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Post by iluvbirds on Feb 10, 2006 10:47:13 GMT -7
I love all birds with everything in me, and I was trying to think of a job where I can be surrounded by them at all times and take care of them, too. My dad also wants to get into the cage-building scene, since he & I both have just about all day free and share the love of birds...I was wondering if I could get some your opinions on this: I want to breed birds, many types of birds, that could live in the cages my dad makes. I've done so much researching on the subject and it just seems to fit everything I want out of life.  I would put ads in newspapers for people looking for chicks. I've been offered a job at the store where I bought my birds, so I could work there part-time, as well, and get discounts on the things necessary for the upkeep of my breeding pairs/sell the chicks I breed to the store. I wouldn't start breeding until I had enough experience hand-feeding and and other things from the store, of course. This isn't just some random thing that sounds fun and I would give up in a year. I truley would love to do this. I just want to know if this sounds completely out of the question to someone other than my mother, who thinks she already has my future planned out. I want to do something I LOVE. -Chelsea |
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Post by John on Feb 10, 2006 11:30:28 GMT -7
Are you aware of the time it takes to feed hatch-lings. You have to feed them every few hours for the first few days which means almost no sleep. During your waking hours you will spend your whole day cleaning cages, feeding and tending to every need of all the birds in the flock. It is very demanding even to the greatest bird lover. I would spend as much time as you can doing research including maybe working for a breeder. If the pet store you work for hand feeds when you gain enough experience you can take home some chicks for the night and see what it is like to have no sleep and chicks chirping all night for food and attention. I have 4 birds and the time it takes to care for them is enough for me. If after at least 1 year of caring for birds at the pet store you still want to be a breeder I say go for it.
John
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Post by patty on Feb 10, 2006 13:55:14 GMT -7
i think it would make a very rewarding hobby but i would be afraid of turning something i love into an overwhelming chore if i tried to make it more than a hobby.
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Post by spookyhurst on Feb 11, 2006 0:16:49 GMT -7
I might have an unpopular opinion here, and I by no means want to offend you, but I'm kind of against there being more bird breeders than there already are. The number of birds out there that people grow tired of and "throw away" is appalling. Is it a good idea to add to the already large number of birds looking for homes?
I would love to volunteer at the bird rescue I got Nikko at, but it's almost a 3 hour drive away. I think it would be very fulfilling work to rehabilitate neglected/abused birds, and to find new homes for birds whose owners can no longer care for them. I know someone who used to volunteer with animal rescues/rehabilitation, and she says that of all the things she's done in her life, that it was the most rewarding.
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Preston
Super Talker
NEED HELP? WE WILL ANSWER AS FAST AS WE CAN (Note: Preston passed away in 2012. We hold his memories dearly, he was a great person and super moderator.)
Sisika and Pete
Joined: January 2005
Posts: 5,912
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Post by Preston on Feb 11, 2006 8:41:51 GMT -7
It would certainly rewarding. I don't think breaders make a killing either because of the time spent caring for all aspects of the business.
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Post by spookyhurst on Feb 11, 2006 8:55:17 GMT -7
I was wondering that myself Preston. If you're a good breeder, you're going to spend a lot of time raising the babies, plus spend money for things like formula and vet care. By the time the babies are sold, just how much profit is there? It would be interesting to know.
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Post by anniea1234 on Mar 18, 2006 18:42:41 GMT -7
To Spookyhurst, breeding larger birds is a gamble. Not everyone is succesful at it. I've got a pair of tiels that breed. Their idea, not mine. I'm lucky to break even on food, and that's if I don't have to bring a bird to the Vet. It's a lot of work, and we don't start hand feeding until their pin feathers come in. But they are so adorable and worth it. Pretty soon we're going to have to separate mom from dad before they start breeding again, and then the screeming will start. I've tried everything short of birth control shots which I read can be dangerous.
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Post by spookyhurst on Mar 18, 2006 18:50:36 GMT -7
The breeder I was thinking of getting a TAG from still has a blue-fronted amazon for sale that was hatched last June. I would think there would be no profit for that bird. I think it's even been discounted. The poor little thing is so cute, I wonder why no one has bought it?
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Post by anniea1234 on Mar 19, 2006 21:42:25 GMT -7
Maybe you should buy him. They're great birds. I had one a long time ago, he was wild at a year, he was pretty inexpensive. He was a neat bird and a great talker. I would think a hand fed one would be even better. I would still like to get another one, but we have too many birds now, and I already bought our CAG. We've had cockatiels for a few years, and they're not getting the attention I used to give them, the conures and Ceaser want it all.
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Post by spookyhurst on Mar 19, 2006 22:59:24 GMT -7
Here he is on the front page: www.parrotsinthepines.com/And here he is with his wings spread out so you can see his pretty feathers: www.parrotsinthepines.com/amazon.htmlI would love to buy him, but my parents would NOT go along with that. I've been sick a lot lately, so my mom has been doing a lot of caretaking for Nikko. |
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Post by John on Mar 20, 2006 8:46:10 GMT -7
He is beautiful, if I was closer I would buy him. I hope he finds a good home soon. He wouldn't last a day at the bird store here all the babies are sold before they are weened. They are hand feeding 5 CAG's right now and some others.
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Post by anniea1234 on Mar 20, 2006 9:38:56 GMT -7
She is a cutie. Makes me want to go up to Flagstaff and buy her.
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Post by louiesmom on Mar 21, 2006 13:56:17 GMT -7
 I love all birds with everything in me, and I was trying to think of a job where I can be surrounded by them at all times and take care of them, too. My dad also wants to get into the cage-building scene, since he & I both have just about all day free and share the love of birds...I was wondering if I could get some your opinions on this: I want to breed birds, many types of birds, that could live in the cages my dad makes. I've done so much researching on the subject and it just seems to fit everything I want out of life. I would put ads in newspapers for people looking for chicks. I've been offered a job at the store where I bought my birds, so I could work there part-time, as well, and get discounts on the things necessary for the upkeep of my breeding pairs/sell the chicks I breed to the store. I wouldn't start breeding until I had enough experience hand-feeding and and other things from the store, of course. This isn't just some random thing that sounds fun and I would give up in a year. I truley would love to do this. I just want to know if this sounds completely out of the question to someone other than my mother, who thinks she already has my future planned out. I want to do something I LOVE. -Chelsea Yes, theorectically it sounds like fun, but believe me, it's really not. My Mom started breeding birds last July (she has 15-20 breeding pairs), and the only thing she's sold so far is A lovebird. You practically go broke just feeding them, and she can tell you, it is WAY more than a 40 hour/week job. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, go work at a rescue. Don't increase the enormous problem of unwanted/neglected birds. There are so many that are abused or abandoned, and they are the ones that need someone with a heart as big as yours. Please look into it....
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I would put ads in newspapers for people looking for chicks. I've been offered a job at the store where I bought my birds, so I could work there part-time, as well, and get discounts on the things necessary for the upkeep of my breeding pairs/sell the chicks I breed to the store. I wouldn't start breeding until I had enough experience hand-feeding and and other things from the store, of course. This isn't just some random thing that sounds fun and I would give up in a year. I truley would love to do this. I just want to know if this sounds completely out of the question to someone other than my mother, who thinks she already has my future planned out. I want to do something I LOVE.
