Part Two
OWING to its tropical climate, the Philippines is an ideal breeding ground for the lovebirds. Currently, the trade in lovebirds is seeing an upswing, despite the havoc that bird flu has subjected Asia.
Some traders recommend good diet can address such concerns.
The general diet of African lovebirds consists of mixture of white and red or black millet, canary seed, oat groats and sunflower seeds. Red millet is extensively used during the colder months, while it is used sparingly during summer.
Sunflower seeds are not given in great quantities for it tend to fatten hens, which will result in the difficulty of producing eggs.
Vitamins are also mixed regularly with the drinking water and the frequency depends on the personal preference of breeders. Some would put vitamins in the drinks every other day.
The avian trade’s well-known Badilla brothers put vitamins in the morning and replace it with water in the afternoon.
Aside from the seeds, the birds are also given a soft diet composed of finely chopped local cabbage (pechay Tagalog) and carrots, mixed with chopped hard-boiled eggs, usually thrice a week, Billy Badilla said.
This is to encourage egg laying and to add protein for those with babies or newly hatched African lovebirds.
Dog food
BADILLA said he uses crushed pedigree dog food mixed with powdered malunggay leaves as his soft food. Some breeders use commercially available egg-food.
Other breeders use the commonly available chick booster for pairs with chicks. As a source of calcium, dried cuttlefish bones are put in the cage.
Generally, poo trays are cleaned at least once a week. Bird droppings in the wires of the cage are regularly removed to prevent rusting. An ideal aviary should also be secure enough against the entry of rats and cats. It should also be clean enough to discourage ants that could kill newly hatched birds.
The birds usually mature and get ready to mate upon reaching eight months. This, however, is also usually the time for molting, or shedding of old feathers. Hence, ,the ideal age is usually between nine and 10 months. Younger birds forced to mate sometimes result in egg-bind in hens, or a hen unable to pass an egg, which is usually fatal in the long run.
Chicks are usually ready to be separated from parents at three months, then into a bigger cage, or flight cage, for physical development. Maturing birds are usually put in a cage with a pairing box, to encourage natural pairing from the birds. Left alone, lovebirds would naturally look for their mates. But it is common practice also by breeders to force a pairing, especially between sought-after color combinations. Diseases are usually detected by observing runny eyes or noses, and appropriate medications are usually available in pet shops. Normally, new breeders could ask breeders with longer experience for general advice.
From hobby to business
DATA from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that last year ,the country exported a total of 2,819 of birds, which include parrots and related birds such as cockatoos, lorikeets, lories, macaws and parakeets, excluding breeding fowls. The exports were valued at $212,303 (P10.56 million at current rates).
Major buyers were the US, which bought 1,350 birds; Pakistan, with 540; and Taiwan with 146; Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Tunisia, Germany and the Czech Republic bought fewer.
Asked why Thailand, a known breeder of tropical birds, would be buying parrots from the Philippines, breeder Rogelio L. Sicat Jr. said not only Thailand, but even Indonesia, has also purchased lovebirds from the Philippines in previous years because the two countries cannot cope with their own orders from other countries.
“Last month an Indonesian trader has approached us inquiring if we can produce enough birds they need, as they are expecting that many more would inquire because of the raging bird flu in Asia,” Sicat said. He added he declined the offer because his group of African lovebirds breeders based in Cainta, Rizal, is just starting and are more of hobbyists.
Sicat, however, cautioned those who want to venture into African lovebirdss breeding to buy their first pairs from reputable breeders to ensure the quality of the birds. Serious breeders ensure that their birds remain “pure” and not hybrids, or birds produced from pairing different species, like Fischer mated with Masked, or eye-ring mated with non eye-ring.
The resulting birds from these pairing produce dull-colored birds and, sometimes, incapable of producing offspring.
Therapy
BADILLA said he started breeding African lovebirds in 2002, shortly after learning he had urinary bladder cancer.
He was told he had only two years to live.
While undergoing chemotherapy, he also ventured into lovebird breeding, buying top-of-the-line mutation at the time as a form of emotional therapy. After five years of “combined therapy”, he was declared cured of the cancer.
Badilla’s hobby has also become a highly profitable business.
Now assisted by his brother Bob, Badilla Aviary has a regular contract to export birds to Dubai, Bahrain and the US.
According to Bob, they are now breeding “fallows”, currently the most expensive mutation. The “pale fallow”, now commands P90,000 to P110,000 a bird in the market. Aside from Badilla, there are only a handful of other breeders who have enough breeding pairs.
The brothers have several pairs of “Dun Fallows”, the more expensive variety that costs between 300,000 and P400,000 per bird.
“We already have foreign offers for the Duns [Fischer], but we’re not releasing anytime soon because we do not want to rig the current price of the ‘pale’ fallow, which will greatly affect new breeders venturing into this expensive mutations,” Bob told the BusinessMirror.
To be concluded
Image credits: Nonie Reyes