The “Articles” section of this website contains species overviews, articles about breeding, business guidelines and other information which may be helpful to the breeder, their clients, and others.
In addition, OPA presents essays and editorial comments which may reflect the particular view of the writer, but which are in line with OPA’s goals and purpose.
© Howard Voren A flight intended to house pairs of Psittacines for the purpose of breeding should incorporate design elements that will enhance its usefulness to that end. Experimentation over the years has led us to settle on a particular design that can be used with most types of Psittacines. This flight also incorporates several […]
© June DiCiocco Edited by Howard Voren, Linda Seger My goal in writing this article is to spark some interest and get serious breeders interested in this wonderful bird. I have the largest collection in the world, and I truly want to get these birds into the hands of other breeders to preserve the species. […]
© Jean Pattison — The African Queen I had a bit of a scare awhile back. One of my just weaned baby Capes was noticed sitting on her perch in the evening, with a bit of drool escaping from her lips…er…beak. Of course this is not a “normal” behavior. In all other aspects she seemed […]
© Howard Voren Looking for a clever charmer that’s not too imposing in size? Considering a choice that’s a cut above the common “beginner” birds? Try the charismatic clowns of the parrot family. They’re cute, they’re cuddly, they’re colorful and cunning. They also offer the widest variety of choices of all the commonly available companion […]
© Jean Pattison — The African Queen African Grey — The proper Englishman, who doesn’t want to get his grey tweed suit mussed. Genus: Psittacus Nominate subspecies: erithacus erithacus Forshaw, in “Parrots of The World,” (the most widely accepted reference book on parrots) shows one continuous region, starting at the south-eastern Ivory Coast, arching slightly […]
© Linda Seger A Benefit for Client and Breeder Alike Those who sell birds directly to pet owners will want to supply written care instructions. Most clients for pet birds will do plenty of research before making the decision to purchase, but their first focus will be on the qualities of the types of birds […]
© Howard Voren First published in “Birds USA, 1996-1997” If any New World parrots could be called the “masters of adaptation,” it would be those of the genus Brotogeris. Whenever you travel through Central or South America, the representatives of the parrot family that you are almost guaranteed to experience are those from this unique […]
© Jean Pattison — The African Queen Temperatures We just had a cold spell here in Florida and I have been through many colds and have a bit of a handle on what temperatures are safe for chicks. Breeding birds can be a humbling experience, and this year was no exception. I have found Poicephalus […]
Jumping into the Great Unknown © Howard Voren For the beginner, trying to make the right decisions concerning the purchase of breeding stock is like jumping into the great unknown. Do I buy local, or “out of state”? Do I buy young, older or proven pairs? Do I buy from breeders, jobbers or at bird […]
© Jean Pattison — The African Queen When first thinking about writing this article, I searched back to my beginning, trying to think of the best things I did when I first started, seriously, to breed birds. Of course most normal people don’t set out to breed birds, they have a pet, then another is […]