1. How long have you been a breeder? How long have you had a breeding business?
I got my first pair of Gouldian Finches in 2006 or 2007. Depending on what you define as a breeder, I would either say I've been a breeder ever since, or I would say I seriously became involved in breeding in 2008-2009.
2. Do you belong to any avian organizations or clubs?
NFSS. I'm also a sponsor and donor of Save the Gouldian Fund. I used to belong to more but I began to realize there was little benefit to belonging to multiple groups.
3. What are your general beliefs and philosophies for bird care? How were these developed?
*shrug*
Keep them fat and happy. Good food, clean water, clean cages. It's pretty simple.
4. What type of setup do you have for your individual breeding pairs & their offspring? (Perches, food, lighting, cage size, etc.)
I predominantly breed in 30x18x18 cages. I use the under-cabinet strip lights (18") on most of my stacked breeder cages with just the "daylight" bulbs. The flight cages I have when not breeding are of various sizes. I use mostly natural perches that I just cut from outside.
5. Do you purchase any of your stock from brokers or international suppliers? If so, how do you pick them out & where are they kept?
Umm.. I don't think so. I haven't knowingly.
6. What type of process do you have for educating first-time adopters? What species would you recommend for their skill level?
First time adopters don't all have the same skill level. I provide as much education as the individual is willing to absorb. Pretty much everything I think a buyer of mine should know is on my website, and that's how they come to me.
7. Do some of the more aggressive species you offer such as Strawberry Finches or Diamond Firetails need more experience to keep?
I've never owned any aggressive species.
8. How do you ensure that your offspring will be well cared for by their new owners?
I hope for the best, but when I take my birds to a bird fair or mart there's absolutely no way I can realistically predict the kind of care they're going to receive short of providing the individual with the information I feel is pertinent. With private buyers I have a better idea, but I still can't control what goes on when they leave my hands and I've learned to accept that.
9. Do you quarantine any new birds or stock purchased from other breeders? If so what is your process?
If I feel it's reasonable, yes. I don't buy new birds often and when I do I purchase from people I trust. When situations have arised where I've adopted birds from other people I do a 2-4 week quarantine which is roughly outlined on my website.
10. How did you get started keeping birds? What made you decide to become a large-scale breeder?
I've always had birds. I'm not a large-scale breeder.
11. Does your business coordinate any events or programs within the local community? (i.e. speaking engagements, etc.)
No.
12. How do you decide your prices?
I price them however I want to price them based on what I consider to be their value. If I'm at a fair attended by friends of mine I'll try to discuss FMV prices so we're not warring with one another. This usually ends up helping everyone in the long run. If the two people with Owl finches are both selling them for $75 a piece, there's no reason for someone to choose one vendor over the other until someone runs out.
13. Describe your favorite customer experience.
One where there's as little drama as possible?
14. What types of products do you sell and why? Where are they stored until purchase?
Morning Bird, Twin Beaks Aviary, and my own personal seed and grit blends. I sell them because I use them and it's convenient to have them on hand for myself or others. I really don't sell much of anything besides seed, which doesn't really require much in the way of storage because what I'm not selling I'm using myself. When I get an order, I package it up right then and there. There's never any pre-bagged seed just sitting around. Customers get the same stuff my birds are getting.
Morning Bird and Twin Beak I do two orders a year, spring and fall before the shows and marts of the seasons. What isn't sold that hasn't expired is stored in a "supply closet" in our bird room. I usually dip into these products for my own use.
15. What are the most important aspects of bird care in your opinion?
Meh. Cleanliness I think is a big one.
16. How do you keep your flock/stock happy & healthy?
Honestly these birds are pretty easy. It's not difficult to keep them happy, they're not high maintenance birds. Keeping them healthy is a matter of opinion and I do my best.
17. What sort of "above and beyond" activities do you do with or for your flock?
I think anything that has to do with fresh foods (veggies, greens, eggs, sprouts, etc) is above and beyond in almost every case. I'm guilty of slacking on this, it takes quite a bit of effort to have fresh food available all the time. Sometimes I skip a week or two, feel bad, and then go overboard with egg food.
18. What species and mutations do you have for your personal collection? Where did they come from?
Gouldians, Owls and Societies.
My foundation stock of Societies came from Su Yin and Helen Hoffman in Texas. My first Owls came from Rich Dozbaba in CA and I've collected other single birds along the way from other breeders to expand my bloodlines.
My Gouldians are either birds that I've bred myself from 5-6 generations out or birds that I had to acquire after I sold off almost all my stock in 2010.
19. Have you ever had to raise any babies by hand who were tossed or abandoned? If not then how do you handle that issue?
Yes
20. How do you handle refunds or issues with orders?
It depends on the issue. I don't refund birds. If something is genuinely wrong with an order (I've had bags of seed bust in transit) I'll either refund or replace.
21. How do you feel your business compares to a small or in-home breeder?
I don't think it's much different.
22. Do you receive any questions from the general public? If so, what are they regarding?
Yes. Usually about Gouldian genetics/breeding questions or about health related questions with their birds.
23. Do you have any regrets as a business or have had any negative feedback?
Nope. I don't spend time worrying about should have would have could have. The one or two customers who may not like me can probably tell you the feeling is mutual. I've had very few complaints and the ones I've had they brought on themselves.
24. How do you feel about pet stores who sell birds - both independent and chain types?
I'm apathetic about it. It's something that's there, but I don't waste time thinking about it.
25. How do you feel about the large-scale breeding business and your competitors?
C'est La Vie. There's always going to be Wal-Mart.
26. Do you feel other large-scale breeders have a high standard of care? Do you feel they need to make any improvements?
Some do, maybe some don't, I can't reasonably assert that anyone needs to change the way they're doing something. I've had breeders with dirty cages have ten times the success as me. I like to think their birds probably have outstanding immune systems as a result.
27. Does your business have any plans to expand in the future?
Nah.
28. What advice would you give to hobbyists both experienced & inexperienced?
Caveat Emptor. Use common sense.
