Is it a hobby or a business for you? Can budgies become a good livelihood? If so, how?

I'm not sure about mine, whether it's a hobby or not. I think it is a hobby though.

I dont think anyone who has a large flock of budgies, and caring for them in the right way with all the best food and treatments, would ever make money out of them.

I think that to make a business out of them you would have to care a little less, feed lesser foods, and breed constantly without a care to the birds welfare.

I dont know anyone that would profit from breeding their birds and be doing all they can for the birds at the same time.

I'm sorry Kaz I have to disagree with you. I know several people who make very good money out of budgies. I personally put three kids through university selling birds to pay for fees etc. You must have a stud of line bred winning budgerigars, then the price they fetch makes it quite profitable and its tax free as its a hobby. Cheers Clearwing

I guess by "business" I meant more that any money made might make the cost of care self supporting. I can't even imagine how much it must cost to properly care for 200-300 birds like some of you have. I'd love to have many birds eventually but would need to find a way to fund it adequately.

I'm sorry Kaz I have to disagree with you. I know several people who make very good money out of budgies. I personally put three kids through university selling birds to pay for fees etc. You must have a stud of line bred winning budgerigars, then the price they fetch makes it quite profitable and its tax free as its a hobby. Cheers Clearwing

Of course....once you have a reputation and birds of quality in show breeding............then you would make a decent amount of money from sales of birds. I was forgetting that aspect

 

 

Maybe one day

Edited February 6, 201015 yr by KAZ

for me it is a hobby I just keep too many of the babies to be a business, I think about selling a few then I think they might end up with a not so loving home and feel sorry for them and they stay

It's a hobby for me too. I have spent thousands on the birds so far and have only had about $30 of sales in the last 12 months

One day it would be nice if they can provide enough income to pay for the expenses of keeping them

 

I know a breeder who is a multi-millionaire from his budgies, so it can happen, but like any business, It's a long way to the top, if you want to rock and roll

I know a breeder who is a multi-millionaire from his budgies, so it can happen, but like any business, It's a long way to the top, if you want to rock and roll

 

 

Good heavens! I wonder how! He must have had the budgie that laid the golden egg!

There seem to be two strains of budgie breeders.

The first the birds lover [pet keeper] this hobby will always cost them money , but they don't care the birds are their pets.

Secondly, the serious show breeder, if he is wise he/she treats the birds just like a buisness. Purchasing origonal stock, breeding from them and selling off the surplus. One of the problems i have noticed is breeders will go to an auction and buy birds at fairly hefty prices, they breed with these birds then sell the ofspring for peanuts [stupid]

If you pay good money for your purchases, you must demand good money for their offspring, however you must only buy from reputable breeders who are constantly winning, which means your initial investment may be substantial.

Some fo the top breeders of national winning status can sell some budgies in the $4,000 upwards range. At that stage they are making money.

I know breeders who make very good money from Budgies.

 

Some are turning over $100000 plus a year. These are the same breeders that think nothing of spending $4000 -$5000 on one bird, too them its a business decision.

Some fo the top breeders of national winning status can sell some budgies in the $4,000 upwards range. At that stage they are making money.

 

That's amazing!!!! I don't think I'd be built for that...I can't even part with any of my own chicks!

Budgies may have started out as a hobby for us but now it is a passion.

 

We owe so much to the hobby already, what began as a bit of pet therapy for Tony and I has grown into so much more. I only have look at how slowly but surely my beloved hubby is emerging from his shell to be grateful.

Got an ABN for your aviary , then your a business . Other then that your a hobby , whether you make money or not is irrelevant.

Got an ABN for your aviary , then your a business . Other then that your a hobby , whether you make money or not is irrelevant.

 

 

Matt I don't think it is about the legality of the ABN as much as it is about your attitude to the hobby. Budgies have been my HOBBY for 49 years, but I approach it with a business mind set.

Well I am kinda on my way with a line as I have had one person offer me $500.00 for one bird and another person offer $200.00 for a different bird but of course I said no as they are my best birds. and I am still trying to build.

Got an ABN for your aviary , then your a business . Other then that your a hobby , whether you make money or not is irrelevant.

Once you get to a point of making $4,000 upwards on a bird or two or three you are way over paying for their feed. But these breeders would also ay out that kind of money for an outcross I expect. Budgie money is budgie money in a lot of breeders viewpoints. Its back pocket money in most cases

By the time you have got to that dollar value you would have spent a lot on your birds just getting there.

Edited February 7, 201015 yr by KAZ

Got an ABN for your aviary , then your a business . Other then that your a hobby , whether you make money or not is irrelevant.

 

Huh? What is an ABN? By business I meant making enough money to support the care...not necessarily profit.

Got an ABN for your aviary , then your a business . Other then that your a hobby , whether you make money or not is irrelevant.

 

 

Matt I don't think it is about the legality of the ABN as much as it is about your attitude to the hobby. Budgies have been my HOBBY for 49 years, but I approach it with a business mind set.

 

 

Like I said it is cut and dry , if your are registered for GST and lodge a tax return then your birds ( Aviarys) are a business . Other than that its a hobby , if you make money , good , if not ,than you dont.

 

I know a couple of people that have registered businesses with birds.

Even though you may be running your hobby as a business , you are not declaring an income and so , as you said you are a Hobby.

Got an ABN for your aviary , then your a business . Other then that your a hobby , whether you make money or not is irrelevant.

 

Huh? What is an ABN? By business I meant making enough money to support the care...not necessarily profit.

 

 

ABN = Australian Business Number used for taxation purposes

I suspect that if all Show breeders registered their Budgerigar Hobby as a business with its own ABN then most would be running at a loss and therefor not required to pay any tax at all. But the paperwork in itself would be an instant kill-joy.

 

Read what Gerald Binks says on his website, to paraphrase - for every 10 you sell, you can purchase one good out-cross.

 

The way I see it is we are in it to improve our birds and breed to the ANBC Standard- it's not about the $$$$! Some breeders do sell their birds (over East) at extraordinary prices ... woopy do, jolly good for them I say ~ I only hope the bleedin' bird breeds for you if you can pay that kind of money!

I suspect that if all Show breeders registered their Budgerigar Hobby as a business with its own ABN then most would be running at a loss and therefor not required to pay any tax at all. But the paperwork in itself would be an instant kill-joy.

 

Read what Gerald Binks says on his website, to paraphrase - for every 10 you sell, you can purchase one good out-cross.

 

The way I see it is we are in it to improve our birds and breed to the ANBC Standard- it's not about the $$$$! Some breeders do sell their birds (over East) at extraordinary prices ... woopy do, jolly good for them I say ~ I only hope the bleedin' bird breeds for you if you can pay that kind of money!

 

 

Your right Ren , most aviarys would run at a loss and taxation are not going to where that. So that is why they stay out of the hobby world , they cannot make money from it as the majority looses .

The Govt just imposes little taxes , such as the Parrot licence and dealer licences, fishing licences etc , this way they get a little piece of the Pie .

I suspect that if all Show breeders registered their Budgerigar Hobby as a business with its own ABN then most would be running at a loss and therefor not required to pay any tax at all. But the paperwork in itself would be an instant kill-joy.

 

Read what Gerald Binks says on his website, to paraphrase - for every 10 you sell, you can purchase one good out-cross.

 

The way I see it is we are in it to improve our birds and breed to the ANBC Standard- it's not about the $$! Some breeders do sell their birds (over East) at extraordinary prices ... woopy do, jolly good for them I say ~ I only hope the bleedin' bird breeds for you if you can pay that kind of money!

Your right Ren , most aviarys would run at a loss and taxation are not going to where that. So that is why they stay out of the hobby world , they cannot make money from it as the majority looses .

The Govt just imposes little taxes , such as the Parrot licence and dealer licences, fishing licences etc , this way they get a little piece of the Pie .

They get their slice from me on the taxes on the ciggies I smoke - say no more.

I suspect that if all Show breeders registered their Budgerigar Hobby as a business with its own ABN then most would be running at a loss and therefor not required to pay any tax at all. But the paperwork in itself would be an instant kill-joy.

 

Read what Gerald Binks says on his website, to paraphrase - for every 10 you sell, you can purchase one good out-cross.

 

The way I see it is we are in it to improve our birds and breed to the ANBC Standard- it's not about the $$! Some breeders do sell their birds (over East) at extraordinary prices ... woopy do, jolly good for them I say ~ I only hope the bleedin' bird breeds for you if you can pay that kind of money!

Your right Ren , most aviarys would run at a loss and taxation are not going to where that. So that is why they stay out of the hobby world , they cannot make money from it as the majority looses .

The Govt just imposes little taxes , such as the Parrot licence and dealer licences, fishing licences etc , this way they get a little piece of the Pie .

They get their slice from me on the taxes on the ciggies I smoke - say no more.

 

Tell you what , quit the cigs , buy some more birds with the money you save , then get your relaxation and time out in the aviary