VYDEX – THE WAY FORWARD
Regular Success Leading to Vydex Feeding Trials
Ever since I started in the hobby back in the mid 1980s I have been
consistently successful. I believe this has been achieved because I have
always been prepared to make changes to improve the quality of my
budgerigars.
After a very successful show season in 2002 Melvin John,
owner and founder of the Vydex Corporation, asked me to take part in three
years of feeding trials. Prior to using the Vydex products I used
supplements that are usually used by the farming fraternity. I felt that
if they were good enough for them, they should be good enough my birds, which I
might add, were at that time, breeding successfully and doing very well on the
show bench. Therefore, the decision to take part in this long-term
commitment was not an easy one. At first I was very cautious and only
introduced the products to the birds housed in a newly
built birdroom. This way, I felt I could initiate new feeding
practices without taking too many chances with my entire stud. I started
by feeding the birds Vydex Growrite softfood, to which I added the recommended
doses of Entrodex probiotic, Ascorbovite vitamin C booster, Carbosol soluble
energy booster and MVS30 a protein based multivitamin and mineral
supplement. The birds took to the new softfood (with additives) quickly
and breeding commenced in late November 2002 with surprisingly good
results. Fertility was better than previously experienced. As a
result of this success, I gained the confidence to begin feeding the whole stud
with the Vydex range of avian-specific supplements. By the end of January
I had rung 157 chicks from 50 pairs, which was an increase of about 40 chicks
over my previous best performance. The chicks were robust and matured
surprisingly quickly. The only show that I could enter during 2003 saw me
win best young stock and also best barhead in show.
Two Years On
Most visitors are amazed at the size of the birds in my stud and doubt the
likelihood that they will breed. However, I have every confidence that
they will continue to produce the quality and quantity of babies that I have
grown to expect. I have a tried and tested method of feeding Vydex
supplements. During the summer months, I cut down the frequency and strength
of the supplements because the birds do not have the same high requirement once
out of the breeding season. At the end of the summer show season all the
birds are let into the flights for some good exercise and to encourage an early
moult. Once they start to moult, the supplements are increased to help
them through this difficult period. Despite being in very poor feather
condition, the birds do not lose as much weight as they used to before they
were fed Vydex supplements. They maintain a decent body weight and
subsequently recover more quickly from their autumn moult.
Show Team Preparation
When preparing my show team I always use Growrite as a base
for administering the supplements (as described above). This gives the
young birds in particular a better chance of gaining body weight, which I
consider is essential as young birds seldom eat at a show. Many fanciers
in the past recommended that softfood should not be given to their show teams
as it caused them to go into a soft moult frequently. I have found that
my birds become fitter and better prepared for the ordeal of showing if they
have a good enriched diet (including softfood). The water is also treated
with Entravian, (the new name for the Vydex Avian Probiotic), Ascorbovite and
Carbosol once a week during the period leading up to the show season. I
also feed all show team birds the same mix for two days prior to the show and
for two days following. This, I believe, helps reduce the stress created
by showing and the extra handling of the birds. Occasionally, when I feel
it necessary, I use these products at twice their recommended dose to
kick-start the birds into top condition. The birds in my 2004 club show
team were given this treatment because they were struggling to get into the
condition necessary to win at the highest level. This action has not
resulted in any problems and can also be used in preference to medication at
times to help lift the general condition of the birds. Incidentally, all
the birds that did so well for me at the club show in 2004 have bred
successfully.
Three Years On
I have now completed my third year using Vydex supplements. At the onset,
Melvyn John explained that whilst I would see good results quite quickly, it
would take three years and three generations to achieve the full benefits of
feeding the supplement he developed. Visitors are amazed at what's been
achieved. I have no secrets - the three years of trials feeding the Vydex
Supplements have clearly demonstrated to me that a combination of sound
bird care, attention to detail and using the Vydex supplements system long
term, has resulted in a very significant improvement to what, three years go,
was already a high quality winning team.
The birds have noticeably gained in size and are of a quality that I had
never previously experienced in my stud in the past. The size, quality
and overall health and fitness of all my birds, not just the show team, can be
attributed to good management and the long-term use of Vydex Avian Supplements.
Brian Sweeting
16/10/2005
