Choosing Birds

[vettepilot_6]

Didn't know where to put this as Parrot people can chime in too.....When Choosing birds for your Aviaries/Cages, Do you go on what you want or like? what you want to breed or capable of breeding, Price or how much money you want to make? or like me each time I wanted birds I read up on them, studied everything about them whether I could supply all their needs then I would purchase them...so after 30yrs I think I have quite a lot of skill...but like everything you never stop learning, even now I have gone back to Painteds and RFPF (both being fairly easy breeders) but when the aviary is finished...I will put in it what I like and am capable of handling and they will be or should be quite happy together.. Sorry for the long post

[garyh]

I first look at the birds that take my fancy,then do my home work on what the aviary set up should be and whether my aviaries are suitable,then their feeding needs.I purchased pictorellas once and after three years we parted ways,i didnt have the conditions they obviously needed.I totally agree ,you learn something new every day,which makes it all the more interesting,it makes me laugh when some bird keepers think there is a mystical method of caring and breeding your birds,over stocking of aviaries and then waiting for an abundance of young,for me its just not the way to go,the birds needs come first if you look after them ,they will reward you thee fold.Making money off the birds doesnt come into it,if i break even for the year im happy,a bit long winded this post,sorry garyh.

[jusdeb]

Aviary size / design first .
if I want to hand rear .
Popularity of the bird so they can be moved on when its time .
And yes ( don't shoot me ) I am venturing into more expensive birds to hand rear since it is what I do .
And yes am taking on more challenging birds .

However I have just set up a 4 bay budgie aviary and am getting as much joy from the humble budgie as I do with the other parrots .

[ColouredFeathers]

Gary i totally agree with your post 100%
cheers flavio

[finchbreeder]

I like the bird, it is not too hard to breed, I can afford it. And some mutation challenges. As for making money or even breaking even, hell will probably freeze over first, so it is a good thing I don;t care about this.
LML

[Diane]

My first criteria is that I like the look of the bird. Then do I have the skills/knowledge to keep it? Can I afford it? Are they available?
Not worried about cost recouping, hasnt happened yet and doubt that it ever will.

[elferoz777]

Like most I go for the look of the bird coupled with personality.

This is why I like euro and African finches..they sing better and seem to have more personality...

That being said I am quite taken by Aussie finches recently.

I prioritize by looks and character first followed closely by hardiness and cost....will the bird need special diet and heaps of attention plus cost an arm and a leg only to die after the first cold snap? if so then this is not the bird for me as I do not have the to dedicate tot the bird that i deserves.

I am planning after I gain the discipline required to breed pin tailed whydahs so the above argument will be stretched when this time comes..

AS for profit...I am very happy to make back my seed costs for me the reward is the hobby.