Thinking of getting a breeding pair

[Shockadine]

Pretty is on 4 eggs right now. Spide just recently started getting aggressive towards Pretty again. They are fine with each other when they aren't breeding. After this clutch they are retiring from breeding for good. I just don't think they've turned out to be good breeders. They are good pets though, so they are going back to being strickly pets.

I really enjoy the experience of raising baby birds. I was thinking of maybe getting a pair of green cheek conures. I've always loved them. They're my favorite conures. I'd like to learn more about breeding them first. Does anyone know of a site that talks about breeding them? For some reason I can't find one. My other question is about purchasing a pair. What should I look for? Are they hard pair up, or would it be best to look for a proven pair? How would I know they were proven? How would I know they weren't really old? How do I know they aren't just saying it's a male and female? I could really use some help from the breeder experts. Thanks.

[dlaura]

Hi Jaylene,
Just wondering why you just don't get a green cheek as a pet, instead of breeding them. From what you've gone thru with Spide & Pretty as far as breeding and agression etc. I might think you would just get a pet conure. There are so many unwanted parrots out there in need of homes that it just doesn't seem right to continue breeding with this going on. Don't take this wrong - I'm not judging or anything -- just my thoughts and ?s.

[daniland]

yes, i think that breeding should be left to professionals who understand not only the birds, but the market (and if there are too many or too few available).

why not get a pet conure? i love conures myself- want a sun or jenday (when i get the room)...

and further, why not get a conure in need from a rescue org? here are some in my area, and they prolly have links to a rescue in your area:

http://www.mickaboo.org
http://www.companionparrotconnection.org

[Gems]

to answer your questions, anything a person tells you about a "pair" is subject to question- age, diet, proven, unrelated,- all of it can be a lie. The best way to get a pair is to buy them as babies from two seperate reputable people and put them together yourself.
If you have any questions about them specifically, pm me and I'll help with what I can.
What kind of birds were you referring to with the agression thing?

[Shockadine]

Thanks Gems. That's what I wanted to do originally, but couldn't they still be lying to me about the gender. I got Hayley DNA sexed and they gave us a paper that said she was a girl and for the species it says "parrot". If I were shown that as proof of the sex, I don't know if I'd believe it. Well I guess you really can't be 100% sure. I guess I'd just have to go to a breeder I trust. Thanks again. I'll definately PM you if I have a question.

Pretty and Spide are cockatiels.

[Gems]

the best thing you can do when you buy a bird to be a breeder is to have it sexed and tested for disease immediately upon arrival. That way if there is any issues, you can address them quickly.
Usually if I am going to buy a bird that is sexed, I will ask for paperwork matching thier band number(dna or surgical certificate).
I agree with the others to an extent. There are some birds that should not be produced because there are too many of them that are unwanted as it is. I try to stick with rarer or more expensive birds, cuz that eliminates alot of the impulse buyers. I also screen people pretty thoroughly before I sell them a bird.
I started off with some smaller, more inexpensive birds to gain experience, but I am trying to move into some higher end species now. I absolutely love quakers, so I may get into the lutino and albino mutations in the next year or so. I have the green, blue, cinnamon and cinnamon blue, so I guess that's next. I am also becoming quite fond of caiques and mini macaws. My illiger's are an absolute riot. They will do anything for an almond. I also really like the rarer ringneck species like the alexandrines and derbyans. The moustache I got from Judy is pretty cool as well.
So many birds, so little time.......... :D

[Shockadine]

I understand what they are saying too. I've always been very careful about who I gave my baby cockatiels to. I eventually would really like to move up to breeding caiques, and in the long future I really want to breed Hyacinths. I know I have long way to go before I'd be ready for something like that. I figured every breeder started somewhere. To evenyone else, I'm sorry if the first time I sounded like I was ignoring you. I really wasn't, I just had something I really need to get done and didn't have alot of time for posting messages.

[Gems]

unfortunately, breeding hyacinths is more like owning wild hyacinths that occasionally reward you with a baby. They are difficult, but they are the ultimate parrot, without a doubt. My partner has about twelve pairs, and doesn't regularly have babies.
Caiques are pretty cool. I plan to get a black headed pair in the near future. I like them a little better than the orange headed(white bellied).
I really like the blue throated macaws as well, but they are a bit cost prohibitive right now.

[Jenny]

Jaylene- it seems like there are alot of people breeding green-cheeks at the moment, so maybe consider breeding a different type of conure, such as maroon-bellied conures, which are very very similar to GCC's in personality yet aren't bred as widely. Also look into the other pyhurra's, most have similar personality's to Green-cheeks and I don't believe they're much more difficult as far as breeding goes. Have you read "The Parrot Breeder's Answer Book"? It's extremely helpful.
Gems- regarding mutations, is it really healthy to the birds? It seems like breeding birds to be albino's, blue, etc. requires quite a bit of inbreeding and in the long run isn't good for the health of birds as a whole.

[Shockadine]

That's true Jenny. I'll look into some of the conures, less widely bred. I haven't read the book, but I'll make a point of checking it out.

[Squawksx3]

Hey Jaylene.. I have a "proven" pair of B&Gs that need a good home LOL... just kidding. There are some wonderful breeders that care about the welfare of the animals... I have great respect for them. I know I sound like Im anti-breeding most of the time, but I do admire the professional breeder that does it right and does everything humanly possible to place the animals in forever, loving homes ;) . Good luck!

[Gems]

some of the breeders who are lacking in ethics inbreed to make a faster buck. Unless the bird is the only one of it's kind, there is no reason for inbreeding. There is a fellow nearby here that also breeds blue quakers, and his are stunted nasty looking little things that seem to develop heart problems. I had somebody ask me at the Omaha show why this guy's quakers didn't look like mine, and I tried really hard to be polite about my answer ;)
Jaylene, have you ever seen a voren's mutation black capped conure? They are REALLY cool. That is one that is available if you look hard enough, but there aren't a ton of people doing them right now.
peach fronts are pretty sweet little birds as well.
Mutations are simply a genetic flaw. That is why it is so imnportant to breed them to unrelated bloodlines to help keep them strong. It is also advisable to go with visual mutations paired to a split. You get bigger, healthier babies that way. I don't get as many colored birds, but the babies are always healthier that way.

[Jenny]

I appreciate hearing your thoughts on the subject! Do you by any chance breed half-moon conures? I think they're one of my favorites.

[Gems]

no I don't. I've considered them in the past, but you don't see too many around my area.