Australian blue goulds

[Tiaris]

I seriously doubt that anyone involved in bird breeding solely for a financial return would do any good at it. It has to be a hobby/passion for the bird breeder to achieve consistent breeding success. This said, I see absolutely nothing wrong with people making choices as to species/colour forms to keep & breed partly based on the expense required for the initial outlay & the likely return from any surplus sold. It may be PC & give a warm & fuzzy feeling to say that money is an evil force in aviculture but it also has many beneficial effects. For one, the animal welfare safeguard which a high value generally dictates is a very good consequence. A greater standard of care in turn leads to likely better breeding prospects. I see nothing immoral by an aviculturist who aims to recoup useful funds from sale of surplus birds. I know in my case if this didn't occur, I wouldn't get the spouse support I currently enjoy & aviculture would not be a prospect at all at my place. I think most if not all honest large scale bird breeders would not have more than a couple of aviaries if the economics of aviculture were not as they are. This in no way is a reflection of the principles, decency or character of people who sell alot of birds.

[vettepilot_6]

Well said Tiaris.....but I'm thinking maybe I should change from hobby to business and claim it all back off my wages as a huge tax loss...what with building aviaries, feeding, electricity, buying and selling stock etc....hmmmm might be the way to go considering the Taxes I pay

[arthur]

Nothing wrong with making money out of breeding birds

Often there is a little involved

A little story apropos of nothing really

A long time ago I was offered a vey large sum for a mutation (not a finch) . . won't say how much, as those who don't think I am fibbing will think that I am skiting . . anyway that particular mutation is now worth but a fraction

Looking back, I can see two fools together . . One for offering, and the other for refusing

[ColouredFeathers]

Well put Tiaris in 25 years of breeding birds and mutations i am still not rich still waiting and waiting.