What species of parrot would you breed?

[Alwese]

....I'm actually highly interested in breeders who allow their birds to be parent raised for the pet trade. I know it's not something that "we" want in North America (thank you greedy, lazy people who want instant gratification!), but I have heard that it is illegal in some places(?) to hand raise birds as long as the parents are willing and capable of doing so. Only in cases where the parents wont, or can't care for the chicks, is it allowable.

Macaws are not always really nice to their babies and a high percentage of them are damaged or killed by their parents. Biting off toes frequently happens; why I don't know. For this reason alone, pulling babies on the third day to an incubator/brooder is advisable. Breeding and rearing macaws is kind of a double secret business. I intend to find out everything I possibly can about the process and make it known on this board!

 

[RockysMom]

I think I would stick to the smaller parrots to breed if I was to ever really consider being a breeder like Quakers and Conures

 

[MonicaMc]

Alwese, you are indeed lucky! I haven't made close friends with any breeders in my area, and one that I spoke to wouldn't allow me to view her birds, for fear of "upsetting" them, thus causing the birds to stop breeding. I think it's BS, personally, but eh, whatever. I think she's actually more concerned about something else than fear of them not breeding. That said, the one pair I am interested in reproducing are the ones that she can't get to reproduce! And she's not even 100% sure that they are male/female.


Crimson, the question was for both pet owners and breeders alike! Crimson bellied conures sure are gorgeous! I particularly like the Pearlies and White Eareds myself!

 

[Pugtato]

Pending the support of a very anti-pet fiance (I promise he is not all grump!) I would love to have a small breeding flock of Paroletts or Linnies! Something quite, cute, and manageable! Though really I would love to breed freshwater turtles, which is where my real breeding passion is.

 

[sodakat]

....I'm actually highly interested in breeders who allow their birds to be parent raised for the pet trade. I know it's not something that "we" want in North America (thank you greedy, lazy people who want instant gratification!), but I have heard that it is illegal in some places(?) to hand raise birds as long as the parents are willing and capable of doing so. Only in cases where the parents wont, or can't care for the chicks, is it allowable.

Macaws are not always really nice to their babies and a high percentage of them are damaged or killed by their parents. Biting off toes frequently happens; why I don't know. For this reason alone, pulling babies on the third day to an incubator/brooder is advisable. Breeding and rearing macaws is kind of a double secret business. I intend to find out everything I possibly can about the process and make it known on this board!

This is what you hear from people who pull all babies. If you correspond with people who always let the parents rear the chicks, they do not say this. Maybe pairs are "trained" to only care for chicks a certain length of time.

Chewing feet of brand new chicks seems quite odd to me. I would put cameras in nest boxes of pairs who did this. Their feet are not prominent at all in neonates. They don't even have toenails. Why would parents go to the feet? The head/beak is what is always in their view. Sorry, but there is more to this I'm sure.

 

[MonicaMc]

I've heard same/similar reports as to what Sodakat says. I've heard some breeders allow the parents to raise at least one chick per breeding season so that they know how to properly raise their own offspring.

But I know of one breeder who says her pairs "toss" the chicks at her when it comes time to pull them. I think it probably varies a lot.

 

[dakotab619]

i just started breeding lovebirds i have one pair and i love them both just had there first set of eggs they have 3

 

[MonicaMc]

Best of luck with your pair! I hope you are prepared for any emergencies!!!!

Will you be starting a thread about the growth of the chicks, along with photos?

 

[mistywaterwoman]

I don't think I could ever successfully breed anything.... it's a matter of not being able to part with the babies!
I adopted a dog once who had three puppies right after I got her. I managed to let ONE go and then cried for weeks, ended up keeping the other two even though that meant we then had five dogs, lol.
I get asked all the time if I will breed my chinchillas, and I have to say NO... any baby of any species that is born in my house is MINE and mine alone, lol.

 

[NiR]

i would actually LOVE to breed. I would make sure to emphasize on socialization and diet! So many times i feel like bigger breeders who is breeding too many birds kind of divide their attention to thin. Thats why i would start with only few quieter birds. Senegal would be my first choice and then later one maybe greys. But problem i am most scared of is how am i going to sell. I don't want to be stuck with more parrots then i can handle.

 

[MonicaMc]

Kara and NiR, that's also a concern for me as well! Would I be able to part with the offspring? And even if I did, would I be able to sell the to appropriate homes? Not to mention the amount of birds in need of new homes.

But this thread is more about dreams than reality! Or maybe someone is already living their dream of breeding the species they want?

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Interesting thread ,In the begaining of my bird crazyness ,I was really looking into breeding Rosebreasted 2s [not mine] but get a bonded pair. Their a nice pet,pretty quiet, and there was a big interest in them because theres not alot around here.I thought [its been awhile if this is wrong].They had 2 clutches a year and If I was successful that would a realistic start.I wasnt worried about finding homes for them knowing most of the time people are finding them on the internet.So I obsesively tried to teach myself everything I could.On the best breeding materials for the species.handfeeding [and I had A go to person if I ran into problems.I also had a vet set up who had experience in this. I had decided I was going the way where they stay with the parents 2 weeks then you hand feed them the rest of the way.But I also knew I had to learn about incubators in case I had to raise it from the egg.Learn how to fix cracked eggs . plus lots more. But in the end I realized I couldnt do it .I couldnt be a part of this cause I didnt know if they would be taken care of to my expectations. These animals live in cages and i feel strongly about people doing it right.I love love birds period .I wish I could say I was for rescues only but Im not I dont have a problem with either. I have an interest in rare birds that i know if I want .It will have to come from a breeder I like vasas,westernlong biiled2s,golden conures and buffons macaws. I learned alot from good breeders and can appreciate what they do . But on the other hand with rescues I feel I should do my part because of my bird experience. If you decide to breed just please make sure the owners are educated on birds.Because I knew we werent with our first bird that was a rescue congo grey. One more thing I had 2 situations where I had to handfeed [and I wouldnt of known what to do ,thank god i learned.I had a sun conure that I was told was weaned [and wasnt] and my sick macaw last year that was losing weight fast [that I had to handfeed] so I was glad for the experience.

 

[Parrotdise]

I would have to say Pionus- any of the ones commonly kept as pets. They are amazing birds, some of my all time favorite. Also to breed the Rupples parrot would be wonderful, they are not easy to come by though!

 

[Jtbirds]

If I could choose one bird to breed it would have to be the black cockatoo species. I have always loved there looks and how they are compared t the typically cockatoos. Since I am a rescuer though I don't think I'll be breeding ever.

 

[sodakat]

20 years from now this may REALLY be a dream discussion because most wild caught parrots in CITES signatory nations will no longer be producing, if any are even alive by then, and the anti-pet organizations will have suceeded in moving their agenda forward.

I hope at least one person reading this thread will end up breeding parrots.

 

[sodakat]

Back to what I said in an earlier post on this thread; I wish there was some place on the internet to discuss parrot breeding.

I have a 14 year old hen on her first fertile egg. I have many questions. Where do I go for answers except to individual breeders?

 

[OOwl]

Sodakat, your local bird club (a dying institution) would be a great resource for picking the brains and experience of old breeders, who learned all that back when it was still smiled upon as a noble hobby. While I will probably never breed parrots, I hope the ones that do it well and with a passion (never-ending education and learning how to raise better, more well-adjusted, healthier pets) keep doing it. That's one of the reasons I belong to a bird club and why I will continue to support them. Good luck with your egg!

 

[sodakat]

Sodakat, your local bird club (a dying institution) would be a great resource for picking the brains and experience of old breeders, who learned all that back when it was still smiled upon as a noble hobby. While I will probably never breed parrots, I hope the ones that do it well and with a passion (never-ending education and learning how to raise better, more well-adjusted, healthier pets) keep doing it. That's one of the reasons I belong to a bird club and why I will continue to support them. Good luck with your egg!

That really is a good idea which I have pursued but my state has few parrot owners and the only bird club is hundreds of miles away in the Black Hills.

I have personal experience with my Solomons but this older girl on her first egg is new ground. I'm hoping instinct will prevail.

There are quite a few parrot forums but most members either frown on or know little about breeding. Just saying I wish there was a place, that's all.

 

[Brodie]

If I ever was going I breed it would be Eclectus' and Macaws, but I don't think I ever will have the time or money.. I have alot of uni to get through, including alot of research and then working afterwards. If I start breeding I may aswell say goodbye to my career now lol.
But I can wish, haha

 

[MonicaMc]

Grey, have you shared about your cooperative breeding program before? If not, I think some members may be interested in hearing about it, myself included. If I ever did breed, it would be one thing I'd be interested in doing.

JTBirds, I agree! Black 'toos are quite unique! But so are gang gangs!


Parrotdise, ever heard of a pygmy pionus? Apparently, they look like a maximillian pionus, only much smaller and with a disproportionately sized head/eyes/beak. If the links work....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151499612628291
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151499612588291
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151499612508291