Re: Australian blue goulds
Posted: 06 Dec 2012, 12:31
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.