Raising Birds
For The Pet Market
Raising Birds
by D. Marlena
Breeding, raising and selling PET BIRDS! Yes, they can be your bread and butter if you happen to have a little extra space and time to do a little research. Most agriculturists have never given thought to marketing for the pet industry that has become a hot commodity.
Once pets were thought of as a luxury item or a specialty for the spoiled and pampered. Not today! Dogs, cats & fish have always been a popular part of the household, but when television became available to everyone in the fifties, many shows popularized the pet bird. Perhaps it started out as a fad, but once people learned the character and personality of these feathered little ones, their reputation as a pet became synonymous with utmost pleasure.
This popularity has opened the door for many to make a substantial income, while others have engaged in raising birds as a hobby. This article is designed for the novice looking for extra income.
First and foremost, one needs to like animals and/or birds. If you don't have a love for animals, you will probably not succeed in the breeding and raising of birds. If you have a nurturing nature your first requirement has been met. The next step most advantageous to a possible venture would be to visit many pet shops, zoo's and available aviaries. Notice the distinct difference of personality and requirements between species.
If you have found your research to be pleasurable, you're ready to advance. Check out beginners books on pet birds at your local library. After reading several and you are truly fascinated, it's time to seriously consider making a profit from pleasure. If you're a beginner it is always wise to start small and grow in production as you gain experience.
After many years of experience I highly recommend starting with Cockatiels, Love Birds and Budgerigars (Budgies). With nominal investment and reasonable care you will most likely succeed and gain inestimable knowledge.
You must become aware that you can not afford to be naive when purchasing your breeding stock. In spite of what some will tell you, it is seldom wise to buy birds advertised as breeders. If they were good breeders, they probably wouldn't be on the market. They may be over bred, infertile, poor parents or one of many common reasons to sell. You might even be told they are young breeders only to find out too late the birds you've purchased are great grandparents.
Even though you might have a few successful clutches, you should start with young, unrelated stock. One good way to be sure your prospective breeders are not related is to buy males from one trusted source and all females (hens) from another.
Before you invest you should have available space in an unoccupied building. Don't try to raise birds where other animals are or ever have been housed unless the building is concrete or metal permitting you to completely sterilize the entire structure. This also includes former poultry buildings. It is possible to make used animal buildings serviceable, but it requires great caution and is not recommended.
There are many bacterial and viral diseases that can survive for years in wood, soil and other penetrable surfaces and can wipe out your entire stock. It's not as scary as this possibly sounds if you take informed caution in the beginning. Just remember that you wouldn't take your new baby into a germ laden environment or let your child chew on contaminated surfaces or objects, so the same requirements are needed in making the breeding of birds a lucrative hobby or a long term vocation.
It is certainly possible for a novice to become adept with a sizable income if he/she remembers the "keyword", which is experience. Starting small and gaining knowledge will be your most valuable asset.
A good steady net profit can be expected if you plan and act wisely. This is not a business where one should expect to get rich over night, but with strategy you can bring in some bread and butter money after your first year and then with proper structuring you can be on your way to a reasonable income established by your third year. This depends of course upon the number of breeding birds you have set up and research of marketability. There is always opportunity for good and viable markets, and there are many options that can be adapted to your individual desires or needs.
Check AgriHelp often for new articles relating to housing, feeding, selecting stock, marketing, control and treatment of disease and other related subjects. Where to obtain valuable information for free and who to contact as a reliable and trusted confidant will also be discussed. There are many available resources to gather from and cost you nothing as you investigate this rewarding venture.
If you are looking for new ways to increase your income and cash flow, don't hesitate to consider the raising of pet birds. Being informed is a necessity in this business just as being knowledgeable is a requirement in any other occupation in which you are an investor.
As you query others, don't become discouraged at some failures. There are many reasons for not succeeding and being ill informed is probably the most common reason for failure.
If you decide to join the ranks of thousands of others, then learn all you can from persons who had the experience to become successful.
There are many ways to make money, so stir up some ideas. For instance, canaries and finch make a nice additional variety of birds to breed for the retail market (but not very profitable to sell wholesale). If you are going to sell retail make the buying experience a family adventure for your customers. Do you have land-space that would be suitable for a picnic area with a little sweat labor? Do you have a few animals that could be observed (behind proper fencing of course)? Maybe small but attractive outdoor aviaries in summer? These are potential supplemental income sources.
Charging the going rate for picnicking and have a kitty (donation box) for the animals can bring small profits if your area furnishes a permit for such activities. If possible sell homegrown produce or products at the same time. If your animals can have treats, sell these also for visitors to feed. You will need to carry liability insurance in case of accidental fall or injury and this information would need to be checked out in your county.
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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