Choosing a breeder...

Atwee921

New member
Apr 22, 2011
911
0
Maine, USA
Parrots
Sprite the cinnamon green cheek conure.
I am having a hard time choosing a bird breeder. I have narrowed it down to 2 breeders. I want your opinion on which breeder.
Breeder #1- Only breeds cockatiels and conures, but has bred all kinds of birds. Her pair of pineapple green cheeks (the only green cheeks she has) are not a proven pair and she cant guarantee that there will be babies around the time I want them. Her GCC are $200. I have emailed her a lot and she seems like a great person. She is also judge and director of NCS and SPBE. She has a 3 month health guarantee which I love the idea of! I like that this breeder has a long guarantee, obviously knows a lot about birds and I have spoken with her. She told me that where ever I get my bird, she would love to answer any questions I have. The only thing that turns me away in this breeder is that it is not a proven pair.

Breeder #2- I havent shared many emails with her. She breeds conures, cockatiels, budgies, lovebirds, bourkes, and roseifrons. I dont know much about her. Her GCC are $150 but her health guarantee is only 2 days! The things I like about her are the price of her birds and that they are a proven pair, but the only thing I dont like is that I dont know her as much, she didn't seem as enthusiastic about helping me find a breeder and learn about birds, and I dont like her guarantee.
 

xreinx

New member
May 24, 2011
342
0
Alaska
Parrots
-no parrots yet-
I do have two cats -Riply & Nano bites-
four snakes- china, dip & stick, and Grand Chahee-
first of all, go with your gut, first one sounds Wonderful to me, but I dont know either of them so I cant judge. Second, what do you really want?

I live in alaska, the breeder I have been in contact with is in Florida, when I get my bird, I will have to meet it halfway.
so how long are you willing to wait? Nature moves at its own speed, I have an Idea of when I want my bird, but chances are I may wait months longer the I planed, Or may have to get my bird this fall. it depends on the birds.
 

Rio Mom

New member
Apr 7, 2011
2,620
1
Pennsylvania
Parrots
River - Green Cheek
Conure/
Pepper - Congo African Grey/

Rest in Peace Rio
That's really a tough decision. While the first breeder has a great guarantee, they aren't proven, so you may have to wait a lot longer than you wanted to. The first breeder sounds really helpful to you though, so it may be worth the wait!

The second, seems more likely that you will get a baby at the time you want, for less money, but with less guarantee. Would be nice if they seemed more helpful to you too.

I'm not really sure what I would choose in your situation. You said you wanted the bird around august right? Have the birds of the second breeder had babies yet? If neither have laid eggs yet, they won't be ready by august. Sorry I'm not much help in choosing a breeder, I'm the kind of person who has a hard time making decisions! I could him and haw around all day just deciding what to have for dinner! lol
 

darkling

New member
Apr 13, 2011
284
1
Alabama
Parrots
RIP Pi - Sun Conure 02/06/11 - 09/10/11
If it were me, I'd go with the first breeder. The way you wrote about the first breeder really says a lot about how you feel about her. I'm not sure what "proven" means though. Can anyone explain this?
 

Echo

New member
Dec 7, 2009
1,479
3
USA
Parrots
Green Cheek Conures, Crimson Conures, CAG, Pionus, Budgies, Goffin Cockatoo
"Not a proven pair" means that this pair has not produced babies for that breeder.
 

wibitywab

New member
Jun 4, 2011
231
0
Southern California
Parrots
"Kiwi" My Hahn's Macaw and R.I.P. Buddy the GCC-2009 - 2011
"Not a proven pair" means that this pair has not produced babies for that breeder.
Yea I know, but breeder one just sounds like the one to go for. She is nice enough, and who knows. They could be makin' babies like crazy haha!:green2:
 

Echo

New member
Dec 7, 2009
1,479
3
USA
Parrots
Green Cheek Conures, Crimson Conures, CAG, Pionus, Budgies, Goffin Cockatoo
I'm not sure what "proven" means though. Can anyone explain this?

I was answering the question on "proven" Wibitywab.......
 
OP
Atwee921

Atwee921

New member
Apr 22, 2011
911
0
Maine, USA
Parrots
Sprite the cinnamon green cheek conure.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
Breeder #2 says she is expecting normal GCC babies at the end of September.
Breeder #1 has no idea when she will have babies. I guess I'll just have to hope that her babies make babies :)
 

Rio Mom

New member
Apr 7, 2011
2,620
1
Pennsylvania
Parrots
River - Green Cheek
Conure/
Pepper - Congo African Grey/

Rest in Peace Rio
It's too bad you don't live closer to Pennsylvania! My breeder is awesome! She really cares about her birds, and you can tell they are all her babies. Both times (Rio and River) she looked like she was gonna tear up when we left. She said she spent all day with River before we got there. She still has 3 GCCs left from River's clutch. :)
 

n5drt

New member
Feb 21, 2010
12
0
morton,tx
i wished was closer i four babys ready in six weeks ,,good luck on the baby hunt
 

Attachments

  • DSC01466.jpg
    DSC01466.jpg
    95.9 KB · Views: 121
OP
Atwee921

Atwee921

New member
Apr 22, 2011
911
0
Maine, USA
Parrots
Sprite the cinnamon green cheek conure.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #14
Awwhhh I wish, I cant seem to find a good breeder anywhere.
The place I was gonna get my bird for a while cares a lot about money.
 

Nakiska

New member
May 30, 2011
787
0
Washington
Parrots
4 Cockatiels 2 males Chicken Little & Charlie, 2 Females Chiquita and Sweet pea. Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure -Franklin and our now tame, rescued feral Pigeon - Belle.
:D Hello,

You know, I've been thinking alot about this question. And I'm sure there is a certain amount of importance in choosing the right breeder and they are all over the country and many will ship birds to you and everything.

However, my advice to you is this:

I believe that this is your first bird you'll be getting. I can tell you've done your research, you've narrowed down what it is you want, I think you even have a good idea of the personality of bird you are hoping to get...birds are SOOO INDIVIDUAL! Some will love you to death, others will wish you dead, and often for no ryhme or reason.

I think in your case, I'd be more interested in meeting each and every bird you are considering. And don't be impatient. Let your bird pick YOU..and trust me, you will know!

My husband and I "fell in love" with several conures before "the one" picked us. There was a Sun Conure putting on a show at the pet store, we were both very much entertained with him...but when we went back a few days later, after realizing we are interested in purchasing one, and handled him..he just wasn't the same....so we declined.

A few weeks later there was a black capped. Awww...so sweet, but...no.

Then a couple green cheeks, another 2 or 3 Suns...then I met Pidgy a GCC...and I was taken with her instantly. She was definitely sweet and fun and had a good personality and I spent a good hour with her in the store. I went home and told my husband about her and then I went back with the intention of purchasing her...someone else was looking at her and, I dunno why...but I decided...nawww...and went back home empty handed, much to my husbands dissapointment.

Months went by, and then we met Franklin at the petstore and it was hands down, no questions asked THE Conure for us! He picked us from afar and when we handled him, we just KNEW.

Our instincts were absolutely correct he is by far, the most bestest of all the lovely birds we considered.

In your case, with this being your first bird, I think you should meet and handle and really get a feeling for the personality of the bird you are choosing.

We think we'll be able to "change" and train birds when we get them, and true to some degree...we do and can, but I think birds are even more individual then dogs or horses.

As you know, we also have 2 'tiels. I purchased Chiquita and I love her, but she bonded with my husband the second she met him! Now mind you, I take care of her, feed and water her, clean her cage (he doesn't do any of that!)...and she squawks and hollers at me and sometimes hisses when I'm changing her dishes or asking her to come out of her cage...she'll step up on my hand after trying to scare me, she'll sit on my lap or shoulder etc..but when my husband asks her to come out...she's just sweet as pie...none of that stuff she does to me, does she even consider doing to him! And when she's with him..she has this definite STUCK UP attitude, when I look at her I swear she sticks her beak up, straightens her back, sucks in her belly and gives a little attitude side nod of her head...and says to me...HmmmH! Look at me with my Daddy! LOLOL!!!

Chicken Little, our second tiel was a scared to death ratty looking baby, we felt sorry for...he's really blossomed and allows my husband and I to handle him equally. He talks up a storm, but he's "distant" to bonding with us. I can't explain it, he's not mean at all, but he's not affectionate either. He's just "Chicken Little" LOL!

Franklin, our Conure...oh, he's a dear! Cuddle, snuggle, burrow under blankets, talks to us, kisses, acrobatic and absolutely WANTS to be with us, on us! To the point he's almost a pain in the rear sometimes! LOLOL Honestly he was worth the wait! As I said before, many times we thought...yep! Let's buy this one...and I think if we jumped the gun so to speak and bought any of the others...we wouldn't be enjoying conure ownership to this degree. We love our 'tiels..but Franklin's personality takes the cake!

Don't get me wrong, Franklin does test us...but we also have somekind of special understanding because HE picked US. He absolutely WANTS to please us and it shows every day. I don't know that little Frankie would be so affectionate to a different household...maybe...but I just don't know.

So my super long winded post is just to give you an example of why I think it's important for you to actually meet and handle your bird before tying the knot. How dissapointing it would be to find the perfect breeder, have them send you a bird from pictures/video's and get it home only to find that all your efforts at bonding with him/her are futile at best. As you know, bird ownership is meant to be a long term commitment. And I think you'll want to make it the best one you possibly can :D

Sorry for such a long post, but I hope you get something out of it and aren't offended in anyway...because I'm not trying to be offensive.

Good Luck to you!

I can't wait to hear all about the bird who finally chooses YOU!;)

Toni
 
OP
Atwee921

Atwee921

New member
Apr 22, 2011
911
0
Maine, USA
Parrots
Sprite the cinnamon green cheek conure.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #16
Dont be sorry for the long post!! It was very very helpful!!!
 
OP
Atwee921

Atwee921

New member
Apr 22, 2011
911
0
Maine, USA
Parrots
Sprite the cinnamon green cheek conure.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #17
I've found 2 more breeders, 1 is 3 hours 20 minutes away, 1 is 3 hours. I've emailed them so I guess Ill just have to wait and see what breeder I go to!!!
 

Rio Mom

New member
Apr 7, 2011
2,620
1
Pennsylvania
Parrots
River - Green Cheek
Conure/
Pepper - Congo African Grey/

Rest in Peace Rio
I just had another thought for you on your breeder choice quest. Since you're 12, obviously you don't drive, have you discussed with your mom how far she's willing to drive you? I was just thinking that you don't want to get your hopes up about a particular breeder, only to then find out mom doesn't want to drive past a certain distance.
 
OP
Atwee921

Atwee921

New member
Apr 22, 2011
911
0
Maine, USA
Parrots
Sprite the cinnamon green cheek conure.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #19
I havent asked my mom but I will when she gets back!
Good idea thank you.
 
OP
Atwee921

Atwee921

New member
Apr 22, 2011
911
0
Maine, USA
Parrots
Sprite the cinnamon green cheek conure.
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #20
Bird Jungle has you hand feed your new baby which I dont want to do. Now I am awaiting a reply from the breeder I just found today and if they sound good I will buy from them. Depending on the email I will put them at the top of my breeder list, or just buy from them if the pair at breeder #1 doesnt do anything. I hope that makes sense lol.
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top