Breeding 101
My Beginning
I first started breeding with two pairs in September 2000. There was
however several years of research and learning that I did before my
pairs laid their first eggs. I now have 3 producing pairs of
Red-Bellieds, 1 new pair of young Red-Bellieds, and one new pair of
Brown-Heads. I had visited my mother quite often and I learned how to
feed her Lovebirds and Cockatiels. She taught me almost all she knows
about feeding, raising, and handling the chicks. In May 2000 I set up a
nest box for Keikki and Makani, they laid one egg
by the end of May. That first egg was
infertile and we pulled it a month
later. Keikki laid their second clutch in August 2000. She laid 3
eggs, only one was fertile. The end July 2000 another breeder in our
club was downsizing and he had a proven pair of Red-Bellieds. Never in
my wildest dreams did I believe they would nest anytime soon as they
had a three-hour car ride to a new home, cage, nest box, food, and
environment. 3 weeks later, almost to the day, they laid their first
egg. I was ecstatic. Within about 2 weeks I had 7 eggs. All 4 from
Kaimana (KAY-mah-nuh) were fertile. I sold the first three chicks to a
wonderful birds only store that I shop at often.
The fourth chick I
raised myself and sold him to one of my now best friends. The fifth
chick however didn’t survive the first day. Wikki went home
to his new mom that Christmas and thus began my life breeding this
wonderful species. In this column I will share some of my experiences
of breeding and raising parrots. I will also try to give you some of
the “real” life as a breeder so that if someone is
considering breeding, you know what you are in for. It is a very
rewarding job, but it is also very hard, frustrating, time consuming,
and sometimes down right annoying and very financially constraining.
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