Aussie Finch Forum

Hi folks,

Just a general question as to what makes a "big time" finch breeder?

Is anyone in Australia managing to do it semi-commercially at the moment?

I was chatting with a forum member the other day and a breeder was mentioned that breeds around 800 finches a year.

Would there be many out there breeding more than this?

Cheers Ian

Just get a few pairs of Zebs and you'll be able to top that pretty easy haha. Good question though... It will be interesting to see how much of our hobby and stock is made up by how many breeders. I sometimes wonder were our hobby is headed when these "big time breeders" move on.

"Big time?" Pretty subjective I suppose. I thought I was "big time" last year. 80, a mixture of goulds, stars and painteds. Not really commercial when you take into account, time, seed, meds etc etc. This year started with the same amount of stock, changed nothing. Result 4 goulds, 1 painted and 1 star.

I know why I am going bald because I am pulling my hair out!

I think I prefer to keep it as a hobby and not as a business. Just enough to cover the costs and maybe buy some new stock is enough I reckon.

Ken

I would worry about being able to move that many birds on.

800 chicks a year! Good grief! Where would they all go? Over seas? That is a lot of birds to contend with, and they would have to have one heck of a setup to keep from being sloppy in the care of all the birds. That number of birds would have to be commercial enterprise, or one would think!

>800 birds bred. The numbers of birds bred each year probably is more than you think.

These numbers can be achieved by some people. It would depend on a number possibilities such as the size and number of aviaries, specializing on species types, retention of young and rotation of stock species with in the aviaries. MORE importantly is the prevailing weather conditions combined with the location in Australia, type of species ie Zebras Gouldians Canary's /Waxbills weavers, large planted aviaries compared to small breeding cabinets and not to forget the persons health. The number one reason IMO is that they are so successful is the huge amount of TIME required, each and every day, by these very dedicated (fanatical finchos) people so they can maximise their birds potential breeding outcomes.

BluJay wrote:800 chicks a year! Good grief! Where would they all go? Over seas? That is a lot of birds to contend with, and they would have to have one heck of a setup to keep from being sloppy in the care of all the birds. That number of birds would have to be commercial enterprise, or one would think!

I haven't seen the breeders set up, but I am led to believe it is amazing. You don't breed 800 birds a year in "sloppy" conditions.

They sell at a number of sales and probably to dealers as well. I think they typically specialise in mid-range birds ($60 to $200 range). If the average price for a bird is $30 to $40, that's around $30k a year, less running costs. So while the hobby isn't costing the breeder money, it certainly wouldn't work as a full wage.

As for where they all go, there are plenty of bird keepers whose losses are far greater than what they produce.

Cheers Ian

So true, Iaos. You have to have birds/animals in your blood
(like me ) to put in the kind of time required. My going from 27 birds to nearly 200. Has opened my eyes to lots. I for one know it takes me an inordinate amount of time and an effort that defies imagination to provide the upmost care for them. All I know is I'm in my element and loving it. Still can't get enough of them. Hats off to those who manage 800 +/- birds. Regards.

If you put the time and effort into breeding and have the space it is quite possible
To sell that number and be viable you would be breeding Cordons, Gouldians etc. not Zeb's
Basically middle rung birds $20 to $30 each
When you add up all the extras and hidden costs the bottom line isn't that great.

There are a number of canary breeders in Sydney who breed over 200 chicks a year in the 3 months between October and December, so I can imagine finch breeders breeding over 800 chicks each year, with the right set up.

Depending on the canary breeders name and show results their birds range from $30 for petshop quality up to $500 per bird. The highest I have seen in Australia is $600 for a single bird.

In the UK there are a handful of breeders selling birds for 1,000 pounds ( approx. Australian $1,800) per bird and they do make a living out of breeding birds.