Complete Beginner

[dankay123 33]

hi all,

i have been thinking for some time about starting a bird house. i would like to breed mules if possible but as i say i am a complete beginner. i have just got the housing setup and i was gonna add a caged flight. will i need one or not? i am after any advice on setting up and an idea of how many pairs i could keep. my housing i 8ft x 10ft. it is insulated but has no electric to it yet. my mate is an electrician so not a problem. What sort of cost am i looking at to set up breeding? have kept birds such as parrots and budgies so i know about care and diets. anyone help?

cheers

[gnipper 6,584]

You don't need a big fancy set up to breed mules, a double breeder and a bird of each gender and your off. If your after breeding from several pairs then you'll need more double breeders or a block of cages.

[dankay123 33]

is it really as simple as that?

[Lairy 2]

If you look for birds go Stafford show ground on the 7 th. of June sale on then all sorts of birds there

[dankay123 33]

any shows near north west?

[gnipper 6,584]

is it really as simple as that?

It can be. I wouldn't buy adult birds this time of year either unless its off someone you know and/or can trust or you could be buying someone else's shite which wouldn't breed for them so they move them on.

[dankay123 33]

like i say mate im a complete beginner so i wanna find out as much as possible before i get any birds.

[dankay123 33]

what about cost? what am i looking to set up with a couple of pairs? goldfinch, canary, greenfinch etc

[fireman 11,038]

Well a Native goldie cock will set you back around £40 upwards,a greenfinch cock £15 upwards and depending on what canaries you want £15 upwards each as well,but likes been said buying adult birds this time of year isn't the best thing to do as anything worth breeding from is being bred from really and you might get someone with a spare bird to sell but most will be not worth it to be honest.But one thing you must remember is when breeding birds you will end up with more than you started with and they need somewhere to live as well,seed and bits and pieces your'll need to breed with,nest pans etc you know about from keeping other birds,so really not to much money to get the birds with to start with but be warned they do spend your money for you and it's bloody addictive and your'll want more soon enough ,a bird will cost a few pence a day to feed but when you got a few it soon adds up mate

Your right in starting with mules as they are easier than pure natives to breed and goldie ,greenie mules are good ones to start with and as it goes i started with the same ,best of luck mate and your doing the right thing finding out first then getting the birds .

[dankay123 33]

Where is the best place to look to buy birds from? Cheers all for advice so far

[fireman 11,038]

Likes been said mate this is the wrong time of year to be buying to tell you the truth and any native cocks for sale this moment i'd be checking their rings are all correct and be wondering whats wrong with it,but there are sales about and one this weekend in Norfolk (East of England at Norwich show ground)but to be honest unless your local it isn't worth a long journey for as it will be mostly foreign finches and aussie flying rats or budgies as most call them ,Stafford and Newark are also worth a look but later in the year is best once the moult has been and gone and then your'll have a good chance at fresh this years birds to start with next year,if mine produce i'll help you out but only had mules and greenies (rung some today ) so far myself.

Patients will do you well in this hobby mate and worth the wait for the right stock .so hold back and don't just buy the first thing offered.

[dankay123 33]

Will defo take you up on that. I have been looking and I would like a goldfinch pair, a Greenfinch pair and then some canaries. Does this sound like a plan to start with?

[fireman 11,038]

If your breeding mules then don't get a canary cock it'll ruin the song of them but yes that sounds ok,the only thing with greenfinches is there prone to going light during the moult and a lot of folks loose a few during this time,some will use drugs to prevent this and some like myself don't use drugs unless there needed.Both ways work for some and both ways don't so personal choice on that front.If your flights are big enough you could have say those two pairs and a couple of canary hens all in together without to much hassle but again only if there's enough space for them,a 9x6 aviary would be ok really and space out the nesting places and your'll produce both pures and mules.If i can like i say i'll help you out but it'll be one from each type as my stock is related and i see enough results of in breeding living in Norfolk as it is but i'm sure we'll get you there in the end.

[Millet 4,497]

my stock is related and i see enough results of in breeding living in Norfolk as it is

:laugh: