICKS

Yes in most case it would be desirable to move the chick to another nest where chicks are a similar size or similar age.  It may be useful to contact Steve Chennels of Harlow, Essex (secretary of the Essex All Gloster Show) who can supply you with a product known as 'Chick mark'.

Nick Barrett

Re: Northern mite

A FEW LINES ABOUT 'NORTHERN MITE'

In my opinion I am reasonably confident that there are several strains of what is called 'Northern Mite'.  They certainly act and reproduce in different ways.  Hence my opinion that there are more than one strain of this extreme pest to bird keepers and fanciers.  May I suggest that the use of 'Ardap' in conjunction with 'Py Powder' will control and irradicate most outbreaks of this parasite.  Spray your cages thoroughly with the aerosol 'Ardap' and dust your nests at the commencment of incubation of your hens.  Northern Mite is a problem that should be prevented rather than cured.  In my opinion the scrubbing and cleansing of your cages is a complete and absolute waste of time.  Furthermore your cages should be clean in the first place. Ivormectin I believe is now readily available for aviculture.  However I am very familiar with this product with my cattle but this product I do not use on any of my livestock be it canaries, sheep or cattle. 

Nick Barrett 

PS Py powder and Ardap can be easily obtained on the internet. 

Re: Welcome to Gloster Canary Forum

Hello Fabrizio,
enjoyed looking at your winners at the World Show, well done.  They appear to be lovely short birds, good quality with the wings in the right place.
As you may know our East Anglian All Gloster Show is to held on 13th December 2009, in King's Lynn.  Why don't you come over and visit the show with Pino and other Gloster breeders in Italy.  I'm always looking for a 'celebrity' to present the prizes at the show!  What better than a World Show Gold medal winner!!  I could be pursuaded to pay for your hotel!
Regards
Nick

Re: Yellow X Buff every generation???

Hello Fred,
Of course I remember you!  It seems several years ago since you were here at my home in King's Lynn. 
Thank you for joining the forum, I hope my answer to the use of yellow feather on our forum helps answer your question. 
Good to hear from you
Nick 

Re: Yellow X Buff every generation???

Dear Gloster friends,
re: the use of yellow birds in a successful Gloster canary breeding program.  In my opinion it is not necessary to match yellow to buff in every pairing.  However, with the use of accurate records and pedigrees the yellow blood can easily be observed.  Yellow birds should have high colour, both cocks and hens and paired to the best quality buff birds that are available.  Maybe breeders do not appreciate the value of the yellow bred buff.  The purchase of canaries of unknown breeding with only visual qualities seen can be a dangerous practice to pursue.  Likewise cinnamon inheritance is also necessary to understand, I believe unknown or too much cinnamon blood can quickly spoil a good stud of birds.  Some breeders think that the use of whites (blues) will enhance quality of feather.  It will not, the use of blues is exactly the same as the use of green. 
Well done everybody for your input and again our congratulations to Fabrizio on his World Show Successes.
Nick

Re: Welcome to Gloster Canary Forum

Hi Fabrizio,
well done on your gold medal win at the World Show.  I was lucky enough to win the gold medal at this show in Rotterdam, Holland (a long time ago)!  Well done!  We both now have a world championship gold medal each!  Good isn't it!!  Look forward to seeing your photographs, you have some wonderful birds. 
See you soon.  Come and see me when you are in England next time. 
Nick

East Anglian "All Gloster" Canary Show

The East Anglian All Gloster Show will be held in King's Lynn, Norfolk on Sunday 13th December 2009.  Judges:  Nick Barrett, King's Lynn, Norfolk; Brian Skeffington, Swindon, Wiltshire; and Barrie Alexander Bedlington, Northumberland.  All enquiries telephone 01553 672440
 
 

Re: Lung trouble

Hello Mr Richardson,
Thank you for your imput to the forum.  Congratulations with your success on the show bench with your birds.  The Fancy needs as many novices as possible.  I hope there is some way around your condition so that you can remain in the hobby. 
Please keep in touch if you require any advice on the feeding in the future. 
Best wishes
Nick and Annalain

Re: Shipment of canaries in Malta

Hi Joseph,
Thank you for visiting us in King's Lynn.  I hope you enjoyed the canaries that you saw.  Every success with your imported birds.   Good luck with the forthcoming breeding season
Kind Regards
Nick and Annalain

Re: Welcome to Gloster Canary Forum

Hi Barbagan,
Welcome to the forum.  Another special new breeder.  There are now several breeders in Malta and Gozo.  Some with a great deal of experience.  Seek advice from these breeders and ask plenty of questions through the forum.
Regards
Nick and Annalain

Re: Welcome to Gloster Canary Forum

Hello Gianfranco
Well done and thank you for opening the first of two discussions;
Intensive/Yellow birds and pre-breeding season preparation
Intensive/yellow Gloster Fanices are absolutely essential for a successful stud of Gloster Fancies.  These birds must have high colour to ensure the desired quality of feather in your stock.
Pre-breeding preparation is of course most necessary to condition your birds.  This must start in January to ensure the birds are of the desired fitness and condition for a successful breeding season.  Many breeders have different ideas about this preparation, however, do not use excessive heat or light, let your birds come into condition naturally.  They will then stay the course of a long breeding season.  We would welcome other breeder's opinions to the forum. 
Kind Regards
Nick and Annalain

Re: Welcome to Gloster Canary Forum

Hello Fabrizio,
hope you are well.  Thank you for your letters and the discs.  You have the experience to help us with this forum and new breeders will benefit a great deal from your knowledge.  Your team of birds which I judged in Pistoria in Italy I thought were one of the better teams of Gloster Fancies I have seen in recent years.  I look forward to seeing you soon
Regards to Pino and the Italian fanciers.
Regards Nick and Annalain

Re: Welcome to Gloster Canary Forum

Hello Richard,
Good to hear from you.  Glad you enjoyed your visit to King's Lynn recently.  Good luck at the world show in Italy.  Best wishes to Cathy.
Nick and Annalain