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 the Gold Coast to Tamworth, where we had kept parrots and finches, we discovered the Tamworth Cage Bird Society and joined the club, which happened to be predominantly focused on budgies.

 

How long have you been in the hobby?

We first started in the hobby in 2000, but due to work commitments stepped out in 2008. After a change of job, we returned in 2013.

 

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

These days we operate from an insulated Colorbond shed fitted with 24 breeding cabinets and flights, allowing us to house 90 breeders along with 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

Normal Green           Normal Grey Green    Normal Blue

Normal Grey             Yellow Faced                Lutino

Greywing                   Cinnamonwing            Opaline

Spangle                      Dominant Pied

My favourite variety to breed would be Spangle and our Normal Greens.

What is your favourite moment/time in the hobby?

Coming 2nd in Albino class at the 50th Annual Trill™ Expert ANBC National Championships (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 returned to the hobby in 2013, we paid visits to John Boss, John Barden and Mark Hawke. We then shared in the purchase of Pete and Marie Dobbins’ sell out, which carried the Muller/Farrell bloodlines. To this we added outcrosses from Henry George, Ian Schneider, Gavin Tilse/Ken Dunk and Alan Kent. Our Pieds were sourced through Jeff Leong, and our Inos through Doug Wales, Peter Jeffrey and Brian Good.

 

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

We began with a very basic Bunnings garden‑shed aviary. After moving house, we purchased a second‑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, along with timber breeding cabinets, and wheeled the entire setup into a single‑car garage. After visiting Mark and Rebecca Fellows in 2023, we returned home and constructed new flights based on their design, each capable of holding 120 birds.

What is your feeding regime?

We feed a multiple seed diet consisting of Japanese millet, budgie mix sourced from two separate suppliers, and finch mix. We also provide a soft‑food mix made up of garden greens, Breed Plus Pro Prosperity, minerals, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and corn, combined with a mixture of dry Trill products.

 

Do you have a medication regime?

We use Triple C, Moxi‑T and ivermectin for worming. To support fertility, we supplement with 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 successes coming in the last 5 years (Nationals) – 10th in Normal Blue, 8th in Yellow Faced, 7th in Greywing , 8th in Normal Green, 6th in Cinnamonwing and 2nd in Albino – we hope to achieve in our lifetime a 1st place at the National level.