parrotlet breeding?

[alliethebirdnerd]

i've posted about this in other forums before-
(pacific parrotlets) i've got a male p'let a little over 2 yrs old, and a female about 1.5 yrs. these birds "do it" on a pretty much daily basis, yet i've never seen eggs. EVER! not even infertile ones! my female's sister belongs to my boss and she is the only bird he has and she lays clutch after clutch of infertile eggs. i've tried different nest boxes, adding lighting, calcium/vitamin supplements, YES they are a boy & girl (believe it or not- i've been asked). the only thing i haven't tried is a plain, wooden nest box i've tried only "fancy" ones. also, some people have suggested maybe they're not ready, yet i've heard of these guys having babies at barely a year old. has anyone else had experience with this? i would love to have a bunch of these little guys and i know a lot of people who want them as well. for the record i feed them volkman parrotlet seed as well as broccoli, eggs, and berries (stuff they like).

[friend2parrots]

i can't really offer you any advice on things like how much of this or how much of that, because i am not a breeder, but from what i've learned in my conversations with breeders, etc and from what ive read, there's an awful lot involved to do it right. i personally think that breeding birds is best left to the experts because you must be able to offer your breeding birds and chicks optimum care, conditions, space, and diet, and a number of other things. one needs to have certain necessary financial and space resources available to do it in a way thats best for the birds.

i am not sure if you will find them helpful, but ive recently written some posts on what ive learned are the practices followed by the best breeders, in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9684

[alliethebirdnerd]

i've definitely got all the resources available, and i hand rear baby birds as part of my job (parrotlets are extremely easy) and have gotten a lot of info from the breeder i got them from as well as other breeders. these are not "breeder" birds nor were they ever meant to be, i got the female because someone didn't want her and her & my male fell in love so i keep them together as companions. first and foremost, they are my tame, loving pets. just wondering how they can get busy every day but have no little ones- i know i certainly want to know the secret for myself lol! i just think it'd be great to have some babies running around, and i've got plenty of people who would want them. i'm really just looking for advice from people who have actually had experience breeding parrotlets to see if there is a reason for this.

[marie83]

Unless you know loads about parrotlet genetics, potential hereditary health problems and what genes cause them, know how many generations removed your parrotlets are from each other etc etc then I wouldn't bother.
I have many other reasons why I would advise against it as well but you do seem to have thought it out a little and friend2parrots has mentioned alot already.

[alliethebirdnerd]

My parrotlets are from 2 different lines entirely and I know both of their genetic backgrounds. I know they are a difficult species to breed in captivity especially when kept as a single pair. I guess this question belongs on another forum entirely where there are more people besides myself who really understand the species

[friend2parrots]

I guess this question belongs on another forum entirely where there are more people besides myself who really understand the species

even if you really understood the species, I still would discourage you from going ahead with it. breeding is something that should be left to experts, not amateurs like yourself. there's just too much at stake.

i just think it'd be great to have some babies running around, and i've got plenty of people who would want them.

These are not good enough reasons for wanting to breed birds.

When done properly and humanely by professionals, breeding can help ensure the continued existence of vulnerable parrot species into future generations. Bird breeding is thus an extremely serious responsibility to the species, and there are certain standards of humane husbandry that must be kept, which you need to research and ensure that you can provide your birds. Please read the thread I linked in my first post above, to get a sense of what's involved in breeding birds properly and humanely. Most ordinary people really do lack the resources and space that are required to breed birds humanely. that's why its best left to the professionals. From what you've shared in your posts I don't think you are ready right now to undertake breeding in a way that is fair to your birds.

this advice is meant kindly, by the way, and I hope it was helpful to you in making your decision

[alliethebirdnerd]

i have to disagree with you, i think that when people breed to "fill an order" is wrong. I am not *making* my birds breed, they are just mating and they need to be kept together because they are bonded. breeding birds is for people who love the species and do it as a hobby and for the commitment to an already dwindling species. and meant kindly or not, you, and all the people on this forum just assume i am an amateur when i've been keeping and working with birds for years, just because I'm new to this site does not equivocate with my experience with birds. i know there are hazards involved, like people who let their cockatiels lay eggs until they egg bind, etc. but guess what- the fact of the matter is that i know a lot about the species, and am well educated into what their needs are, as well of the needs of other breeding birds as i WORK with them as part of my job! I was just wondering if there were any ACTUAL PARROTLET BREEDERS out there who have ACTUAL EXPERIENCE with breeding parrotlets. but forget it- i'll go to talk parrotlets where people actually UNDERSTAND the species and don't make inaccurate assumptions about people

[cml]

And yet you stated in your post that you are breeding them because "it would be fun having parrolet babies around", or something very similar to that.

and meant kindly or not, you, and all the people on this forum just assume i am an amateur when i've been keeping and working with birds for years, just because I'm new to this site does not equivocate with my experience with birds.

If you feel you arent being taken seriously, I think the reason is that you come across as not doing this for the right reasons in your previous posts, which in fact is - as we dont know you, all we have to go on when trying to help.

ACTUAL PARROTLET BREEDERS out there who have ACTUAL EXPERIENCE with breeding parrotlets. but forget it- i'll go to talk parrotlets where people actually UNDERSTAND the species and don't make inaccurate assumptions about people

Just because people havnt breed parrolets, doesnt mean they dont know a thing or two about the problems with breeding in general, or the problems that can arise when you do.

I guess this question belongs on another forum entirely where there are more people besides myself who really understand the species

Who's making assumptions?
If you are dead set in your ways, and not open to discussions, its really hard to keep a dialogue open.

I think you should stay on the forum, but you need to calm down a bit I think, people here are trying to help you and they are building on what you shared with us in your previous posts, because that is what, and really the only thing to base an opinion on, you come across as knowing.

[friend2parrots]

yes, i second that, I do think you should stay on the forum, as it was nice to meet you and your birds

i just reread my post, and i'm thinking, perhaps my use of the words "amateur" may have come across wrong... I really did mean it in the dictionary sense, and not in any slighting way. For instance, I consider myself an amateur in a lot of things, even things I'm really interested in, but am not an "expert" or a "professional" in. so from your posts I thought that was the case with you, and my apologies if i am mistaken. likewise, my advice to you about not breeding is advice I would have given to anyone (even someone I didnt know anything about) who was thinking about non-professional breeding. that's just what i think about the issue in general. (ah, parrot politics! )

in any case, I look forward to seeing more of you and you flock around the forum again