Rod Michelle Vidler 2026

Rod and Michelle Vidler Breeder Profile
Showing as R & M Vidler

What sparked your interest in budgies and the hobby?

After moving from gold coast to Tamworth where we had parrots and finches , we found Tamworth cage bird society and joined the club . which happened to be predominantly budgies.

 

How long have you been in the hobby?

First started in the hobby in 2000 . And due to work commitments we got out in 2008 . After a change of job got back in 2013.

 

Describe your setup and how many breeding cages do u use during the breeding season?

These days we are in an insulated colourbond shed set up for 24 breeding cabinets and flights to house 90 breeders and their young.

 

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

We are open breeders representing Capricornia Budgerigar Society inc located in Rockhampton . We are so lucky to have 3 national judges as members of our club.

 

What varieties do u keep and what is your favorite?

At the moment we breed

Green normal           Grey green normal     Normal blue

Grey normal      Yellowface       Lutino

Greywing              Cinnamonwing                Opaline

Spangle            Dominant pied

My favourite variety to breed would be spangle and our green normals.

What is your favourite moment/time in the hobby?

Coming 2^nd in albino class at the ANBC national 2026,and getting to spend time with friends that are just as enthusiastic as us about budgies.

Which bird room would you like to visit here in Australia or overseas or both?

In Australia it would be great to have the opportunity to visit breeders like Troy Holmes & Kelly Scholefield, Peter Thurn, John Ennis and overseas, the Mcgoverns, Richard Miller and Maarten Heylen.

 

How have you developed your bloodlines?

When we got back in in 2013 we paid a visit to John Boss ,John Barden and Mark Hawke. Then shared the buy out of Pete and Marie Dobbins which were Muller/Farrell bloodlines . To these we added outcrosses from Henry George , Ian schneider , Gavin Tilse/Ken Dunk and Alan Kent. Also our pieds came through Jeff Leong and inos through Doug Wales, Peter Jeffrey and Brian Good.

 

What is your aviary setup and how has it evolved over the years?

We started with a very basic bunnings garden shed aviary. After moving house bought a 2^nd hand aviary with 3 flights and a breeding room, with the help of Gavin Tilse we built flights on wheels that held 30 birds each and timber breeding cabinets and wheeled all that into a single car garage. After visiting Mark and Rebecca Fellows in 2023 we came home and built new flights based on their setup that can hold 120 birds per flight.

What is your feeding regime?

We feed a multiple seed mix of jap millet, budgie mix sourced from 2 separate suppliers and finch mix .we do a soft food mix consisting of greens from the garden ,breed plus pro prosperity ,minerals ,turmeric ,cinnamon ,ginger and corn with a mixture of dry trill products.

 

Do you have a medication regime?

We use triple c, moxi t, and ivermectin for worming .In managing fertility we use vitamin e, b12 and AD3E.

 

Who do you respect in the hobby and why?

We have a lot of respect for those people that are always trying to move the hobby forward and who have worked hard to achieve success in the hobby.

 

In closing , with all our success coming in the last 5 years – 10^th in normal blue , 8^th in yellowface , 7^th in greywing , 8^th green normal , 6^th in cinnamonwing , and 2^nd in albino – we hope to achieve in our life time a 1^st place at national level.