final decision bird wise:

[shox]

Just looking at step3 how about green strawberry finch, beautiful bird, very rare, you'll be so proud of yourself helping breed a rare species.

[Jayburd]

sure would, but $3000 a pair is a bit steep for me

[Jayburd]

red strawbs somewhere wold be nice, but as the aviary is already overcrowded, it's not possible at the moment.

[Jayburd]

Jayburd, if your that keen on having that many pairs, just have one pair of ruddies and one pair of star finches, they'll breed easily, compatible and more importantly get you the income you need.

whoops, missed this post
I like to have 2pr of birds as then I can make unrelated pairs. The ones I have listed as 1pr only are the species I can collaborate with other breeders to produce unrelated pairs for selling. Relateds, as I'm sure you know, are much harder to sell as they can't be bred. Only people with spares buy them.
I hate stars, they're just (in my mind) uneven looing birds, and I must have even-ness!!!!!

actually, I'm not exactly sure what you're entailing here. are you saying just have the 2pr or reduce the numbers already listed down to 1pr each?

[kimberley breeder]

While I think its great that you have a plan as to how you will aquire your dream species..just bear in mind that the species you are aiming to aquire isnt based on having the money to do so, but having gaining the experience from keeping and hopefully successfully breeding some of the easier species. Blue Caps and weavers take some experience which is why I havent housed them as yet. I have had birds for 20 years, 10 of those..finches. I know how you feel and just want to have your dream species right away....but you will get so much more pleasure out of them by having to confidence, money (if necessary) and expertise to have your dream birds Good luck! I too have a wish list! Blue Caps, Greens Strawbs and PG Waxbills are on that list

[Jayburd]

haha yes I sometimes barely resist the blue caps at our local sales...
Yes I know, and that is why I've made 3 lists, and made it so that I HAVE to breed each species (and thus gain experience with them) before I get to the rarer ones
wow, that's a very rare list! well, maybe not BC's so much, but PG waxbills and Green strawbs are going to be interesting hearing about. good luck!
I guess I'm rather lucky that my favourite finch species (blue caps no contest) is actually more available to me then I ever thought it would be... lets hope they stay that way!

[Jayburd]

hey KB, do you actually have Penguin Zebras? I've been looking for those for years!
not that I'll b able to have them... ah well maybe I can convince mum to have a cage set up

[jusdeb]

OK OK I have a Phd in Murphys Law given to me by the School of Life so heres my 2 bobs worth .... Do what you can with what you have , expect many surprises along the way , some will be good and some will be bad , embrace your successes and learn from your failures .
Remember that even seasoned pros have bad luck with birds so when you do get around to getting those high priced birds it will still be up to old Murphy as to whether or not you are successful .
Better to be good at breeding your less exotic birds than to suck at breeding exotics. Most of all HAVE FUN along the way .

[E Orix]

Jusdeb
You get 100/100 you are so correct.
I really wish bird keeping/breeding was that easy or maybe I am very very slow at learning.
Personally I like the surprise factor. Mike Fidler and I have discussed this many many time as he is the total opposite to me.
Spectacular notes and documentation,knows exactly what is happening and what should happen. Me I do well with an exercise book with few entries.
Mainly what was released into the aviary at the start of the season and some references and data pertaining to its ring.
He could not be convinced until staying here he went into my big flight very early one morning and watched for a couple of hours.
He now understands how and why a still get a kick out of seeing a new nest of young on the perch,either Zebra Finches or the rarer ones it does not matter.
Infact I probably get a better feeling with the less expensive to mid range than the expensive types.The first group and generally left well alone and give me the surprise while I generally know what is happening at most times with the rarer types.
As I have said before get the runs on the board and doors open because the younger people need the help along.All they have to do is proove they are worthy.

[Jayburd]

totally agree and I plan to
I would do it so that it would take more sets each with only 4pr or so, but the longer I take the fewer in number the rarer birds will get