I've thought about putting Jean to stud if I get a second bird...really wanted the eclectus, but it can wait. If I put him to stud with another female, I'm worried I'd lose my best friend. I don't want him to change but I know it'd help me out while I finish college if he had babies once in a while. I doubt I'd get more than 400 for them a piece but the only reason I'm considering this is because I need options to support myself. But I want to do what's best for him, I know there's a chance I could lose him, so do I risk losing my buddy, or will the deep bond I have with him stay during his bonding to a female? I know that phrase, you can't have your cake and eat it too, or however it goes. But I'd like it to work, and even if they did breed, and the eggs weren't fertile at least he'd have a girlfriend if I had to work long hours somewhere, I don't want him to be alone.

Tinna,

A very complex topic with no cut and dry answers.

I will tell you this, of the few hobby breeders I know, not one of them turns a profit...it all goes back into their birds. I definitely wouldn't look at your Conure as a way to support yourself, or even supplement your income. That's just my opinion.

I'm assuming your bird was a handfed baby. They don't always make the best Mom's and Dad's. Do they get hormonal? Sure. Do they know how to care for a mate and chicks...not always.

Are you prepared to invest in a proper nestbox set up, an incubator, brooder, handfeeding equipment, leg bands, vet care, a venue to sell the babies (website/newspaper ad), the expense of fresh foods and weaning diets (most of which will get wasted as they learn to eat), gram scales, shipping crates, gas to the airport or local delivery? Can you assist a hatch? Would you know when to assist a hatch? Are you prepared to take over the feedings every 2, 3, 4 hours? Can you train a baby to step up? Are you prepared to teach the babies to fledge? Do you know the difference between a baby who is dropping gram weight because it's sick vs because it's fledging? Can you tell if a baby is dehydrated, has a slow crop, splayed legs, is/isn't thriving?

These questions aren't to scare you, just to give you some things to consider. I think we all have the BEST of intentions when we think about pairing our companions and loving our baby's babies. The truth is that most of us have lifestyles that just don't jive with raising birds.

You're worried that you won't have enough time for your bird while you're in school. If you don't have time for one companion, how will you squeeze out time for his mate and babies too?

My answer...You have a LOT to think about.

Final thoughts...you asked, "I know there's a chance I could lose him, so do I risk losing my buddy, or will the deep bond I have with him stay during his bonding to a female?" His bond to you may naturally change to his mate, but your bond to him, in the deepest sense of being responsible for his health and happiness will never change. That's what it is to love a parrot...we love them even when they are busy loving somebody else.

Good luck with your decision....I know you asked because you love your bird and want his happiness. Hopefully, others can help guide you with their experiences.

PS Putting a bird to "stud" is nothing like putting a male dog to stud. Dogs, with a few exceptions, are ready and willing...just give them the girl. Birds need to bond and it has to be a mutual decision. I have heard of circumstances where one bird was willing and the bird it was paired with wanted nothing to do with it.

Birds do not make money, they cost, I do not even break even. Also they are not dogs as stated.

IMO your bird deserves his own best friend of his own species. Since humans have their own family and friends, he's not "really" your best friend, but you may be his, by default.

But not for breeding, why would you want to breed?

I would get him a mate, opposite gender and allow them to live their little lives together. When and IF she lays you can just not hatch them by replacing with fakes or freezing them, one at a time, marking with an X and returning at room temp. They will lose interest but have the partial reward of a somewhat normal relationship. Since breeding is a biological imperative.

My birds are in pairs and they nag me all the time, anyway. And I never encouraged it, I encouraged them to bond with each other. And they have. But still they get bored or curious or whatever and we hang out. But I dont cross the line I make sure I am the outsider. So "losing" them isn't a concern I have. And what about when they have to be rehomed as "most" are...then they grieve and don't have the very human they were forced to bond with. So yes, I'd get him a mate but for his enrichment only. Preferably a rescue and it would be good to let him pick or screen her first. Not all birds hit it off but IME most are so happy to have someone they really do try. It takes some finesse and care to do....

Alright alright! O_O....I know people make money at it because there wouldn't be aviaries if that didn't happen. I was just curious what to do with him, if I could stay home with him more I would, and that would be an option if it was possible to make anything with him. I'm not looking for G's here, I was just trying to think you know? I've got him, the webcomic and hopefully a job soon to keep me occupied and I like the first comment the best, really I didn't think there'd be a HUGE thing like that behind it thank you for telling me. The second comment, just so you know that's just how I refer to breeding animals I know it takes time and commitment to get them to bond and even if they do they may not mate. I just needed to put this thought out somewhere so I could get it out of my head and see whether it's really worth it. I want him to be happy, and I could care less if I didn't make oodles at it, just enough to keep his ends met during the year was what I was thinking of, he's worse than a beaver when it comes to toys. Thank you for your opinions and sharing what you have.


To the fourth, I was thinking rescues but they get mad even if you didn't intend for them to breed, fertile or not and can reposess your bird in NJ so that may not be the best option, he's 4 years old right now and still young in my opinion I've got more than a year to think of this. And he will NEVER, EVER, be rehomed. He loves my mom and if it ever came up she'd take him in for me. I will never take in, or consider taking in an animal I can't take care of or love because that'd be just as cruel as the person that left them behind.

Everyone made excellent points Tinna. I, like Cindy, suggest you get your bird a playmate of it's own species, a large long indoor or outdoor flight and proper indoor lighting, toys etc.... and let the bird be happy just being a bird in the best accomodations you can honestly provide it. Interact with it/them when ya have the time. Forget about making lots of money, not enough profit if done right, not really worth the headache(s) IMO & IME....

I personally would not be destroying any fertile eggs but would have someone well experienced lined up to take them from you - to hatch them out and raise. Maybe you can even find someone (most likely a local beeder) who has pairs that will sit and then raise the babies as their own - if so, that breeder may even buy the eggs from you... Good luck with whatever you decide.

I understand you want to thrash this idea out there a bit.
i think you have to look at your motives & what is best for your pet.

A companion bird can be great - a female may be the answer - but you never know. Getting a cock or hen - will definately change the relationship you have with your bird - cause for one thing you have to invest time in the 2nd bird too. It will change your life as well. You'll need more space for one thing - another cage as well. Lots of birds require their own space unless they're breeding. Lending you bird to a breeder - well you might get him back unhurt - but if he's bonded you'll have a sad bird back.

Our 2nd Budgie makes Laker's life so much more exciting - they are very noisy & very busy. Before it was quieter & less busy. Laker is still close to us but now he's never lonely - even when we are busy. We got a male companion because we didn't want the baby issues.

You'll have 2 to look after on a student's wallet/time.
This is why i didn't get into any pets while at school or shortly after, when changing jobs, boyfriends, countries; it all got in the way of keeping a pet properly.

If you feel this is all getting to be too much - even tho you love him & he's a great bird - maybe you should find him a great new home. Do this while he's still a happy lad & not lonesome & plucking or has other issues.
Don't let guilt cloud the big picture. If you need to find him a home, do it. I just don't envy you the journey. Best of luck.

PS - RE-money making ~ only experienced breeders can make money doing this - they have big & often diverse aviaries & have to be very good at what they do. Vet bills can eat all baby profits. The hobby breeder [again usually diverse] may make a little money now & again & if lucky will have few Vet bills.

I'm glad the most experienced people answered before me.

Tinna,

Part of owning birds is understanding the stages they go through. Its a hard time and we usually force our feelings upon our birds, which isn't really right. As an ex-hobby breeder who had 4 clutches, the most I would have made was $500. That's a large amount of money, but bear in mind that that was over 3 years time. All in all, you wouldn't make that much by having only one breeding pair. Not to mention, the time and effort it takes with babies. You willbe faced with sleepless nights for hand feeding, multiple trips to the vet's office (where you will spend a ton of money as well), money for baby toys, seperate cages, food etc... And then, there's the task of finding a good home for them. By the time you get the adoption fee, it will only be reembursting you for the money you spent on the clutch, none left over. Here's an idea of what you might spend:
Hand feeding formula: $10.00-- this will probably be bought 3 times in the hand feeding course.
Baby cage: $40.00-- will probably need more than one
Toys&Accessories: on top of Jean's and your new females ($20 per month) the babies will need them as well: $40-$50 total
Fruits/Veggies/Seed/Pellets: $50 depending
Time: Unknown

Remember that Jean is still young and is probably going through a hormonal stage. Breeding birds takes a LOT of out of them, including their sweet nature in the average bird.

You can look back several pages in this forum and see where I have posted about tough decisions I was having to make. Choose to sell Harley to get my ekkie. It was probably one of the toughest things I have gone through in a while... Now, a month or so later, things have worked themselves out. Tomorrow, I am going to pick up Lucy, a Vos/SI female ekkie who might I mention is free. Sometimes, when you wait, you will ge thte better things in life.

I would keep Jean as a pet and not breed him. It wouldn't be worth the extra time and money to lose a friend. Remember that when you are raising babies, you will be in college, have a job and then there's a social life. When will you have time to raise 4 babies? Personally, I would keep your current family together and wait for an ekkie. Check Craigslist, where I'm getting Lucy and where I got Echo. Keep your eyes open for an adult who needs a home, like Lucy.

Thank you, but like I said ~J~ I'm not in it for oodles of money I was just asking if there was a chance if I decided to hobby breed I could get anything out of it for the fids to put towards my own. I would be terrified and overwhelmed if I had like 10 and 20 birds like some of the members here. Or a big Aviary. That's not my style nor thing. Two birds, whom probably wouldn't have eggs nor would there be a ton of them and all that. I'm sorry if I communicated that I in any shape or form wanted to make a living off of my birds having sex That's not why I would keep a bird anyway, I understand some people have stud animals where they have puppy mills etc, I neither have any interest or would have interest now, or in the future of doing anything like that with the birds. At this rate from how this topic has turned I'm really disinterested in mentioning anything further of my activities with Jean. It was an innocent question that a good portion of you (not mad here) jumped on and skipped the rest of it save the money, and the term I used for breeding the birds. You kinda made me feel like I'm a low life here, =/ and I'm not liking it so I'm going to go away for a while until I feel better about this topic.

P.S. you do give good advice guys, just realise it was a thought I wasn't going to blow it out to the proportion of handling an aviary which I do my best to stay away from in any situation because I don't like the idea of something that might be more cleaver than me being any higher than eye level.

EDIT: Heh, Social life? That made me smile...