Household Pet Bird Hatching Eggs or Mating Pair

[Scubamama]

My son has taken a huge liking to hatching and caring for our chickens and ducklings. His birthday is coming up and I’d love to surprise him with some indoor birds to hatch and/or a mating pair to love. I know they sell them and while I’m willing to pay a fair price and shipping if needed, I can’t do $50 an egg plus shipping. Anyone have something you can offer? Thanks

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Are you talking about exotic cage birds like budgies, parrots, lovebirds, etc. or chickens you can keep indoors?
If the former, I wouldn't try to get eggs. The hatchlings are extremely altricial and should be raised by parents because they require feeding around the clock and can be killed if the feeder isn't extremely skilled.

 

[RiverOtter]

Yes, what kind of birds? To most folks, "pet birds" means something parroty. Now, I've hand-raised a LOT of parrots of many species and I would absolutely Not Want to try to raise one from right out of the egg for fear I'd kill it. You literally need a special brooder that's basically a mini incubator and to feed them every 2 hours around the clock for weeks. You feed them a special formula that you mix from a powder to the exact right temperature every feeding, because it will mold and sour in 2 hours. If you microwave it, it will burn them.

It's intense.

But a pet bird doesn't have to be parroty!! My son has a couple of tiny house bantams that he loves. Look for Old English Games, Seabrights and Seramas. His tiny rooster is so cute - he sounds like a toy when he crows.

We also have button and coturnix quail. Button quail are very tiny and so adorable. We love them to bits. Coturnix are bigger and easier to raise and handle and come in a lot of colors.

If you really want parroty type birds for him, the cheap way is to watch Craigslist for a pair of parakeets or cockatiels.
The better way would be to save your pennies and wait for a cage bird show. There will be local breeders, and already handfed, tame, healthy babies. I've actually gotten a lovely, handfed budgie for less than the chain pet store charges.