Breeder Profile

Mrs Jenni Smith and Dr Geoff Smith

JGS Budgerigars

What sparked your interest in budgies and the hobby?

It all began with a fascination for genetics and the challenge of breeding colourful budgies, particularly Australian Banded Pieds and Recessive Pieds. It became a hobby that replaced pastimes like stamp collecting or LEGO building.

We never really contemplated joining a club, showing any birds, or getting as serious as we are now.

How long have you been involved in the hobby?

We started breeding budgerigars in 1984 and gradually moved to Open status. After a 15-year break to focus on family and careers, during which Geoff worked extensively overseas, we returned to the hobby with renewed enthusiasm.

Describe your setup and how many breeding cages you use during the breeding season.

Our aviary houses 320 birds, with 52 breeding cages and eight large internal flights. This setup allows us to explore genetics deeply and maintain several lines and varieties simultaneously.

We operate three breeding teams throughout the year, repeating matings only if the birds are in prime condition and the offspring show exceptional quality.

What is your current exhibiting status and which club do you represent?

We are Intermediate breeders, having rebuilt our stud after returning as Novices. We are grateful to friends who helped us re-establish.

Our first club was the Newcastle Budgerigar Club, where we remain members. Over the years, we have been involved with several clubs across Australia, including the Budgerigar Society of South Australia, North East Budgerigar Society, Riverina Budgerigar Society, Canberra Budgerigar Club, The Australian Budgerigar Society, and South Western NSW Budgerigar Society.

Currently, we show with the Toowoomba Budgerigar Association in Queensland, whose members share our friendly, competitive spirit and dedication to excellence on the show bench.

What varieties do you keep and which is your favourite?

We breed Dilutes, Yellow Face, Dominant Pieds, Recessive Pieds and Spangles.

Jenni favours the Dilutes, while Geoff has a soft spot for the classic Normal Light Green.

What advice do you have for those wanting to progress in the hobby?

Don’t rush to be the best on the show bench. Take your time, network widely, absorb knowledge like a sponge, make informed decisions, and grow steadily from Junior or Novice levels.

Many experienced breeders are happy to help, so don’t hesitate to ask questions or attend shows to see quality birds and learn why they stand out.

What has been your favourite moment in the hobby?

Meeting Jo Mannes in Freiburg, Germany, and Gerald Binks, Terry Tuxford, and the Hough Brothers in England stands out as unforgettable. Seeing their birds up close and soaking in their expertise was a wonderful experience.

Which birdroom would you most like to visit, in Australia or overseas?

We dream of visiting the aviaries of Maarten Heylen and Daniel Lutolf to learn from their renowned experience.

What bird do you consider the best you have bred and why?

A Yellow Face Violet that was simply stunning, with a fantastic face and body, bred from top-class parents in our Walsh line.

We are also excited about pairing Big Kev, a double factor spangle from Kev O’Callaghan, with a lovely normal grey hen from our Walsh line, tentatively named Doris, and hope for great results.

How have you developed your bloodlines?

Some bloodlines clicked, while others did not. We consulted extensively with other breeders to understand what worked best.

We focused on the types of birds we wanted to breed, knowing everyone has their own ideal in mind. Fortunately, we have enough space and cabinets to experiment with genetics.

Currently, we breed primarily with Barnett, Holmes, Gazzard, Kent and Duffin birds, while our Recessives come from Randall, Wheatley, Good and Bucior lines.

Describe your aviary setup and how it has evolved over the years.

Our journey began in a small backyard shed and evolved into a colorbond aviary measuring 10m x 5m, with an additional 2m veranda.

It features easy-clean ALUPANEL internal cladding, double insulation, air conditioning, a ceiling fan, abundant natural and artificial light through windows, a sliding triple glass door and ceiling lights, as well as epoxy flooring.

We installed numerous internal and external power points for convenience. Everything is designed to be light, easy to clean, and secure from pests.

All aviary components are on wheels, including stainless steel flights from Josh Portch, a stainless steel workbench, Italian plastic cabinets and nest boxes, and a feed bin, allowing easy movement for cleaning.

Beginners should know this setup took years to develop and is part of an exciting journey.

What is your feeding regime?

We use a Toowoomba club seed mix supplemented with hulled oats, with occasional additions like red millet when needed.

Do you feed soft food? What is your recipe?

Our soft food mix varies seasonally, but typically includes chopped fennel, mint, coriander, corn, carrot, celery, beetroot and apple.

Do you feed greens or additives?

We currently use a commercial Greens & Grain dry mix but plan to switch entirely to fresh soft food, as we are not convinced the dry mix adds much benefit.

We are also trialing a promising new Avi-smart mix sent by Kelly and Troy.

How do you treat sick birds?

When birds appear unwell, we may administer Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic for worm infections, or Vetafarm Triple C, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, while closely monitoring them in a hospital cage.

Do you have a medication regime?

We worm with Vetafarm Wormout Gel every three months and give Doxycycline, Doxy-T, for 45 days before breeding.

How do you maintain fertility and good health in your aviary?

Ferti-Vit, a multi-vitamin supplement, has been very helpful for fertility and vitality. We also promptly isolate any birds showing signs of illness.

What concerns you most about the hobby?

We worry about consistency in breeding and showing standards across Australia and hope for more uniformity between States.

Budgerigars are constantly evolving, and we would welcome updated guidance on breeding standards.

Who do you respect in the hobby and why?

We respect everyone in the hobby and strive to help others. Special mentions go to Gary Gazzard, Garry and Helen Hibberd, Richard Bucior, Mal and Rob Randall, and of course Cookie, Ewing Cooke.

The list continues to grow.

What other hobbies do you enjoy?

We love fishing, both beach and offshore, and have enjoyed charters like Sigatoka Fishing Charters along Fiji’s Coral Coast.

We also have an Aeroo Pro drone for beach fishing that we are eager to try. Jenni has recently discovered a passion for acting, while Geoff’s long-term passion is to enjoy retirement, when it arrives.

Your favourite food, movies and sporting teams?

Thai food tops our list, loved for its spices. A good steak and nice wine are always welcome, and Geoff especially enjoys Coffin Bay oysters.

We are not big movie fans. Zombies, reality TV and vampires are not our thing, but we would appreciate any good movie recommendations.

Geoff casually follows English Premier League football, and our favourite teams include Geelong, Canberra Raiders and Manchester United.

Three things you would love to do in life?

We have experienced a lot and cherish our three daughters, Alysia, Abby and Sophie, with a special mention for our new son-in-law, Josh.

Our dreams include:

1. Travelling to exciting new destinations;
2. Discovering new foods, drinks, or even a rare wine to broaden our experiences; and
3. Having a bird selected for the Nationals. We are patient and enjoying the journey toward that goal.