For the past months that FinchMe has been online, I have received quite a number of texts, e-mails, and even phone calls regarding the FinchMe Membership Page. This is mildly suprising, even with the consideration that FM is now the top ranking Philippine website for finch-related keywords in popular search engines. Just recently as well, our website has been accepted by www.finchinfo.com– the most comprehensive source of finch information within the Web–into their Link Exchange Program(see it here.) What really held me in awe though is that more than those inquiries for memberships, I had people asking questions regarding breeders of the more expensive finches, like the gouldian and the canary. Well here’s what most everyone’s waiting for–meet Mr. Albert Ricarte Jr. of UNDP(United Nations Development Program), FinchMe’s second featured breeder, and the foremost expert in canary breeding in the country.
Full Name: Albert Ricarte Jr.
Address: Dela Rosa St., Makati City, Philippines
Landline No.: (02)8402538
Mobile No.: +639285907068
Breeder Since: January 2007
Breeds: Gouldian Finch, Canaries
Interview:
FinchMe(FM): How did you start breeding?
Albert(A): My first canary pair was a gift from my father. I have been a pet lover ever since I was a kid, and that early I have visualized the canary as the perfect bird in terms of its form, its color, and its songs. I started 1996 and made some progress with my breeding program for two years. I stopped breeding after that because I had to leave the country to work for United Nations Development Program. When I finally came back to the Philippines last January, the old habit and love for the bird kicked in and I started breeding them again.
FM: How many pairs do you currently have and how did you acquire them?
A: Right now, I have 17 pairs of breeders and even more juveniles. I have bought some of the breeding pairs initially, and when I was able to breed them successfully, I was able to swap the youngs for other lineage, thus, gaining more breeders.
FM: What were your initial difficulties in breeding canaries?
A: Not much really. I had a friend who has helped me with my first pair and whom I still consult up to this day. More importantly though is that I already have previous knowledge of breeding (I kept canaries in every country I stayed in) and this helped me a lot especially when I started again this year. I can proudly say that I am one of the more successful canary breeders in the Philippines right now.
FM: Canary breeders in the Philippines do not seem to be that visible. How many people, whom you know, are successful in breeding canaries here in the country?
A: At most 5 people I guess, including me.
FM: That’s probably one of the reasons why canaries are one of the most expensive birds in the pet market right now. Is it also expensive to keep them?
A: For all my birds, I spend about five hundred to one thousand pesos every month, and I don’t think that’s a big amount. That includes electricity already, along with the indispensables like seeds(niger, canary, rape), spray millets, vitamins, eggfood, grit, mite sprays, etc.
FM: Most breeders, especially start-up canary owners, look up to you when it comes to breeding this particular kind of bird. We are aware that you already have an exclusive club for breeders and birds that will be acquired from you. Can you share some information with us?
A: Yes, you are referring to The Royal Canary. Here I diligently keep records of the lineage of my birds. I also give a certificate(Transfer of Ownership) to my buyers in order to track them properly, pretty much the same scheme with other pets, i.e. dog papers.
FM: As the first FinchMe Canary breeder, what can we expect from arguably the best Canary breeder in the Philippines right now?
A: I would really like to raise the awareness of the Filipino regarding these wonderful birds, such that those who are interested in breeding canaries will be better informed. Most people right now classify them only with their colors(yellow, blue, red variegated, etc.), and I would like to start with the information that canaries are also varied by their type(posture and form) and their song(American singer, Spanish Timbrado, etc.). Modesty aside, I am probably one of the few breeders who can distinguish one canary song with another. More so, I have teamed up The Royal Canary with FinchMe so that a community of finch breeders can be better established and a wider base for finch lovers and even pet lovers in general can be easily reached. And the most important thing here is that I would like to gain more friends in the industry especially those who share the same passion I have with regard to breeding birds.
Technorati Tags: canary bird philippines, canaries, canary finch, canary breeding, canary mutations
41 users commented in " Albert Ricarte Jr. - FinchMe’s Featured Breeder "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackbacknice canaries!!!
truly the best canaries i’ve ever seen in the philippines so far specifically no. 13, nakakaingit naman. i will try to have the no. 13 canary even in my dreams.
ive been keeping my canary for 2 years already and i know that they are male and female but until now they havn’t breed yet. i know there is a problem, please help me… thank you very much
Ello Dayv,
Am so sorry for that, however, am so sure that even they have not breed within that span of time you enjoy their presence, the fact they are there sings out loud for you, is nt it lovely.
You have problem breeding them, right? Some people say canary breeding is not easy, other people express the opposite, i have to tell you that in any thing that you do in life if you just plunge in yourself to something that you do not know and expect something fruitful you will ended up blaming yourself for the loss. Now, going back to the breeding problem. Your statement is quite vague and ambigous, how sure are you that you have male and female? Male sings female dont, does the female laid eggs? Because it is impossible for her not to lay eggs even if the only feeds you give them mainly seeds, but never expect to have strong chicks which eventually dies because of lack of nutrients in the diet, sometimes the chicks dies in the shell. Let us go to their diet, first, canaries have a wide range of diet they need greens and fruits as much as they need seeds, because there are nutrients in the veggies and fruits which is not present in the seeds, now do not expect them to breed properly if you only feed them canary seeds, give them pechay, broccoli, apples, coriander, carrots, cucumber, i also give them vitamin e and multivitamins, 2 months before the breeding period, aside from the green diet and seeds give them soft diet, this consist of mashed egg mixed with egg and biscuit formula. What else? Do you let them nibble a cuttlebone? cuttlebone is a good source of calcium and other trace minerals, they need calcium for their eggshell. The build up of these foods can commence about 2months before breeding is anticipated.
You should place them in a cage with a minimum size of 18”x18”, i am using 17”x30” my canaries breed well. About four weeks before breeding commences it is wise to treat all the breding stock for parasites, such as mites. All nest materials should be treated as this will greatly reduce the risk of an infestation when the birds have chicks. Failure to do so can result in the hen abandoning them.
Canaries use an open nesting pan which made of wicker or plastic, i use plastic plant pot, this is lined with a small sheet of “tela” pinoy ka naman naiintindihan mo ko, the tela is treated by anti mites solution and should be air dry before placing it at the bottom of your nest pan. The nest pan is usually located in the breeding cage screwed onto the side or back wall.
Canaries can be induced to breed throughout the year if suitable light and heat is supplied. My biordroom’s temperature runs between 26 – 30*C. By the time the birds have paired, and are ready to rear the chicks the lighting should be provided about 14 to 15 hours a day. This is spread between both natural daylight and artificial ( i installed artificial birdlamp which emits 12% of Ultraviolet).
Dayv, this breeding program is patterned perfectly here in the Philippines.
If you have any questions, am just a phone call away, 02-840 25 38. Ciao
Thank You Very Much, Mr. Ricarte. You are AWESOME!
Albert the WARLOCK… you’re a GENIUS GUY… you have a REMARKABLE TALENT…
Dave too?
Guys wait for The Royal Canary’s (gouldian section) latest mutation, LUTINO GOULDIAN FINCH!!!
open for adoption: black face cheek black breasted zebra finch
Sir WARLOCK, can i adopt some of your black face cheek black breasted zebra finch? What are your criteria in the adoption of such and qualification of the person who will adopt?
not much qualifications and requirements, just give me a call, let me assess your intention.
you may contact me @ 840 25 38. Thank you.
with your permission warlock, i also want to become foster parents of your zebra finch. RESERVE for me one pair of your LUTINO GOULDIAN FINCH!!!! HENYO KA TALAGA…..
dave, 10k adoption fee para sa lutino gouldian. btw, shadow contacted me early this morning, he’s asking ano ba daw alaga mo. guys final na sched sa sunday ha, ako taya.
hi guys, especially to albert the warlock. I’m ricky i have a pair of gouldian, starfinches, shafttail and a couple of zebras. g2 ko sana mag try ng canary, how much ba ang isang pair ng breeder? Give me some idea naman. Thanks a lot
Ricky, 840-25-38, thats my number.
sir albert, pinaliit ko na yung mga pics sa royal canary. ok na sya ngayon.. thanks!
bro ilan yung dumating mong canary from US? ilan ang norwich,gloster at red factor. meron ka rin american singer di ba? pakita mo saken sa thurs lahat ng mga bagong dating mong canary.
WOW!!! sis, bilib naman ako sa “intelligentia” mo.
e kanino pa po ba magmamana??? Bro malakas ang radar ko basta canary noh… Balita ko nga 30 heads ang dumating mong canary and take note from US pa!!! Balib talaga ako sayo bro…
totoo po ba ito? anlakas naman ng radar ni ms. ladybird.
sir albert, will be visiting you again soon. hopefully next week?
yes its true, my mga dumating na canary si bro warlock. pag canary ang pag uusapan talagang malakas ang radar ko. hindi puwedeng di ko malalaman yun lalo na pag canary ni warlock he he he….
bro, rain or shine go ang lakad natin mamaya.
natuloy po kayo? sana naman nakabili na kayo kahit isang pair lang..
yap, natuloy kami sa lakad namin kahapon ni warlock. nakita ko na mga bagong dating niyang canary. di pa puwedeng irelease yun, kelangan pang icondition muna ang mga canary. actually my mga canary na ako courtesy of course ni warlock wala ng iba pa.
bro congrats for winning the 1st and 2nd price in the recent birdshow.
iba ka talaga.
ur a GENIUS!!!!
oo nga!! congrats sir albert!! hope you win all the categories for the next bird show. sayang at di na-appreciate ng judge yung #13! bulag ba yun? hehe.
andun po kayo ms. ladybird?
di naman bulag, first time lang makakita ng canary, hehehehehehe.
yes, i was there to give my full support to warlock.
next birdshow, di lang 1st place pati BEST IN SHOW CATEGORY!!!! kay warlock na.
Hello Albert,my name is alo Alberto. I am from Spain. Due to my job I usually travel to the Philippines and I would like to purchase some Philippines wild bird for my collecion as Pitta, Necarina, etc.I hope you can tell me where to go. Of course everything in a legal way. By the way it is very nice to see how a spanish bird as the canary is so well acepted and bred in the Philippines. Here in Spain is a very common bird and you can see it in everywhere. Thanks. Alberto
by the way, please contact me at a.olias@liptosa.com
My next trip to the Philipines is in February 2008, so I hope I can get some birds. I am traveling to Manilabut if I have to go to other place I will go.
Hi ,Its nice to have this kind of site for finchlover like me. I breed goldian,zebra ,society and african before and was succesful in those birds. I used to trade my surplus to a trader in Tutuban, lately i got a pair of yellow canaries as trade. for 2 weeks it seems they are healthy .the male start to molt. the female begin to drop her wings and later died. I gave them canary commercial seed and pechay, eggfood, clean water. just want to know what went wrong?Hoping you can share some input about taking care of this beautful birds, and i dont want to lose my interest because of this drawback. thank you.
two possibilities:
-the birds are already sick when you got them
-they got sick when they got to your place because of infection from your other birds
Did you quarantine them(put them in a different room) when you brought them home?
anyway, you’ve come to the right place sam. we will try to help you in anyway we can.
thanks for the reply. Im looking forward in meeting and learning from you guys. any suggestion regardng breeder and aviary about canary will be very appreciated.
Is that shop in Tutuban located at Santos building?
yes. I think so, Why?
That shop is notorious for having sickly birds. There have been lots of feedback regarding the place and the way the birds are kept there.
sam, i have 1 adult male variegated for you. please contact me @ 0928 590 70 68. thanks.
hi sir warlock, ang galing ninyo naman po ang dami ng canary ninyo. Congrats din po pala sir warlock, nabasa ko po kase na you won in the birdshow. Sana makasama ko rin kayong dalawa ni ms. ladybird. Para po kasing ang saya ninyong dalawa pag magkasama kayo, kase po iisa ang hilig ninyo.
hi ms. ladybird, best friend nyo po ba c sir warlock? Siguro po ang sarap ng samahan ninyo ni sir warlock. Palagi po ba kayong magkasama sa lakaran lalo na pag birds ang usapan? kelan po kayo papayag na maging featured breeder din po dito sa finchme? Nakilala ko na po si sir warlock dito sa finchme sana makilala ko na rin po kayo dito sa finchme.
sir gsas, kumusta na po, gawa naman po kayo ng way para mapapayag ninyo si ms. ladybird. Hihintayin ko po yung article niya ha.
hehe.. last time na inoffer ko syang iinterview.. sabi nya, pag-iisipan daw nya muna.. ayokong mangulit. yun pa rin po ba ang sagot nyo ms. ladybird from cavite?
Hi isa akong bird lover lalo na pag ang pag- uusapan ay about finches. By the way call me Toto and i live in Southern California . Birds I have right now are OWL finch,Star finch, Lady gouldian (normal purple breast,white breast , and yellow back), shaftail finch , red rump parakeet (rubino,blue, blue opal blue pastel opal.the last time nag bakasyon kami diyan 2004 nag punta ako ng Cartimarnot to buy bird gusto lang mag usyoso what bird they have at nakita ko ang mamahal pala ng presyo ng ibon d’yan sa atin .Natuwa ako may mahihilig din pala dyan sa atin magalaga ng ibontulad ko, next uuwi kami siguro may mapupuntahan akong tulad kong mahilig sa ibon kung may mag iimbita.
to sir Albert (warlock) ang gaganda naman ng canaries mo mukhang alagang alaga.You know balak ko pag umuwi ako dyan for good ay mag aalaga ako mag bibreed din ako of different type of finches.bata pa ako mahilig na akong mag alaga kalapati(racing)from Arangke(SantaCruz) manok pang sabong(texas) pag uwi galing barko inilalaban. ang canary ba ay hindi delikado sa lamok.
Toto, may kamahalan nga sa cartimar kasi they pay for rent, it’s better if you buy through breeders.
seono dancing anong ibon ang alaga mo
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