Collector or Breeder

[Weaver]

I was wondering when forum members thought it was appropriate to call yourselves finch breeders?
Should it simply be when you produce some young ones or when you produce twice as many young as you have adults perhaps?
Or maybe when you have managed to breed for one/two three or more generations?
I only ask as I often see comments from members saying they will buy "something" as soon as they can afford it.
Firstly learn the ropes on the commoner species and if you are capable enough with these they will then fund the rarer birds.
Please don't be just a collector. Particularly with the rare finches.

[Jayburd]

I think there's a large difference. I would currently call my self a Keeper, simply because I've bred not but zebras in my aviary so far.

when you have managed to breed for one/two three or more generations?

That sounds close to me, to call yourself a breeder... If you can consistently produce young ones several times then I think you qualify.
To me, collectors are very different - they don't attempt to breed, just to show off to anyone who happens to be asking.
I definitely used to be a collector - but thanks to you guys, I hope that's changed and will continue to change.

[jusdeb]

Bird lover here and keeper of birds , breeder of parrots .

No title taken or used . Yes some want to buy anything and everything however I buy what is on my list according to my long term goals .

My list is now completed and buying for new blood will be the only purchases made by me ...

And I agree BREEDER is a term used a bit too loosely however its not what one calls themselves its the reputation for breeding good quality birds that precedes them that matters.

Just my opinion ...

[Pete Sara]

A keeper here. breeder not so much , keeping them alive no problem getting the buggers to procreate now thats another story. ITs more luck than anything over the past few years with me , but I wouldnt see myself as a breeder until I have a few generations under my belt...and wouldnt take on any of the rare birds for a few more years yet That would be one of the hardest things when re establishing a setup every 2 years. But not anymore.....pete

[wagga]

Point well made.

[matcho]

I am just a "Fancier". Any birds I breed is a bonus, but I just love to see the pretty little things flitting around. Mine is just a hobby. Must admit that I do sell, just to cover seed costs. Really, to be a "breeder "in the true sense means that (in my way of thinking) you have made it your livelihood. Lets not get pedantic over terms, after all in the long run we just love our fethered friends whether they breed or not but once again that is a bonus. I keep a s..t load of tropical fish and breed but there is no way I call myself a fish breeder. Can breed more ciclids in one foul swoop than I can breed finches in 5 yrs. They take heaps longer to get to selling size than birds and the buying price is in the single dollars per unit. My main point is, who cares? Breeder, collector, fancier. I reckon I'm a good sort but my mirror (an missus) tells me otherwise.

[jusdeb]

At the risk of being impersonal ( again )



Nah well said Matcho .

Fancier ...yep I like that one so if I'm going to wear a label lets make it "JUSDEB BIRD FANCIER" ... Ive been called worse

[matcho]

Thanks Deb,
I need a pat on the back once in a while. (Impersonal or not!)

[mattymeischke]

I would say a breeder is a more serious keeper, who tries to manipulate pairings to produce particular results and has a 'program' of sorts. Compare with a cattle breeder (improving breeds, building a better beef body or increasing yields in dairy breeds) with a cattle farmer. When asked, I usually say that "I keep birds". 'Fancier' is probably accurate, but I just don't like it much.

I have bred several generations of several species, but wouldn't consider myself a 'breeder' in the sense above. Maybe in a few years when I've got more time, or when I have more separate enclosures to facilitate selective breeding.

I got into this caper because I love birds, and have since I was a little boy. I was given a canary at the age of seventeen (I was seventeen, not the canary), and loved him and his song but was vexed by the small cage. He died in my hand the first time I caught him (to trim his nails). I find it hard to abide the sight of a cockie in a small standing cage (a common sight in my childhood), and resolved not to get any more birds until I had the space to build an aviary and keep them properly.

It took about twenty years between study, and working in itinerant fashion, but several years ago I started and have taken it progressively more seriously. In a year or two, I might be a breeder; for now I would call myself a keeper.

[Nathan Morleyy]

Weaver,
I would call myselfe a keeper but I am trying very hard to become a finch breeder and I am cleaning out all of my aviarys getting rid of all of my bad finches and I'm just fockosing on a few Australian finches. And I have been makeing alot of upgrades to my aviary complex innthe last couple of months and my breeding results are already vastly improving Which is great thanks Weaver .

Thanks Nathan