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just for collecting info on breeding (budgies)

Bunchobird

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Hey, if you have seen some of my previous threads, you might notice that i am heavily interested in breeding budgies. i am not planning on breeding for a good 4-7 years, but would like to start conducting reasearch to be the best possible first time breeder i can be. I know lots of people will discourage the breeding aspect of this thread, but i want to know more about breeding.


so, if you have any prior experience with breeding budgies, i would LOVE to hear the mistakes, awesome choices, things you couldn't survive without, things you wish you would have thought of ect.

thanks!
 

Zara

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Some of my top advice would be,

1. Research - so given you´re planning to breed in 5 years, this gives you time to dedicate. But you must work hard in researching. Included in research, you need to also be taught how to hand feed, this can be done with a vet, local breeder or other experienced person, maybe someone from a local parrot group who has bred before, or an ex-breeder.
A good book could be a helpful reference, find out who the respected authors are and look for books written by them that include breeding info.

2. Vet availability - you can not breed any animal without having the appropriate medical care available for them somewhat nearby. Make sure you have a good reliable vet nearby, preferably with an emergency 24/7 clinic. You need to take the adult birds to the vet and have a check up before breeding them, during this appointment, tell the vet your plans, and ask about things like supplements and diet, as well as any other questions - especially those specific to your bird.

3. Finances - You need to have the funds available to buy all of the equipment (and replacements if needed), but also to pay for any vet visits you may need.

4. Time - you need to have the time available to be in the house enough to oversee the whole breeding process. While the hen is incubating the eggs, you will have more freedom, but once they hatch, you need to be around all the time at first until they are feathered and nearing the end of the weaning process, then you can be around a little less knowing they are able to eat.

So given the time and financial aspect, you need to be either self employed, working from home (as a permenant, not a temp covid measure) or be able to take a month off work (from when the eggs are due to hatch). I don´t think it is possible to be a good breeder and work a 9-5 or long schooldays because you would be out of the home too much.

5. Market research - You need to check the local market and make sure that it is not oversaturated with the species you want to breed. Check shelters and rescues, if there are lots of budgies there, or petshops filled to the brim with them, I wouldn´t suggest them to be a good species to breed and you may want to look into other options. If you want to breed, you need to be filling a void - a species that has a demand so that you will be able to find good homes for them.

You may also want to compile a questionaire that you would ask potential buyers to fill in, and or a fact/info sheet with basic care info like not mixing birds with cats/dogs/reptiles, list toxic foods, PFOA/PTFE advice, how much sleep, cage size, diet guide. You could even set up the original check up appointment for the chicks and do the handover there, that way you know they go to the vet and the new owner sets up an account for their bird.
Remember, just because someone is interested in buying a bird from you and they have the money for purchase, you don´t have to go through with it if you don´t want to for eg, if they live 4 hours away and they have no vet nearby.

Here is a little video, it´s more towards hand rearing, but the same applies for breeding in general,

Remember, if you have questions, ask them! :)
 

tka

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Something to be aware of is identifying your goals as a breeder. In many countries (I don't know whether that's true for you), budgies are cheap and easily obtained. I can get a young bird on gumtree for around £15. Because they are so cheap, people buy them on a whim without properly researching their care and when the bird inevitably needs attention and care, they rehome it. Far too many birds are trapped in a rehoming cycle where they are seen as disposable. The lucky ones end up in a rescue. As a breeder, it is essential to first consider whether it is ethical to bring young budgies when there are already many, many budgies seeking homes. If you do go ahead, you must consider what you can do to keep the birds you breed out of crappy homes and/or being bounced around on gumtree or craigslist.

You need to very carefully consider your breeding goals. As I said, there are usually plenty of perfectly nice, friendly young budgies available on gumtree, craigslist and so on. What is going to set your birds apart from these? You cannot just stick two nice friendly budgies together and expect their babies to sell. As I said, many countries have many, many perfectly nice friendly budgies in rescues or available for a few quid/dollars.

Some people specialise in interesting colour mutations and pair birds up carefully so they can predict what they will get in a clutch. You will need to research these mutations to see what is considered interesting and desirable.

Some people specialise in breeding exhibition budgies for show.

Some people work with very well-established lines and breed for health and lifespan.

Whatever happens, you will need to start with good, carefully selected foundation stock. Joining a budgie society is a good way to network, find mentorship and established breeders may be willing to help out a novice by supplying breeding quality birds that aren't needed in their own breeding programmes.

If I were looking for young budgies, I would want to see:
  • a clear set of goals from a breeder: what are they breeding for? why are they breeding? what is the overall aim?
  • some kind of systematic approach, not just "oh these birds are pretty, they should have babies"
  • a rigorous approach to choosing birds for a breeding programme.
  • commitment to breeding for physical and mental health: breeding birds that are resilient enough to cope with the stresses of captive life.
  • impeccable husbandry: environment, diet, enrichment, vet care, mentorship.
  • commitment to learning: attending talks, being part of a breeding network (to swap birds and keep gene pools fresh), learning about avian health and genetics, keeping up with best practices as they emerge.
In addition to @Zara's very good point, this is a good post from @PoukieBear: Budgie Small Colony Advice
 

Zara

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1. Research
I was a little vague on this point because it is a large topic. But I wanted to specificly mention, you need to research and learn how to care for day old, week old chicks. So adjusting formula ratios, incubator set up, how to work out correct humidty and temperature for the corresponding age in days, as well as feeding cycle, how to spot infection ,how to spot dehydration etc. Most breeders allow the parents to raise until a certain age, but there are some circumstances when the chicks are abandoned, or there are health problems that arise meaning they need to be separated from the parents, as well as the more grim, if the hen dies.
So when researching, it´s not just about the set up, the egg incubation cycle and weaning, but also caring for neonates.
This goes for all species.
 

Sparkles99

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I think tka has a very good point expounding on the research part. You need to do market research too, not just budgie or breeding research.

For example, up until February-ish 2021, budgies were going for a lot more than might be expected here. Someone on AA said the budgie shortage in stores was due to a bird mill that had a disease that necessitated culling & starting from zero. This was eventually rectified & now I see many backyard budgie breeders offloading their 'stock'.

The year long shortage is definitely over & I'm not sure how you'd be able to lure most customers away from easy big box stores, TBH. You'd need to offer more than the instant convenience they do. What the more is could vary.
 

Momof3litt

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There is a market for healthy, hand-raised budgies, but you have to make sure you are I the right place, with the right demographics to reach it. For example, the breeder where I got my GCC also breeds budgies, linnies and Quakers. Her budgies cost about $100, so 4 times the cost of a pet store bird. However, when you buy one of her birds, you know they are coming to you from healthy stock, hand-raised with training started, well-socialized and eating chop and pellets. Her budgie waiting list is always full, months in advance.

You also have to think of what happens if you have a poor breeding season - can you take the financial hit of keeping many birds and not making any income? Some breeders have also started online shops selling supplies to make themselves more of a 1-stop shop and to supplement their income in the off-season or when things are slow. Responsible animal breeding is generally not a money-making endeavor, are you prepared for that?
 
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