It started off innocently enough. A friend was thinking about dropping a stressful job and taking up bird breeding to reduce her high blood pressure and make some money. When she mentioned this to a group of us she received a lot of “don’t do it” from us all.

Let’s examine this a bit closer. Why would all these people – some of who do breed birds tell her not to take up breeding? Are they worried that she might cut into their market & reduce their profits? No, that can’t be it - this is a friend and she doesn’t live close enough to any of us to have any impact on profits.

My reply to her was:
“I haven't done any breeding in several years now, and my experiences are with the smaller & less expensive birds. Some months I was lucky enough to cover my expenses but most of the time, the costs of raising the birds exceeded any money coming in from their sale.

When you're looking after the birds, you may find that your blood pressure goes down as long as you enjoy the cleaning & the time you get to spend with them.

But when it comes to picking the right people for your baby - or having people phone and make an appointment, but then not come - or phone you a week after they have their bird & say they want another one because the last one was caught by the dog or flew out the window - or any of the other ways that dealing with people can annoy you, you may find that your blood pressure is right back up there again.

This is just my opinion, of course, but if you look at breeding as just a hobby that will probably not even come close to paying for itself for several years, you may be able to bring your blood pressure down.”

Another reply she received was:
“Becoming a breeder is NOT the way to lessen your hypertension. It is emotionally and physically demanding. Getting a proven pair of breeders is usually expensive too.”

One more reply was:
“Raising and breeding birds can be heartbreaking and exhausting!) Think of all the sad things that happen with the breeders here. The babies that don't make it (which IS going to happen), the sicknesses that they spend tons of money on, all the supplies you'd need, it would take a long time before you would even make money and you'd probably want to keep all the babies”

Yet another reply:
“IF it is just to make extra money do not plan on it. Most breeders barely break even. I remember someone who had to take a baby tiel into the vet for an infection and it cost 600 + dollars to make it well.”

Now we have to wonder why anyone goes ahead & breeds birds. What is in it for them?

See part 2.