where to live

[shnapper20]

hi I live in Hastings just out of Melbourne, great access to sales, other breeders, avian vets,building supplies, town water, power, close enough to the ocean to have very few frosts a year.
however come winter the birds shut up shop and very little to no breeding takes place. The advantage with this is the birds I do breed tend to be tougher, birds Ive bought down from queensland have a tendancy to fall off the perch during winter. I have discussed with other breeders what their area is like for breeding and most have some advantages but so far all have some mayor disadvantage, Hervy bay great place to breed birds...hard place to sell them. rural vic frosts cold winters , tasmania the same , and then furthur north I assume you would have the problem of hot summers. So where in oz is the best place to breed and keep birds? As Im a victorian where in victoria is the best place to breed birds? How do you rate the place you reside at for breeding birds. thanks john

[Reubenvg]

I'm in Brisbane and don't find it too bad. I only breed Gouldians really but they seem to go fine through the winter. I've lost a few but you always do in winter and no need for heat lamps etc, I just put up some clear plastic on aviary to stop wind and seems fine. I do try take nest boxs out for winter but often you can't get them off eggs long enough to do it.

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/ ... 0214.shtml Coldest month lowest ave is 9.5 thou I'm sure it does get a bit colder. I don't think I've ever seen a frost in Brisbane at least in the closer suburbs (outter areas would for sure)

There is a few local breeders (prob many more than i'm aware of) and couple of good sales (QFS Jan sale / Auction in sept) and couple sales in surrounding areas I'm aware of.

Close to major airport if you do need to freight in some birds its not a big issue (had some blues shipped in last 2 years with no issue)

Im sure you can make where ever you live work thou

[wagga]

Check out Port Macquarie its located half way between Brisbane and Sydney. Australia's best coastal climate. Full time employment is harder to find than the larger cities.

[Red]

Tasmania is a great place to breed canaries. No heat losses during summer and the breeding season only starts one or two weeks after the mainland's.

One disadvantage is that the show scene is much smaller so it is harder to sell stock. This is why a Norwich will sell for $40 in Tasmania but in Victoria will sell for $300. That may be a good thing. I am in the process of selling my stock and all of the interest is coming from interstate.

It is also hard to find supplies like tonic seed, colour food, maw seed etc.

[Myzomela]

Most of our birds do better in dry rather than humid climates. This is the main problem with the northern areas- the summer humidity.
Many birds are bred In Adelaide every year and this is considered by many experienced breeders as one of the best places to breed birds in Australia.
But in reality, each place has its advantages and disadvantages and we are inventive enough to build aviaries that suit our birds in most parts of the country.

[SamDavis]

Wollondilly Shire in NSW is definitely the best place in Australia to live and breed finches. As a bonus you also get awesome neighbours!

[Myzomela]

OMG- shoot me now, please...

[iaos]

Hunter valley has had its fair share of quality finch breeders over the years. Climate is probably somewhat like Adelaide's but with less intense heat waves.

[Tiaris]

I could give a precis of my local area but there already plenty of people heading here & my neighbours are crap.

[E Orix]

I have travelled quite a lot and viewed my share of collections.
I lived in Melbourne from an early age until my early 30's then moving north to
the Vict./NSW border was a great move, none of those weeks of grey skies and no sun.
Originally I thought wouldn't it be great living in the tropics but it has it's problems.
In the far north I was staggered by the amount of weather protection that is needed
Except for around 15 frosts per year here it would be perfect, but it's still a great area.
Areas that have a distinct mild winter\ summer climate have great possibilities.
I can not accept that it is good for your breeding stock to be expected to breed efficiently
over the whole 12 months. Having a winter gives them a rest as well as you. If your birds have been
rested prior to the breeding season your numbers of fledgings will be bigger and most likely of a better quality.
In the winter months I have enough time to do all work that is required so when breeding season comes around
I have no need to interfere. Apart from our frosts we rarely have any extremes such as rain storms etc.
Our summer temp. are high but no humidity, we do not have reptile problems etc.
Those places with their warmer winter climates are great for holidays and maybe to live in but it's always nice to get home
and we only read about those weather extremes.
I guess the last word comes from the birds by the numbers that are bred through out our breeding season here.
Why I wish we had no frosts, not for the birds but for me as I would be able to grow more tropical type plants,
the birds don't have a problem as its generally a great blue sky day following.