rehoming birds

[salma]

I have made the really difficult decision to stop breeding budgies. Therefore, I am in a position to take in any unwanted/retired from breeding budgies etc.
My youngest is about 4 months old, so I'd be happy to take any small birds (budgies, kakarikis, cockatiels, rosellas, etc) above that age. I don't intend on continuing to keep budgies once the ones that I have are gone, so I'll be happy to take in any birds that are older than my youngest.
I also rescue french moulters from being culled, so I will happily continue to take these in and I have a number of dedicated fosterers who can take these in on a permanent basis.
I also rescue/take in wild birds that have fallen out of the nest/been abandoned - last Summer, I was hand-rearing a magpie that had fallen out of its nest, his sibling was lying dead near to where I found him.

I'm based in Bury, Lancashire and I have an aviary which is approximately 3 metres high, 2 metres wide and 4 metres long. I also have a heated area where they can keep warm during the Winter months

[Hezz]

That seems like it was a very hard decision for you, Salma. But at least you will still have birds around you, which I wouldn't be able to do without.

Do you release the wild birds once they are recovered or old enough to fend for themselves? I know a couple of people who do the same here and looked into it myself (I think I would be too soft, and they would end up too tame), but rescuers are not allowed to keep any of their rescues, and any who can't be rehabilitated are put down. Seems a bit harsh to me - I would have thought a happy life as a rescue would have been better than no life at all. I have found a number of baby and injured birds and the vet I take my budgies to is the rescue vet as well, so the foundlings go there first and then whoever on the rescue register can take them, does.

I presume by "my youngest" you mean your youngest budgie, so you plan on no more budgies in the future?? Good luck with your new decision, hoping it all works out for you.

[salma]

Thanks Hezz. lol, yes I meant my youngest budgie. It's too difficult to watch them eager to breed - the nests have only been out for about 6 weeks and already my hens are going crazy looking for/making their own nests. Most of my hens are hand tame, but my least hand tame hen keeps coming over to me and biting and pulling at my hand, as though she's telling me to give her a nest box. I'm hoping they'll settle soon and get used to the idea of not breeding!
The reason I'm stopping is because of problems I've had with customers. I've had 9 baby budgies die this year due to the stupidity of their new owners I know I shouldn't but I feel responsible and can't bear the thought of that happening again

With the rescues: if they are able to fend for themselves I do release them into the wild, but often they come back for shelter and food. However, some are rehomed with people who can give them a permanent home. For example, I had a baby blue tit who had fallen out of the nest and broken his leg, it eventually fell off, he can't fly so he is now living with one of my fosterers.
The baby magpie that I found last Summer was successfully returned to the wild.

[Hezz]

I understand where you are coming from, regarding your chicks who have died because of others stupidity, but surely you can still enjoy your birds without having to breed them? Of course it is your personal choice and I certainly respect that, and I suppose with the youngest being only a baby really, you will still have budgies for a long time yet.