Welcome to my Website and Thank You for Visiting!

I'm am in home, hobby breeder, specializing in parrotlets, cockatiels, and lovebirds, hopefully other breeds in the near future. I hand-feed and hand-raise my babies, which both make sweet little pets. My birdhouse is located in my home, Tunkhannock, Pa.

I have found most people don't know the difference between hand-fed and hand-raised, so let me start by explaining...
Hand-fed: Babies are removed from the nest when they are 10 to 15 days old, and Hand-fed with an avian formula, and utensil of the breeder’s choice. Some use bent spoons, pipettes, or syringes, for feeding, and there are many different formulas to choose from. I prefer using a syringe, and Kaytee Exact Formula, which I have had the best luck with. Hand-fed also means spending time with them, you can't just feed them and put them back in the brooder, they also have to have plenty of human interaction.
Hand-raised: Babies are fed and cared for by their parents, have lots of interactions with humans, which means, out daily and handled, talked to, their little heads scratched, and cuddled with, given lots of attention this is the key to keeping them sweet.
I do both, I remove my babies from their nest at 14 days, I hand feed and hand raise them myself, with no further help from their parents. (Which is how I get to attached to them, lol!) They have lots of interaction with humans, my dog, the vacume cleaner, and any other noises that they might hear from day to day. They are kept in a glass brooder, where there is plenty of movement and noise around them.. And when they get old enough to climb up on the side of their little basket they sleep in, they can look out, and see everything and everybody, so they get used to the noises and movements of daily life well before they go to a new home.. This makes them even sweeter!

Now a little bit about how I got involved in this hobby....
I've been a birdenthusiast since I was very small, but never had the opportunity to venture into the breeding aspect until the last few years. I was busy raising my children and other important things. Not to mention, I only had one bird in my home at a time. Then I found myself, children grown, gone, and needing a time consuming hobby. I went from two cockatiels, to adopting another, and another, and, well, needless to say I got a little carried away... Ok, I'm addicted! But.. I don't regret a minute, or a bird, even though one or two do get on my last nerve sometimes. They give me more enjoyment and companionship, than I ever could have imagined, or could ever explain. When that first fertile egg was laid and the first babies were born, I felt like a parent all over again. I am now known as "The crazy bird lady", nicknamed by my sons, but, I say that proudly. I love each and every one of these precious, winged wonders, from Vegas, who likes to draw blood now and then for no apparent reason, to Angel, whose name fits her. And then there's the babies, people will look at them and say, "their ugly", I don't see that, I see how cute, sweet, and helpless they are. I tend to get very defensive at those comments, and a bit insulted. What's that saying? “A face only a mother can love", well I guess that's true where baby birds are concerned..... When the babies leave my home for another.... I feel like I am sending part of myself away. I want to know they are going to a good, loving, attentive home before I let go of them. I also request that if any unforeseen problem should arise and the new parent can't take care of their new family member, that they contact me. My birds are very well taken care of, maybe a little spoiled, the new parents are expected to do the same. Did I ever expect to feel the way I do about them? No, not at all, I love my birds, but the babies are a whole different story, they are the most precious little things, I just can't explain it. I guess, well, I hope all breeders feel this way. I want my birds going to homes where they are going to be a part of the family, not just something in a cage that you look at and play with once in awhile. (That's just wrong!)

 I created this website, hoping the information I provide, will help you the same way it helped me in learning about each individual, feathered wonder.. PLEASE take the time to educate yourself, get all the information you possibly can about the bird that you’re interested in, both here on my website and anywhere else you can find it. Information on their personality, caging, food, and any other needs they might have. More than anything you need to be sure the bird you choose is going to fit in with you, your schedule, and your family and their schedule. If you’re a home owner, that's great, large or small, you have more of a choice of size and noise. If you rent, you might want to check with your landlord, consider your neighbors, and also how much noise and damage a bird can do before making a decision. There is quite a difference between the size and noise of an Amazon and a Parrotlet. Please..... Don’t purchase a bird on a whim! That's how most end up in a shelter, or rescue, only to be homeless, take into consideration that your making anywhere from a 10 year, to 30 year commitment in owning any of the birds that I raise, the larger birds live a lot longer, sometimes out living us! If it sounds like I'm trying to talk you out of having a bird, honestly, I'm not. I just want you to be prepared, by educating yourself, knowing anything and everything about the particular species your interested in, you can start just by clicking on one of the links above.... I don't claim to know everything, I am no expert, , the information on this website was gathered from other websites, books, and my own hands on experience,  just remember nothing is 100%! 

Thank you for visiting, best of luck, and happy birding!!

** PLEASE TAKE NOTE:  All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech.  The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Debbie and/or Debbie's Birdhouse assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Any material found on this website was gathered from what I consider informative sources, as well as my own opinion. Keep in mind I am not an expert ! Please contact your nearest Avian Vet if you have a problem, don't take any chances! 
 

This page last updated:
09/20/09