Great article. Well worth the read. Thanks Nick and Denise.
<article> To Breed or Not To Breed?
To breed or not to breed, that is the question
Whether 'tis nobler….
By: Denise
Whether 'tis nobler….
By: Denise
OK, I will quit… I was asked to write up something about the pros & cons of breeding…
This is all my own opinion, and I am hoping not to ruffle any feathers. My husband & I have been breeding on and off for about 15 years. We love the challenges each new breeding season brings. We are not a big breeding business, we are small hobby breeders. I send each of my prospective families home with an information package that covers cage size, proper toy suggestions for that type of bird, type of foods they eat (with samples), personality traits, training techniques, recipes, & bird safety tips. I try to keep all bases covered. Now these are some of the things I have come up with, if I think of more maybe I can do an update and answer any questions anyone may have also.
Pros:
Educating people; I love to teach people about the birds we breed. I think it is important that they get as much information about a particular bird, before bringing it home. I am very honest about how my bird’s personalities are. There have been times when I have told a family that I did not think my bird would be right for their life style. That is a hard thing to do.
Beautiful babies; It is the most wonderful thing to watch a mother & father, go through their mating ritual, egg laying and setting. Then when those eggs hatch, it is so amazing….. The father getting the food and keeping the mother well fed. It is so sweet
Fun with colors; It is so fun to see what color combinations that come from the parents… We go into it thinking what will come from them… but there is always a surprise, especially when it comes to the variegated birds.
Wonderful new friends; I am very fortunate with the families that have adopted from me. We have kept a very close relationship. I love hearing the new things their pet is learning, and the funny things that happen. I think that this is one of the best things that happen with my breeding of birds.
Cons:
Loss of chicks; No matter what you do or how good you feed. You will always have losses. That is a real hard pill to swallow. It makes you wonder if it was something you did wrong.
DIS; Dead in shell… This is another thing that does happen on occasion, and then there you go, wondering if it was your fault.
People not taking your advice; I know you can’t make every think and feel like me in regards to their birds. When I do send them home with a new family and I hear something happened to them it crushes me. Especially if it was something I warned them about. I know I can’t go home with them and make sure they do what I say, but I do give them enough information to try and avoid these accidents. It does still bother me quite a bit when it does happen.
Letting the babies go; After spending so much time & effort on these babies, hand feeding, socializing, weaning. It is hard to let them go, I know I can not keep them all. My objective is to bring joy into others lives. But letting them go is a very hard part. I do know that I keep in contact on the internet and the phone, for weeks before and after I adopt my babies out. So during our conversations a question does arise I am available to answer. Plus it also eases my mind that they are getting the care they need.
2 & 3 hour feeding; I like to pull my babies early. It gives them quality socialization and it also gives the parents a break. Especially if they have a large clutch. The 2 and 3 hour feeding even throughout the night do get tedious. But I have made this commitment and I do stick with it. That also cuts down on my social life, and spare time. But in the end when I have that gorgeous little sweet baby in my hands or under my neck, it makes it all worth it.
Expense; Don’t let anyone fool you… You do not make money in birds if you are raising quality, nurtured birds. The cost of the different varieties of foods gets to be outrageous. If you are a barn breeder that does nothing special for your birds then yes, you make make money. But, I have chosen it as a hobby, it hopes of bring up the best birds possible. I spend a lot of time & money making food and feeding. I do know my birds have got the best start possible.
MBS; The dreaded multiple bird syndrome… That is the worst. You never have all the birds you want, and when you think you are happy. Someone comes out with a new mutation. And you got to have it. That is when you really start wondering… Who is raising who?
But I would not change any of it, I love to breed. I get a lot of flack from a lot of people.
I try and explain why I do it, in hopes that they will understand my side. I do take in my share of strays. It is hard to make someone’s mistake, (bad judgment purchase) a good pet. So it is nice to have a choice to buy a good quality, young bird to make your family member. You are more then welcome to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am more then happy to help anyone out.
Please feel free to add anything you may come up with.
Copied from: To Breed or Not To Breed - The Linnie Forum
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
That should answer lots of questions on the subject.
Thanks to Nick for posting and Denise for writing!
Thanks to Nick for posting and Denise for writing!
the one thing i caution people on is check the expiration dates on the food it is there for a reason
I laughed when I got up to MBS. 
I don't have that!
Great article though, will help many people out I'm sure.
I don't have that!Great article though, will help many people out I'm sure.
I laughed when I got up to MBS.
Great article though, will help many people out I'm sure.
I loved it too. I showed my husband, that it is not my fault, there is an actual name for it
Great article though! Thank you!
Thank you for this article. I just got a breeding pair of blue quakers and am going to try breeding. Probably just one clutch and any babies from that clutch are already asked for from friends. I love handfeeding babies and watching them change and grow everyday.
Videogamemom: I used to breed quakers too!
I love quakers- a quaker was my first bird.Videogamemom: I used to breed quakers too!
mine where a nightmare, they both hard QMS but the hen had it worse. Their screaming was so bad that we passed them on to a small zoo who wanted a breeding pair. Never again shall I breed them but I really want a hand tame baby
thats something to think about
I have a female DNa sexed and a male dna SEXed comeing for my hudbands xmas christmas prestent we where gunna foster a male but it died at the vets so any ways Im buying this one....I have been able to keep dogs froom breeding when a female is in heat so I figured I could do the same thing with these u2s Now I have to think about it 8t would be a year or two before I decide but something to defenently think aboutTo breed or not to breed, that is the question
Whether 'tis nobler….
By: Denise
OK, I will quit… I was asked to write up something about the pros & cons of breeding…
This is all my own opinion, and I am hoping not to ruffle any feathers. My husband & I have been breeding on and off for about 15 years. We love the challenges each new breeding season brings. We are not a big breeding business, we are small hobby breeders. I send each of my prospective families home with an information package that covers cage size, proper toy suggestions for that type of bird, type of foods they eat (with samples), personality traits, training techniques, recipes, & bird safety tips. I try to keep all bases covered. Now these are some of the things I have come up with, if I think of more maybe I can do an update and answer any questions anyone may have also.
Pros:
Educating people; I love to teach people about the birds we breed. I think it is important that they get as much information about a particular bird, before bringing it home. I am very honest about how my bird’s personalities are. There have been times when I have told a family that I did not think my bird would be right for their life style. That is a hard thing to do.
Beautiful babies; It is the most wonderful thing to watch a mother & father, go through their mating ritual, egg laying and setting. Then when those eggs hatch, it is so amazing….. The father getting the food and keeping the mother well fed. It is so sweet
Fun with colors; It is so fun to see what color combinations that come from the parents… We go into it thinking what will come from them… but there is always a surprise, especially when it comes to the variegated birds.
Wonderful new friends; I am very fortunate with the families that have adopted from me. We have kept a very close relationship. I love hearing the new things their pet is learning, and the funny things that happen. I think that this is one of the best things that happen with my breeding of birds.
Cons:
Loss of chicks; No matter what you do or how good you feed. You will always have losses. That is a real hard pill to swallow. It makes you wonder if it was something you did wrong.
DIS; Dead in shell… This is another thing that does happen on occasion, and then there you go, wondering if it was your fault.
People not taking your advice; I know you can’t make every think and feel like me in regards to their birds. When I do send them home with a new family and I hear something happened to them it crushes me. Especially if it was something I warned them about. I know I can’t go home with them and make sure they do what I say, but I do give them enough information to try and avoid these accidents. It does still bother me quite a bit when it does happen.
Letting the babies go; After spending so much time & effort on these babies, hand feeding, socializing, weaning. It is hard to let them go, I know I can not keep them all. My objective is to bring joy into others lives. But letting them go is a very hard part. I do know that I keep in contact on the internet and the phone, for weeks before and after I adopt my babies out. So during our conversations a question does arise I am available to answer. Plus it also eases my mind that they are getting the care they need.
2 & 3 hour feeding; I like to pull my babies early. It gives them quality socialization and it also gives the parents a break. Especially if they have a large clutch. The 2 and 3 hour feeding even throughout the night do get tedious. But I have made this commitment and I do stick with it. That also cuts down on my social life, and spare time. But in the end when I have that gorgeous little sweet baby in my hands or under my neck, it makes it all worth it.
Expense; Don’t let anyone fool you… You do not make money in birds if you are raising quality, nurtured birds. The cost of the different varieties of foods gets to be outrageous. If you are a barn breeder that does nothing special for your birds then yes, you make make money. But, I have chosen it as a hobby, it hopes of bring up the best birds possible. I spend a lot of time & money making food and feeding. I do know my birds have got the best start possible.
MBS; The dreaded multiple bird syndrome… That is the worst. You never have all the birds you want, and when you think you are happy. Someone comes out with a new mutation. And you got to have it. That is when you really start wondering… Who is raising who?
But I would not change any of it, I love to breed. I get a lot of flack from a lot of people.
I try and explain why I do it, in hopes that they will understand my side. I do take in my share of strays. It is hard to make someone’s mistake, (bad judgment purchase) a good pet. So it is nice to have a choice to buy a good quality, young bird to make your family member. You are more then welcome to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am more then happy to help anyone out.
Please feel free to add anything you may come up with.
Copied from: To Breed or Not To Breed - The Linnie Forum
Stop being so rude please!!!! If you have a problem with someone on another forum keep it to yourself and dont drag it here!!!!! I dont appreciate people who join a forum just to attack a member for whatever reason! This is a friendly forum and I want everyone to enjoy being here and not be singled out and harassed like you seem to be doing to newbee! Thank you.Why would you even CONSIDER breeding when you claim to be a rescuer??? Are you that eager to add to the overpopulation problem? Or do you just think it'll be fun and a money maker for you?
^^ <3
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We are a polite forum here and do not attack people , if you have an issue with Newbee talk it out like an adult... As Sarah said we are a friendly forum here.
Thank you! Sarah!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Please may I remind you that this is a friendly forum in which we do not tolerate any form of personal attack/bullying which I have been seeing from your posts. I will be monitoring this from now on. If you have come here to insult our members then please stop or leave, your choice but if this continues then there will be a bigger issueWhy would you even CONSIDER breeding when you claim to be a rescuer??? Are you that eager to add to the overpopulation problem? Or do you just think it'll be fun and a money maker for you?
May I also add that I am a breeder with plenty of happy and healthy babies. I also take in many, many birds who need a new home and have come from bad situations. Every single scrap of money goes into my toys, food, cages and improving the lives of my feathered family. I make no money what so ever and all birds who are sold must be bought back to me if they wish to sell them and I buy them back. There is a huge difference regarding over population though on the US compared to the UK. I would not breed any bird to be adopted, but I would pair them with a friend as I feel birds are happier when kept in more flock like situations
As stated bullying will not be permitted, so please take your quarrel elsewhere. I will also add that you've insulted quite a few members here. It is very possible to not only breed, but rescue as well, as many of us do it.
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
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