a tough question for breeders...

[ShreddedOakAviary]

You can find places online that give you a series of questions you should always ask a breeder.... I think we should add one...

What do you do with a bird when it's producing life is over?

The only acceptable answer should be "I keep it here forever"

I have three pairs of birds that are not tame and do nothing but live out their days, eat food, play with toys, and get vetted when necessary.

I think breeders would put a lot more thought into how many pairs they have if they are facing the prospect of having to retire them. I saw a breeder dump a worthless (producing-wise) african grey because it wouldn't make him any more money.

THIS TOPIC ANGERS ME TO NO END!

Everytime I take on a new breeding pair I set aside part of what they make each year that way when I have enough retired pairs I can put up a "retirement building". A place where the birds that have made my living for me can rest out their days with the same high level of care they have come to expect from me. I rarely re-pair birds, I figure as long as they seem happy together that I have no business splitting them up just to make a buck.

So, ask your breeder.... and make them PROVE IT!

 

[IcyWolf]

That is a really good question and I agree with making them prove it. Anyone could easily tell you that there birds live a happy forever life there but unless they are willing to show you(atleast pictures) of their retirement birds then I wouldn't believe it. And I love your idea about setting aside money from the babies for the parents, it's like a birdie 401k plan!

 

[Pedro]

I guess it depends on whether your a Hobby Breeder & just do it so other birdkeepers can enjoy & experience living with a companion parrot or two like i do & i make a little money to keep all my birds in top health.

Or you have made it a registered business & pay your taxes. In this case of course your not going to keep parrots past their used by date. But i do know of some breeders that will keep some very special pairs.

As i get further into my twilight years i certainly won't be keeping any of my parrots i will be sourcing out homes for them. There are a lot of like-minded carers out there that can do the job just as good as i can if not better. I like to think that the younger generation out there that have a love for aviculture are the Breeders of the future.

Personally there is no forever homes, circumstances always change when you least expect it. I also think if someone asked me that question I couldn't answer it truthfully because i don't know what my future holds. Would be beautiful to live in the ideal world. Wouldn't it.

 

[Echo]

Well I am a small hobby breeder and I can say with conviction that my breeders are also my pets and they will be with me for as long as I am able to care for them properly. However, I will certainly not have more that 3 pairs in my lifetime and I can easily keep and care for all of them.

 

[Pedro]

Well I am a small hobby breeder and I can say with conviction that my breeders are also my pets and they will be with me for as long as I am able to care for them properly. However, I will certainly not have more that 3 pairs in my lifetime and I can easily keep and care for all of them.

I have 15 pairs of parrots, of those pairs only 3 pairs are breeders some just hang out here in pairs & some are just pets. I don't sell on parrots that don't breed for me so i guess for the time being i can say they will stay with me until my circumstances change.

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

I wasn't trying to offend anyone, I guess a little explanation is in order...

I have had a house fire, I nearly got divorced recently, etc.... I understand the uncertainty of life in general. What I want to find a way to help prevent is ex breeder birds being dumped off at flea markets, rescues, sanctuaries, and unsuspecting parrot owners.... It's depressing and partially avoidable. I have a BBS degree and a CPA, so business and finances are not unfamiliar teritory. However, animal based businesses need to adhere to a slightly different ethics set than a standard business.

If I were to quit breeding tomorrow I would most certainly find a skilled person to buy my good breeding pairs, but my husband and I agreed that the retired or nearly retired stuff will stick around here with the rescues for as long as we can provide for them.

I just get hot headed when I am sitting on two mate killer 'toos that another breeder gave to a lady as pets (they are mean as sin), and I find myself perplexed at what to do with them.... I don't dare rehome them to anyone (since circumstances in life can change and two proven mate killers are a risk to hens everywhere if I lose track of them), I can't keep all the mate killers, and the couple of sancuaries that deal with them are full, so here they sit, and I am still debating their futures...

Then there is Papa Two Toes and Inca, 2 greys dumped after surgical sexing deemed them inviable (again by another breeder) and they wound up here too.

I know as a breeder I have a reesponsibility not to add to the problem, and I recently made the decision to stop breeding umbrella cockatoos all together.

But I watched another guy take a female blue and gold (she has no follicles left) to a flea market, she's mean and he never said she couldn't produce.

Doesn't someone need to be at least slightly responsible for dropping these worn out birds off to be rehomed again and again (price keeps dropping as they clearly age), sanctuaries are full, and if breeders don't step up and clean up their own messes they will soon find laws passed and themselves out of a job.

Horses are just as bad, except they wind up going to Mexico on a double decker truck....

Parrots only differ because the demand is higher, and we can't eat them.

 

[henpecked]

Well i guess i'll chime in and try to keep it short. I have several longtime breeder pairs of amazons,i mostly breed amazons and tiels. Tiels stay in a large flight cage/aviary and the ones too old to breed are just part of the flock, i pull pairs out and mix and match to get the results i want . Tiels are Ok with this and will readly take different mates. AMAZONS ON THE OTHER HAND ARE A DIFFERENT STORY, i would never break apart bonded pairs, their mate is their whole world. I have a pair of OWAs who been laying for me for 30 yrs and will still produce good eggs when i allow a nest box.Rod and Reel will always have a place in my aviary ,they're at home there and enjoy being part of the flock.The worst thing in the world would be to seperate those birds from each other. Kia is a Pan Amazon i've had for 35 yrs who lost his mate,after several year i paired him with a 12 yr old hen, they are laying great now.Don't know how much longer but once again they'll always have a place in my aviary.I also have a pair of YNA that i bought years ago that where a "proven pair" but have turned out to be an old "burned out" pair. They too will always have a place in my aviary. It's not that much time and effort to care for these older birds and can't see breaking them up too rehome them, they are happier with their mate than any human will ever make them.

 

[Echo]

Speaking for myself I didn't feel offended....I understand and agree with you 100%.

 

[TeakwoodBirdHouse]

Having been in Animal Welfare & Rescue, I can tell you this is a tremendous problem with any animals. It is good to see you guys are thinking of this. Shelters & Sanctuaries are filled with unwanted animals. Many are dropped off by ungrateful owners who don't want older, non-productive animals. They "loved" their animals when they were making money with them, but, now, do not have any love for them. One difference birds have is that many breeders were not pets, and are not socialized. So, as mentioned, they are unfit to be re-homed. I guess all that I am really saying is that I am glad to see this issue being addressed by the people here. I thank you for your caring and foresight.

 

[Bright Star]

I think finding out about that breeder's reputation within the sanctuary/rescue circle can be quite helpful in learning how they truly treat their birds. I recently bought from a breeder who has an excellent reputation among avian breeders, veterinarians, rescuers. It means a lot to me to know that others believe they are a high-quality breeder

 

[MikeyTN]

I used to breed in the past but I got out of it because of some of the reasons listed above....I know im raising babies now, but not by choice! I am not going to stop them cause when there's a will there's a way. We have no intension of giving up any of our babies but like Pedro mentioned, we can't predict the future. Maybe at one point when we have no choice but to find them new homes. Maybe ill be too old to care for them. My breeders before got sold out under me when I wasn't around, stupid ex sold my birds and give away my dog when I was out of town....I was super angry!!!

 

[merlinsmom13]

My breeders before got sold out under me when I wasn't around, stupid ex sold my birds and give away my dog when I was out of town....I was super angry!!!

What a nightmare, what did you do?

 

[MikeyTN]

My breeders before got sold out under me when I wasn't around, stupid ex sold my birds and give away my dog when I was out of town....I was super angry!!!

What a nightmare, what did you do?

Nothing I could do but just to be sure I have my name on these babies I have now so that would never happen again! I was out of town working. So we weren't together soon after that....