homesteadshatchery

I'm so glad you came for a visit... it's nice to have your company! Why not grab a cup of your favourite beverage and we'll spend some time together. I'm a small home based aviary located in beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, that breeds and exhibits standard and rare cockatiels, including yellowcheek, recessive silver, whiteface, and the suffused silver (or emerald) mutation. I also work with African greys, Galahs, and Lineolated Parakeets (aka "linnies"). I hope you enjoy your journey through my pages and would be tickled pink to hear from you! Drop by from time to time and don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions!

Please note, I no longer work with caiques or pionus.

Please email for my phone number!

Homestead's Hatchery, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, is a private, home based aviary, dedicated to raising the finest companion parrots possible for approved families. Species I am working with currently include standard and rare mutation cockatiels and lineolated parakeets, African greys, and galahs (rose breasted cockatoos).

I breed selectively for colour, temperment, conformation and sometimes, size. Being a small breeding facility, I am able to provide my handfed babies individual attention daily, allowing them to fledge naturally and abundance wean at their own pace. Like all creatures, my babies gain confidence and learn quickly with lots of positive reinforcement and praise. Chicks are stimulated with a variety of colourful toys of different textures and shapes to encourage exploration and develop a sense of curiosity and play. They are weaned onto a pelleted diet, supplemented with a wide variety of fresh produce and sprouts daily, and seeds or nuts are given daily as a treat only. I believe a well rounded diet with variety is essential. (Please see my "Feeding the Flock" page.)

My aviary is smoke free and birds hear only G-rated language. I practise strict guidelines for the safety and welfare of my flock and for this reason, do not offer tours to the public. I am available by appointment only. Children are asked to be respectful of my birds and stay with their parents at all times. Please coach your children beforehand of the importance of keeping well back from all cages and proper etiquette when visiting someone's home. Visitors are not permitted into the breeding facility areas as strangers upset breeding pairs. My breeding facility can be viewed on this site however, from the link provided above.

It is my mission to provide education and support for all adopting families to ensure the welfare of my babies and to provide the best opportunity for them to stay with their new human flock members for the remainder of their lives, as companion birds do not fare well when bumped from home to home. Please make sure your commitment to these amazing creatures and do your homework before taking on the responsibility of a parrot that may very well out-live you! Be prepared to spend the same amount of time you allow with your bird the first week, for the rest of it's life! Most of my babies are held with non refundable deposits before they are weaned.

I guarantee the health of my babies within 3 business days of purchase. I highly recommend that all babies be examined by an avian trained veterinarian and if during this 3 day interval, the bird(s) are found to have a condition that affects their health as determined in writing by an avian trained vet, Homestead's Hatchery will either refund the purchase price or replace the bird(s). Because many avian diseases are transmitted through the air, my guarantee is valid only if the bird(s) are not kept in the same air space as other birds. For this reason, I will happily keep the bird(s) at my facility for one week past delivery date or until DNA disease test results are determined if so desired.

I offer if pre-paid : DNA sexing @ $30 (non refundable)

My First Recommendation of 2004:

" My experience with Homestead's Hatchery was excellent. I appreciated Jane's knowledge about different species of birds. She gives special care to the birds while she has them and cares about the home they go to. She recommended the right bird for our family.

From first discovering Homestead's Hatchery website to her after sales service, all was excellent.

She was a good communicator over the phone and responded quickly to my emails. I have a few birds and have had dealings with many breeders. Her business practice and ethics were second to none. I think she's one of the best. All this and her birds are beautiful too! "

M. B. - Saskatchewan

Murphy's Story - A Lesson of Love and Loss

I knew the minute I spotted Murphy among his clutchmates at Homestead's Hatchery that he was the one. Something about the look in the sweet little cobalt linnie's eye said so. Within 2 weeks she had been fully weaned and made her home with us. As it turned out, Murphy was full of surprises, the first of which was revealed with the results of a DNA test, which actually corrected our assumption that Murphy was not a he, but a she. But she was already Murphy to us, that would never change.

This incredible little bird quickly took a place in my heart. She had a wonderful start at Homestead's Hatchery under Jane's knowledgeable and loving attention and care. Of Murphy's many qualities, it was her inquisitiveness, lack of fear and adventurous spirit that we found most endearing. Ironically it was those very characteristics that one day put her in harm's way, and coupled with a mistaken assumption on my part, resulted in a tragedy.

Regrettably, Murphy's story does not have a happy ending. But if sharing her story – as a 'warning' of sorts to other caring linnie owners – can help prevent another such tragedy from taking place, then it is worth retelling here.

My flock would enjoy as much freedom as I could give them. Murphy had become an adept flyer, which allowed her to enjoy free time with her budgie buddies that much more. She would also fly to me for visits to examine whatever I was doing, or to demand cuddles and head scratches. As she became more mobile (and curious), she developed a tendency to

'burrow' amongst the couch cushions, and even though she was never 'allowed' to do so without discipline, she would still attempt this from time to time. One morning, while I was half asleep and assuming she was still sharing a snack with the budgies, the worst that could happen... did. This is the hardest way I've ever had to learn a lesson, with no second chance. My only consolation is that it happened quickly, with a minimal amount of suffering.

Teflon pans had been banished from the house for years. Toilet seat covers always left down. Precautions taken while cooking and doing dishes. Toxic plants removed. Toys examined for hazards. I never thought this could happen, but it did. A harsh reminder that linnies have an innate tendency to seek out hiding spots whether it be the cozy folds of a towel, a shirt pocket... or something more treacherous. I've now learned that one can never be too careful.

As my first true "companion bird", Murphy truly enriched my life daily and I know she was happy and healthy to the last moment. She is and always will be greatly missed by both her budgie and human flock.

Iggy K

No one thinks this kind of tragedy will ever happen to them. This family listened to everything I cautioned them about parrot ownership dangers (scented candles, teflon, ceiling fans, aerosols etc.) and went well beyond the norm to bird proof their home so their beloved pet would be safe. Their preventative measures were in place more than most. Let Murphy's story be a testament to the benefits of flight trimming a companion bird. For those of you who allow your parrot free indoor flight, say a prayer and thank the Lord for the bullets you've dodged to date. Go and give your feathered friend a hug and a scritch as leaving him/her fully flighted, you too may very well experience the tragedy spoken here. Sadly, there are far too many stories like this one that go unspoken. As a breeder I hear of many.

I have the best parrot. Her name is Sydney and she is confident, busy, curious, affectionate and very interactive. If you were to see us together you might not guess that she is five months old and we have only been together for 6 weeks. I attribute a great portion of our successful relationship to Jane. Jane not only raised and nurtured a mentally and physically healthy little bird, but as she prepared Sydney for life as a companion parrot, she prepared me for life with a companion parrot.

I was fortunate to find Jane and discover that she had the type of parrot that I was looking for – a Congo African Grey. When I first went to visit Jane, Sydney was only a couple of weeks old, completely naked and growling at me from the back of what appeared to be a microwave oven. (a brooder!) I was indecisive as to whether baby birds were ugly or cute, but I was certain they had the most enormous feet. I had read about parrots on the internet, was half way through my third parrot book and although I was no stranger to animal husbandry, I had never really been close to a parrot, had never touched a parrot and had certainly never lived with a parrot. Fortunately, as much as I was eager to learn, Jane was willing to share. I visited as much as I could and Jane always made me feel welcome. It was a privilege to be able to watch Sydney develop and to be able to slowly become accustom to how birds move, how they feel and how they behave. With each visit, both Sydney and I became more familiar. Jane taught me how to handle a parrot, feed a parrot, play with a parrot and understand various aspects of parrots. By the time Sydney was ready to come home, I was ready to bring her home. I felt confident and knowing that Jane was an email or phone call away was a great safety net.

I can’t imagine life without Sydney now. I am constantly surprised at how much presence she has, how expressive she is and what good company she provides. I have taught Sydney how to wave, to turn around on her perch and she is learning how to pick up items when asked. She enjoys her food, her toys and pulling my pens and markers out of their holders. Sydney will trash a scrabble game given half a chance, runs off with quilting fabrics and pulled the on/off button from my calculator in the blink of an eye. I am honoured that Sydney trusts me enough to lie on her back in the palm of my hand and she sometimes makes a soft little cooing/hooting noise that sounds like whispered sweet nothings. I got the best parrot, I’m sure of it. Thank you Jane.

Cheers,

Lorie