Aviculture
Aviculture is defined as the practice of breeding and raising birds in captivity and an aviculturist is the person who performs this activity. These terms, however, tend to be used exclusively for exotic birds such as parrots, finches and other birds kept strictly for enjoyment. The world of aviculture has something for almost everyone. The general types of birds dealt with are often broken down into categories that include:
Psittacines (hookbills) – cockatoos, parrots, parakeets, lories, etc.
Finches – Zebra Finches, Lady Gouldian, Society Finches, etc.
Softbills – mynahs, toucans, Pekin Robins, Starlings, etc.
Doves – Diamond Doves, Ringneck Doves, Fruit Pigeons, etc.
Gamebirds – pheasants, partridges, waterfowl, etc.
Why breed birds?
When the battle cry seems to be spay or neuter your pet, why should we be encouraged to breed our birds? Cats and dogs are domesticated animals, but birds are not. Birds do not breed as freely as cats and require special effort on the part of their owners for them to reproduce.
There are many reasons to raise birds in captivity. Probably the most important of which is to provide birds for pet owners without having to take them from the wild. Prior to the 1990’s, most of the birds, other than Budgies and Cockatiels, sold in pet stores were wild-caught. Since that time, aviculturists have made great advances in breeding birds in captivity. Birds in the wild are under many threats including habitat loss and trapping. By breeding our pet birds in captivity, we can help reduce the pressures on wild birds and develop a deeper understanding of their requirements. By maintaining self-sustaining populations in captivity, we also provide a “safety net” by having birds available should the wild populations become threatened or extinct.
Birds that are captive bred are also much better adapted to life in captivity since that is all they have known. In the case of parrots, many are raised by hand from the time they hatch or from a couple of weeks of age. This will result in a pet that is well socialized to their human owners.
Why raise birds? It is simply a fun and fascinating hobby for the family to get involved in. Watching a pair of finches raise their brood will provide endless moments of fascination. The process of breeding and hand-rearing a pet Cockatoo provides a sense of joy and satisfaction that is hard to find in any other hobby.
Should pet birds be bred?
Now, before you rush out and buy a mate for your favorite pet parrot, there are some things that must be made clear. The bond between a pair of birds is often very strong and will sometimes supersede the bird/human bond. In plain English that means that it’s likely that your pet will not remain friendly with you once it is paired up with its own kind. In fact, former pets can become very aggressive towards their owners since they lack the fear of people that untamed birds would have. There are always exceptions to the rule, but if you would like to get a mate for your pet, you must be prepared to lose the relationship you once had. It would be unfair to allow a parrot to bond with another bird and then to separate it later and bring it back as a household pet.
Bird Clubs
Whichever types of birds you decide to get involved with, there are many local and national clubs and organizations that are invaluable sources of information to help you develop your hobby. There is nothing better than experienced people to help you get started or to refer to when your birds begin to breed. The Avicultural Society of America is a great place to start.