Firstly, the good breeder must be able to understand and appreciate the characteristics of the species. He must be aware of the characteristics that had in the first place, made the species so irresistible and so popular with the hobbyists. He is guided only by a vision in his head, of a magnificient specimen that could excel in all the desired traits and he will not compromise with the fads and trends created to capitalise on the popularity of the species.
At the same time, he must always be conscious of the status of the species in the wild and will do his best to contribute in anyway he can for the conservation of the species. He must always try his best to prevent his captive breeding from causing any significant impacts on the wild genetic pool.
Secondly, the good breeder must also be knowledgeable. He is driven by his genuine passion to continuously seek out the knowledge that could help him towards his goal of producing quality specimens and to provide the best for the birds under his care. He will continuosly strive to have a deeper understanding of matters related to what he is doing and will make sacrifices in order to obtain the answers that he seek. He will not preach what he is unsure of but he will readily share his experiences.
Finally, the good breeder must strike a balance between profits and ethics. The latter serves to preserve the meaning of being involved in a hobby. A breeder with no ethics will not have the integrity that the hobbyists need to rely upon and he will never be able to earn the respect from fellow breeders.
No, I am not talking about myself. I am just reminding myself to never lose sight of my objectives.
Jeffrey, you are certainly another breeder that deserves respect . You have also come so far and still maintain your humility. That's really nice to know. Hope to have a chance to meet you. Happy breeding .
ReplyDeleteMark angus