Breeding
Birds For The Pet IndustryBreeding
Birds For The Pet Industryby D. Marlena
Most birds can be profitable if selection is made carefully. One thing to first consider is marketability. If there is a surplus in your choice of birds to breed, then there is little chance that you can profit monetarily. There are few areas of the country that has no one breeding birds. This is usually a very cold or hot climate. It can be a lucrative area if planning is instituted. Extreme cold? Do you have an area that can be well insulated and furnished with heat lamps? Excessive heat? Do you have the ability to insulate and provide air conditioning? If you only want to breed a few pair, how about converting a room in your house or perhaps your garage has space. If a garage is used, please remember you will not be able to store a car. When you start or run your car, carbon monoxide can quickly kill your birds.
If this is your first bird breeding experience, why not begin with types that are easy to care for and can give a good return on your investment. Cockatiels, canaries and budgies are fairly easy to care for with cockatiels and canaries giving a good margin of profit.
The following is a brief outline of investment and second year return. Of course this is an estimate and not everyone will obtain the same results. Bird prices vary considerably in different areas of the country, so check your locality.
| 5 pair COCKATIELS @ $45.00 ea. | $ 450.00 |
| Feed, Vitamins, etc. | 480.00 |
| Total | $ 930.00 |
5 pair should yield approximately 45 babies per year or more. This is allowing them to have 3 nests. 30 offspring or more if allowed to nest twice per year. Many argue that two nests are all that should be permitted, while others insist they have never had problems with allowing three nests. I never allow young or first time parents to breed more than twice their first year.
If you hand feed the babies and sell from your home, you should be able to sell for the same price you paid for each bird. In reality you should be able to sell for more, but remember some people will be tempted to go to a shop for purchase. I do not advocate running competition with your local pet store as you will in all probability lose. In addition, the shop can be a good source of help and information. What I am advocating is a decent profit for the breeder when he/she only has a few pair of birds and will probably not offend local shops. If you are rearing a larger amount, wholesaling to the store is usually beneficial. Otherwise you may find yourself holding a surplus.
| 45 babies at $45.00 ea. | $2,025.00 |
| Purchase 5 pr adults | - 450.00 |
| Feed & Vitamins | - 480.00 |
| $1,095.00 |
The above is an estimate of first year profit.
Second year will not have $ 450.00 for purchase of adult birds, therefore you can expect to make an estimated:
| Gross Sale Baby Birds | $ 2,025.00 |
| Feed & Vitamins | - 480.00 |
| $ 1,545.00 |
Cost of caging is not included, as actual price will vary due to type of material, etc. Also cost of caging should be divided over normal amount of years used. A sturdy cage should last about ten years.
The same rule applies for canaries, with the cost and sale of the hen being about half that of the male. You will need to check pricing in your area for actual cost of canaries, cages and nesting materials. The following list is approximate:
| 10 pair canaries @ $50 for males, $25 for hens | $ 750.00 |
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Expected babies per pair (approximate): 6 to 8 if allowed to have 2 nests per year; 9 to 12 if 3 nests are allowed. Expect about an equal division of males and females. |
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$ 1,750.00
875.00 |
| Gross | $ 2,625.00 |
| Less Cost of Birds | -750.00 |
| Gross | $ 1,875.00 |
Minus cost of feed and general expenses as outlined above.
It doesn't matter what you raise you need to do a business plan. A business plan will help insure your success and possibly identify other options you could incorporate into your operation. You will definitely need one to give to your lender if you're planning to finance any part of your operation. If you need help doing a business plan Click on Business Plan to go directly to the 'How to Put Together a Business Plan' located on AgriHelp. It takes you step by step through the entire process.
Look in the county section of your phone book for the number, of your local farm advisor, of the University of (your state) Cooperative Extension. If you can't find this listing, in the same section, look for the number of the Agricultural Commissioner as they will be able to give you the number.
The service of the farm advisor is free and he/she should be able to help you with the information you need or refer you to someone at the university who can. Since you have or are planning to build an agriculture type operation these contacts will be very valuable to you. It is also possible they could suggest other niche markets, in your area, that you could successfully add to your operation.
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