What makes a good parrot breeder

[Abby]

Well I've been asked to say why I think that I'm a good parrot breeder. Would be interesting to hear others opinions too and maybe to get it through that not all of us are evil money hungry vermin so...here goes.

My birds are all in large aviaries
Sprayers are connected for hot days
All the birds have toys that species appropriate for needs (including those that are breeding at the time)
I feed a mixed diet that includes fresh foods
My birds get natural foraging opportunities
My all year round breeders are only set up for breeding twice a year so that their bodies don't get too flogged by breeding.
I interact with my breeder birds.
If I can see a bird looks unwell then it is straight away brought inside and attended to. If a vet is needed then they go off to a vet.

onto the raising.
Babies are raised where possible from approximately 3 weeks
I spoon feed unless there is an issue then I syringe
All babies are handled and spoken to from the time they come inside
Babies are weaned onto a varied diet at their own pace
Babies are played with daily by myself, husband and children
Babies are not sold until they are eating independently and holding their weight.
I will not sell unweaned chicks
I do not clip wings unless the buyer request and then it's not until I see that baby doing laps of the room and confident landings.
All babies are sold with any legal paperwork pertinent to that species
baby care sheets are given with information on species, diet, housing, places to get toys and other supplies, recommended vets and my contact details.
Prospective buyers are interviewed as to their knowledge of the species and given the low down on potential issues (ie volume with suns, potential territorial issues with quakers). I don't mince words as I don't want a baby going to a home that isn't prepared to deal with some of the possible negative traits.

Onto me...

I spend time researching, reading and picking the brains of other more experienced breeders. I attend conferences when I can get away to them. I'm at the beginning of my journey into behavioural analysis in an effort to be able to provide the best back up care and to educate future owners.

These guys are my life (second only to my children) and each baby reflects on me and the care given before it's even been formed to teh day it leaves my home.

I'm friends with the owner of a major rescue centre here and we discuss best ways to make sure none of my babes end up in her centre.

So that's me. I feel really uncomfortable to be almost putting myself on display but there ya go.

[Ashling]

What more could you do! Don't feel uncomfortable, feel proud!

[Phenomenon]

Originally Posted by Abby

Well I've been asked to say why I think that I'm a good parrot breeder. Would be interesting to hear others opinions too and maybe to get it through that not all of us are evil money hungry vermin so...here goes.

My birds are all in large aviaries
Sprayers are connected for hot days
All the birds have toys that species appropriate for needs (including those that are breeding at the time)
I feed a mixed diet that includes fresh foods
My birds get natural foraging opportunities
My all year round breeders are only set up for breeding twice a year so that their bodies don't get too flogged by breeding.
I interact with my breeder birds.
If I can see a bird looks unwell then it is straight away brought inside and attended to. If a vet is needed then they go off to a vet.

onto the raising.
Babies are raised where possible from approximately 3 weeks
I spoon feed unless there is an issue then I syringe
All babies are handled and spoken to from the time they come inside
Babies are weaned onto a varied diet at their own pace
Babies are played with daily by myself, husband and children
Babies are not sold until they are eating independently and holding their weight.
I will not sell unweaned chicks
I do not clip wings unless the buyer request and then it's not until I see that baby doing laps of the room and confident landings.
All babies are sold with any legal paperwork pertinent to that species
baby care sheets are given with information on species, diet, housing, places to get toys and other supplies, recommended vets and my contact details.
Prospective buyers are interviewed as to their knowledge of the species and given the low down on potential issues (ie volume with suns, potential territorial issues with quakers). I don't mince words as I don't want a baby going to a home that isn't prepared to deal with some of the possible negative traits.

Onto me...

I spend time researching, reading and picking the brains of other more experienced breeders. I attend conferences when I can get away to them. I'm at the beginning of my journey into behavioural analysis in an effort to be able to provide the best back up care and to educate future owners.

These guys are my life (second only to my children) and each baby reflects on me and the care given before it's even been formed to teh day it leaves my home.

I'm friends with the owner of a major rescue centre here and we discuss best ways to make sure none of my babes end up in her centre.

So that's me. I feel really uncomfortable to be almost putting myself on display but there ya go.

Thank you for sharing. You can be an example for those "fledgling" business owners that are considering breeding. I say this NOT to brown-nose, but because you have stated those basics that should be standard of any pet breeder.

I never wanted to breed birds, snakes are my passion, but I love my Fids and take care of them in a fashion similar (without the Avairy) to yours. My birds are allowed to be birds. I do not over stimulate, pet, or expect them to be other than what they are, beautiful, colorful creatures with intelligence that matches many other mammals.

I just put a deposit on a RB Cockatoo (after much research and a visit to see if she would chose me) if I had known about you..I definitely would have made YOU my supplier/breeder.

[Abby]

Just to add.

Not all my birds are breeders. I've got the 3 feathered big boys who are companions, Coco, Arora and Scruffy are our inside companion 'toos, Kirri (GSC2) whilst out in an aviary is still a companion, my irns and mallee ringneck are aviary companions for each other but the IRNs will not be breeders.

Coco, Scruffy, Merlin and Kirri are all rehomes. Coco came from a rescue sanctuary, the other 3 we were asked to take on for various reasons.

With my breeding birds I try to buy young pairs where possible (the exceptiopn being my 2 'too pairs who were already bonded pairs) and give them time to bond and just be together. I will not breed birds that I believe are too young. Ultimately they, their babes and I end up paying the price.

[expressmailtome]

I think that it is impossible for a breeder to do more for their birds. We need more breeders like you!

Matt

[Monica]

I agree with Matt! I've only been to one breeders place, and although the "nursery" was fantastic, I was not in the least bit happy over the breeders setup.

I also like the idea that if a bird would prefer to be an inside pet instead of a breeder, the bird is not "forced" to breed.

[RockysMom]

You sound like an excellent breeder to me!!! You should be proud! If I didn't live in the U.S I would purchase a bird from you, but that would be to long of a flight!!m :)

[Joel]

Great job you are doing there Abby. Very admirable. We raise & rehome our babies in a very similar way.

We also do everything in our power to try and get the new owner to NOT clip any babies purchased from us. It is such a terrible thing in our opinion, based on yrs. & yrs. of experience, for any breeder to clip a bird before it has mastered flight. We also feel clipping is not in the bird's best interests afterwards. We inform our clients all about safety-proofing their homes and we provide them with literature and research which explains all the benefits of full flight, both psychological and physiological.

[JNS]

To comment a bit, I think that what makes a good breeder is that as a person looking to purchase a forever friend, I want to me confident in the breeder first and foremost. To give a recent example, my wife and I went to a breeder in California to play with the babies, and honestly we just weren't impressed. All of the birds were out of their cages and were very aggressive. I was only able to handle a gorgeous IRN and that bird was there on consignment they said. The breeder we have gotten our two babies at is incredible. I remember the first time we went there she got out some of her macaws and other larger parrots (she doesn't have a lot there) and really taught us how to handle them and the babies were just so incredible, we found ourselves going back weekly just to play with them. She socializes them all so well that I have always felt comfortable handling her birds, and that to me speaks volumes not only about her as a person and a breeder, but about the quality of her birds.
From what you've written it seems like you have the exact same thing going on, and I commend you for that.

[r2rusmc]

I think all breeders are the root of all the worlds problems.