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Texas Agriculture Archive

December 5, 2003

By Lana Robinson
Field Editor

Looking to diversify or exploring ways to supplement your income that can meld right into your farm or ranch operation? Chances are you haven't considered raising pet birds, but James McDonald of Kerrville says this often overlooked niche has great profit potential.

"There is a strong demand for parakeets, cockatiels, finches and lovebirds. Even with the current lagging economic situation, superstores such as Petco and Petsmart are expanding and the pet industry shows experienced record attendance this year," says McDonald, who ran a successful pet bird business from his home near Corsicana from 1975 until he retired and moved to the Hill Country three years ago. "With over 8,000 individual retail pet shops, as well as countless other outlets in the U.S. selling pet birds, there is a never-ending need for a steady supply of birds. Yet, most small farmers or hobby farmers don't even know this business exists. The bird business is not a fly-by-night scheme or fad. It has stood the test of time. It has been around since the turn of the century, through good times and bad, and its future looks as bright as ever."

Navarro County Extension Agent Mike Gage agrees.

"Since 1983, gross sales from aviculture enterprises in Navarro County have grown from $100,000 to $350,000 annually. Over the years, pet bird production has generated millions of dollars of income for the local economy and has helped to diversify agriculture in the county," Gage reports.

McDonald, who knew of two other people raising exotic birds in the Corsicana area back in 1974, began exploring that possibility with his wife when the time came to begin their family. They were looking for something Brenda could do as a stay-at-home mom to make money. Within three years, the business was going so well, McDonald gave up his job and the two of them went at it full time. And over the course of 25 years, they had so much demand for birds, they actually had 50 to75 growers they bought from on a regular basis to help fill orders.

The late Dr. Lano Barron, a rancher who taught agriculture and math at Navarro College for many years, entered the bird business when he retired and patterned his buildings after McDonald's.

"If there ever was a numbers cruncher, it was Dr. Barron. After he had been in the bird business for several years, he told me that he could make more money with 100 pair of good parakeet breeders in a year than with 100 head of mother cows, when you considered the cost of the land, the cattle, the fencing, corrals, barns, tractor, trailers, hay baling equipment and veterinary costs," McDonald recalls, "and he didn't have to get out in the winter weather to take care of his birds."

Start-up inexpensive

McDonald says raising birds is something that almost anyone can do, male or female, young or old, as there is nothing physically demanding about it.

"It doesn't require an advanced education, just good common sense," he adds. "I recommend that someone start small and grow into this business."

A prerequisite, he says, is that you live within a four- to five-hour drive from a major airport.

"That will allow you to ship your birds by airfreight anywhere in the U.S. Don't worry if you don't live near an area where you will sell lots of birds. We didn't sell any birds in our hometown of Corsicana, and very few in the state of Texas," he notes.

According to McDonald, raising pet birds is something that can be started on a small scale for a minimum start-up cost.

"You don't need incubators or other high-priced equipment—the adult birds raise their own babies in their own nestboxes," he says. "Birds are sold by the head. Birds can be sold as soon as they are weaned, and you don't have that much expense in them. Weaning ages vary according to the species, but range from six to 12 weeks. And perhaps one of the things my wife liked best is that these birds are virtually odorless."

An existing building on the farm can often be adapted for use in raising pet birds, or a portable building is another inexpensive option for someone starting out. Unlike poultry operations, these specialty birds do not require a lot of space.

"I have known people who have made a very good living in their backyard raising these types of birds," says McDonald. "In some parts of the country, people even raise them in their basements."

Building requirements will vary, depending on the geographical location.

"The ideal temperature range for maximum production is somewhere between 55 and 85 degrees, although they can tolerate a much wider range when not in production. Any heating or cooling required can be provided by whatever means is practical in your area," the bird expert explains.

McDonald recommends starting out with parakeets, cockatiels, finches and lovebirds because in addition to being the most popular with pet owners, they are the easiest to breed. These smaller birds have the shortest natural lifespans, and therefore, are in constant demand. Also, the smaller exotic birds are less noisy.

"Parakeets, cockatiels, lovebirds and finches will breed 12 months out of the year if they are provided with the right environment, which makes it an ideal project for someone who wants a monthly income rather than a once a year crop," says McDonald.

Space requirements vary, depending on bird species, size, and whether or not you "cage breed" or "colony breed" your birds. Cage breeding is a method that involves one pair of birds per cage, whereas colony breeding takes place when birds are grouped in a colony or pen.

As a general rule, for colony breeding, parakeets require one square foot of floor space per bird (In other words, an 8 ft. x 10 ft. pen would hold 40 pair of parakeets). Cockatiels need five square feet of space each; lovebirds, one-and-one-half square feet; and zebra finches, six-tenths square feet per bird.

"Cage breeding will usually allow more birds in a given area than will colony breeding because the cages are stackable. Cage breeding will also allow more control over the colors of birds produced and record keeping is more accurate," McDonald suggests.

Feeding requirements simple

Feeding requirements are really quite simple. The birds eat a basic seed diet, along with vitamin/mineral supplements.

"These birds reach sexual maturity at anywhere from four to eight months of age, and will produce for three to 10 years, depending on the species," he says. "The birds will average from four to six babies per clutch and average four to six clutches per year."

McDonald emphasizes that breeding stock should only be purchased from reputable breeders who know what they are doing.

"When dealing with pet birds, you should expect some losses just as with other types of fowl, such as chickens or ducks. However, veterinary care is basically like it is with chickens—it's simply not an issue," he says.

Although you would expect such an operation to be confining, McDonald insists that it didn't really tie him down at all.

"We always took vacations, usually twice a year. Before we had a helper, we simply had a neighbor come in and check the feed and water while were gone. It took him less than an hour a day, and we had a sizeable operation. Breeding birds will work well for anyone who has a normal lifestyle and is not into taking month-long vacations," he says.

Marketing angles noted

McDonald says there are several angles for marketing the birds.

"Most breeders sell to wholesale buyers, who in turn will ship them to pet shops nationwide. Others will sell directly to the pet shops, or even retail them themselves at various markets. However, wholesaling them is by far the easiest, especially if you have a volume of birds," he observes.

Wholesale prices range from $3 on zebra finches to $30 on cockatiels, he says.

"I know many part-time operators who have made from $500 to $2,000 monthly and full-time breeders who have enjoyed yearly incomes in excess of $50,000," says McDonald, adding that wholesale distributors can make $100,000 or more annually.

McDonald has given lectures on breeding and raising exotic birds to veterinary classes at Texas A&M University and has spoken at numerous seminars and events throughout the country, including symposiums at Purdue University.

He has written extensively on the subject and has authored a book, The Complete Guide to Raising Pet Birds for Profit: The Greatest Backyard Business Ever. He now spends his time helping others get started in what he feels is a most rewarding business.

For more information, call 830/895-5864; or visit www.petbirdincome.com.