Blue and Gold Macaw, GCC, sticky situation with raiser....

[MikeyTN]

I have to agree with everyone's comment as its not the right time to try to do this. By getting proven pairs does NOT mean they're good parents or produce healthy chicks. I have seen breeders selling proven pairs that they ended up being the same sex, how did they raise any chicks???? LoL....

 

[Kinny]

There is no way you should LOSE that deposit! Even if deposits are non refundable, you can apply it to another clutch/baby/breeder bird! $500 is a lot of money, and under the amount of stress that your husband and yourself were under, I am sure that the breeder would understand the "heated" letter your husband sent (even if unpleasant, understandable?).

Mmm. Husband has typed up a 'nice' letter to send the guy. I've read through it and approve.

I guess maybe I'm sensitive because I've spent so much time, energy and money trying to fix other peoples mistakes. So if I come across, harsh, I apologize. I honestly don't mean to.

When you breed something... anything, you're not just making a commitment to the parents, but to their offspring as well. A breeders responsibility should be to ensure their care until the end of their lifespan, but many don't. They begin breeding for profit, turning out clutch after clutch after clutch, making mistakes all over the place and creating the need for rescues and sanctuaries. A good breeder will know all aspects of breeding, raising, training, weaning and did I mention training? A good breeder will recognize the medical needs of the breeding pair and ensure they're adequately supplemented during the entire process and beyond, if necessary. A good breeder will follow through with adoptive homes and educate them so that they can continue to raise the pet they were hopeful to acquire. A good breeder will be there long after money has exchanged hands... 5, 10, 20 years later and always be willing to assist in locating another placement if necessary. A good breeder will know that a pet isn't a breeder and a breeder isn't a pet and how often a clutch can be safely raised without endangering or depleting the parents. A good breeder doesn't make much, if any of a profit. They breed for preservation and the love of the species.

You don't sound harsh, you sound honest. All of our birds get health checked by our vet and avian specialist, hand-raised bred birds ONLY go to the best of homes. Among many things we offer a follow-up service for the entire lifespan of the bird, (advice, help etc should something go wrong) encourage updates from them with photos of our little baby bird.

I was actually tossed over the moon when my baby hand-raised green cheeks were health checked, the Avian Specialist told me that our birds are healthy as can be. He hasn't seen a more healthy parrot in years. He also complimented us on the good behaviour of our birds, and the fact that they quite happily allowed him to pick them up. He was also very pleased to see them understand the commands, "Shhhh", "be gentle" .."step up" "step down" and 2 of them now fly to me on command, with some encouragement. ^^ They are just 8 weeks old today. They allow me to hold up their wings and lay them on their backs.

I REFUSE to sell my birds to someone I don't believe deserves them. And I also REFUSE to sell them until their nipping/behaviour is under control.

I want to breed parrots because of my love and fascination for them, my husband likes them, however wants to breed them to get a profit. If he can't get a profit (even from a pet) he's not interested.. I keep having to remind him that we do get a profit from pets, they provide us with entertainment, companionship and unconditional love. What could be better!?

Our birds also come DNA sexed, Vet Checked with Health Certificate, 850g of their pellet/seed mix. Care-sheet covering discipline, dos and donts, species info, our services, tricks, health and safety etc.

We (namely I) care unconditionally for my birds.. they are like my own kids.. And my daughter only pays attention to me when I have a parrot on my shoulder. She's not a mummys girl and would rather be naughty and hide in a box lol. Having parrots around helps her/me to talk to one another and teach her things.

Our breeding pairs get the BEST quality food possible, good toys to keep themselves amused and all the extra vitamins/nutrition they may require. We keep them wormed etc. and they are happy birds.

Our originally untame eclectus breeding pair is now tame and will allow us to give them belly scratches every time we give them their daily dose of fresh food. I just plain adore the parents, and their babies.. knowing they will be hand-raised properly, and only going to the homes they deserve.

Abigal7: Yes, I stress a little over every bird around weaning time. Well ALL the time, until they go to their new homes. Then the stress turns to "Ooh i hope they're ok!" hence the follow ups. My babies must be looked after.

I've decided if my husband wants to get a pair of breeding Macaws.. they will be his responsibility. (however I'll probably attach myself to them...) Babies will be mine, but the parents will be under his care.