As with Stan aka Seona, I asked Benji to give some personal info about himself. Here’s what he said.

• I was a member of a punk/hardcore band during the mid 80’s called George Imbecile and the Idiots.
• I am an ABS-CBN employee, a sound engineer, since 1996.
• As a breeder, I am aiming for red and triple b zebras.

Benji sent me tons of pictures of his stock but failed to send me his own picture(Pwede nyo po bang ihabol ito? hehe). I may have to require this for future FinchMe breeders.

So much for the introductions. Here’s the interview proper.

Full Name: Benjamin O. Sengson
Address: Bulacan
Contact No.: 09209072305
Breeder Since: November 2005
Breeds: Finches and Waxbills

Interview:

Why did you breed finches? And is it more of a hobby or a business venture?
With my limited space, no choice but to go for small birds, after acquiring my first zebra “man I was hooked!!!”. They’re adorable, interesting, and very very rewarding(emotionally). I consider it a hobby with a little business on the side.

When did you start breeding? What was your first pair(s)?
T’was a childhood hobby/addiction that i wasn’t able to kick off he he, nagkaroon ako ng keets when I was a kid pero lagi namamatay. Then I shifted to pigeons, then successfully got rid of the habit during college.
Nov 2005, I started w/ a pair of normal grey zebra finch and after 3 months they surprised me with 4 small eggs.

Can you share some of the great experiences you had as a breeder? How about the not-so-great?
I’ll start w/ the funny experience first—it was the first hatched from my first pair, so happy muntik na kong magpabinyag nung napisa he he he. I was telling all my friends (experienced breeders w/ hi mutes) and looking back always brings a smile, wonder what they’re thinking back then he he.

Back to the question, it was when I was able to produce 2 crested male bfbc. After weaning for a week they died.
There’s one time when I bought 2 male cuthroats on a poultry shop in Quezon Ave. After 2 days nakawala! Happened so fast.. and there goes my hard earned buck.
Waaaa!!!

What were the initial difficulties and current difficulties that you experience in breeding finches?
initial difficulties -Endless nights of research and reading to gather more knowledge about finches.
current difficulties- still endless nights of research and reading to gather more knowledge about finches.
Seriously,initial difficulty?siguro yung pahabaan ng pasensya kahihintay magbreed ng alaga ko at yung galit ni misis kasi lagi akong nakatanga dun sa cage ng ibon .

Yung current naman ay yung pag mamaintain kasi medyo madami na sila kaya mahabang oras na ang kailangan para magpakain, painom at paglinis. Laging after lunch na ko nakakapasok sa trabaho.

What’s your most favourite finch and mutation(color, form) from your stock?
Black face black breasted chestnut flanked white male zebra finch.

How many pairs of birds do you currently have(zebras, gouldians, and canaries)? How much do you spend all in all every month to keep them(for electricity bill, food, vitamins, nests and cages, other supplies)?
More or less 80 zebras, 4 canaries, a pair of each (owl, cutthroat, pied yellow star, masked, diamond firetail, strawberry, silver java, and white shaftail),1 goldbreast waxbill.
Hindi ko kino-compute ang expenses eh, basta masaya ako, lam mo na, yung emotional fulfilment oks na ko dun. Sobra-sobra pa nga binibigay nilang kasiyahan sa akin kapag binalanse mo lalabas me utang pa ko sa kanila.

What’s the most expensive bird you have ever bought?
My canaries.

What’s the rarest mutation you currently have?
I think its my yellowbeak zebras.

Update: Triple Black (picture to follow)

Who in your opinion are the best finch breeders of the country?

Naku madami yan! Magtatampo yan pag isa lang ang sinabi ko.
Sa zebra andyan ang mga idol kong sina Zeb ng ppf, Rolly of Novaliches, Sergio at Jonell ng south.
Sa canary sina Rolly, John Albert, at Hansel.
Sa gouldians naman andyan sina Manong Palos ng ppf, R. Amurao, Mr.So, at Art ng Bulacan.

Have you entered your birds in a bird show(and won)?
In my dreams he he… Hindi pa. Di pa show quality ang mga birds ko.

Can you tell us a well-kept secret formula, routine, or food mix that is essential in your success as a breeder?
Successful breeder ba ako? Di naman eh.. Dami nga lagi casualties sa mga hatchlings eh.
Buy the best and the most expensive food mix, vitamins/supplements, and treats that you can afford for your pets. Ikinulong natin sila kaya responsibilidad nating ibigay ang lahat ng nakukuha nila sa labas.

Who are your best friends in the breeding community?
Madami, halos lahat nagiging kaibigan ko. You know what makes the hobby exciting? It’s the friends you gain/meet along the way. Different people w/ different personalities and interesting stories about their experiences in bird keeping.

Wala bang nagagalit sa mga kasambahay nyo or kapitbahay dahil sa mga alaga nyong ibon?
Kasambahay? Si misis lang pag mahal yung binili kong ibon. Kapitbahay din nung una kasi me nagregalo sakin ng 1 pair na African lovebird e masyado daw maingay lalo na sa umaga kaya naipamigay ko rin, tapos bumili na ako ng zebra.

Lastly, what advice can you give to other Filipino finch breeders out there?
“Ang mainip, talo!” Lack of patience ang no.1 reason kaya maraming nag quit sa hobby. Saka yung lack of knowledge. Research, Research, Research, everything’s online and it’s free!!!! Then gather infos and tips from experienced breeders tapos balansehin na lang, minsan may mga breeders na ayaw i-share lahat.

Here’s my most favorite picture out of all the pics Benji sent me.

Just an update with my zebras: the first pair has already borne three healthy birds on their first clutch, and they’re now on their third week as nestlings. I expect them to explore the whole cage in a matter of days. I’m having trouble taking their pictures because the parents are overprotective and won’t let me see the nestlings fully. I’ll probably be able to show them to you when they finally fledge.

On the note of the busy schedule, I have found a way to feature Filipino finch breeders through online interviews. The first one of this series will be a well-informed and trusted zebra breeder who has been a regular visitor here in FinchMe. His codename both here and in PPF is seonadancing, and I’m proud to introduce him here as one of the finest breeders with the largest collection of zebras in terms of quantity and mutations. Meet Mr. Stanley Lao of Project 6, QC.

Full Name: Stanley Lao
Address: Project 6, QC
Contact No.: 0917-5299576
Breeder Since: 2006
Breeds: Zebra Finches

Interview:

Why did you breed finches? And is it more of a hobby or a business venture?
An office friend of mine introduced me to breeding zebra finches and he said that it’s an easy way to get extra income. So I started with the thought of making a business out of breeding birds but it soon became an obsession to collect all the mutations available here. The change in mindset happened when I got frustrated that I cannot make my pairs produce offspring in the first month that I had my first few pairs, so instead of waiting to produce the mutations I wanted, I just went out and buy all the mutations that I can find.

When did you start breeding? What was your first pair(s)?
I think it was September of 2006. My first 2 pairs were normal-sized gray zebra finches.

Can you share some of the great experiences you had as a breeder? How about the not-so-great?
Seeing my first ever grandchild from my finches was one of my best experience. Producing 7 youngs in a clutch was also a memorable one. Producing my first visually OB cock was great also. Talking to fellow bird lovers was also a great experience.
Seeing dead chicks thrown by their parents was bad but what’s worst is seeing blood and dead birds all over the cages because a cat attacked.

What were the initial difficulties and current difficulties that you experience in breeding finches?
I used to handle all the cleaning and feeding for 40 pairs of zebras and that took an average of 2 hours every day. My biggest problem currently is the location since my aviary is not somewhere near my condo.

What’s your most favourite finch and mutation(color, form) from your stock? Please show us a picture.
After my initial stock of zebras, I began to concentrate on buying and producing jumbos and OBs. My favourite mutations are the jumbo white pied and the orange breasted Isabel.

How many pairs of birds do you currently have(zebras, gouldians, and canaries)? How much do you spend all in all every month to keep them(for electricity bill, food, vitamins, nests and cages, other supplies)?
All I have are zebras because ALBs bite too much, Gouldians are not as interactive, and Owl finches are too expensive. I have 35 breeding pairs plus about 30 more in flight cages. The cost to maintain the flock is about P3,000 a month. This is mostly on the different feeds I buy; electricity expense is minimal because I don’t follow the 16-hour rule.

What’s the most expensive bird you have ever bought?
I bought 3 Black Face Black Breasted cocks for P1,500 each.

What’s the rarest mutation you currently have?
I have a Jumbo Orange Breasted Isabel. The specific mutation is hard to come by in Jumbo form.

Who in your opinion are the best finch breeders of the country?
I think the best is still two of the pioneers – Raffy Yap and Evan Ong. I haven’t been to Evan’s aviary but pictures of his stock are mouth-watering. Raffy has the biggest sized zebras that I’ve seen. For Gouldians, it’s Jeff Mique of Bicutan, I don’t know how many pairs he has now but the last time I went to his aviary, the gouldians are everywhere. He plans to be the number breeder of gouldians in the country so good luck to him.

Have you entered your birds in a bird show(and won)?
I was so close to joining but my show bird got her feathers picked by her partner.

Can you tell us a well-kept secret formula, routine, or food mix that is essential in your success as a breeder?
It’s no secret that a balance diet makes for a healthy bird. I feed my birds 8 kinds of seeds plus I buy the 8-in-1 seed mix products to give my birds some variety. I give vitamins just twice a month and veggies once a month. Spray Millet whenever I can buy them. I have an eggfood mix that I give my birds and it’s a mixture of Eggfood + Aristopet egg and biscuit + Wheat Germ + Sing Song Singing Bird feeds + eggshell + 8-in-1 seed product depending on if the bird is moulting, conditioning, or has nestlings.

Who are your best friends in the breeding community?
Jeff Mique, alias Flare. He’s the one who helped me start this hobby.

Wala bang nagagalit sa mga kasambahay nyo or kapitbahay dahil sa mga alaga nyong ibon?
Wala naman, yun ALBs actually nung kapitbahay naming yun maingay.

Lastly, what advice can you give to other Filipino finch breeders out there?
I don’t think I’m in a position to give advice since I’ve been breeding for less than 2 years, but I guess in everything, we need to really take care of our pets. Let’s give them everything they need to be healthy and put them in a big enough cage so they can fly around. Observing is the best way to know your birds and don’t only rely on what you read on the internet or books.

Stan gets a little personal and shared us something about himself.

Aside from breeding zebra finches, I am also a Lego hobbyist and I think I have one of the biggest collections in the country. I used to love eating balut but after seeing day old chicks from my finches, I can’t at balut anymore. I’m a typical teenager who likes video games and sports but I’m not a teenager anymore.

Note: A week after this interview, Stan has informed me that there is a very big chance that he will be discontinuing breeding for the “sake of the birds.” He still gave the go ahead to publish this interview anyway, and as I’ve told him, he’ll probably suffer from withdrawal syndrome. Who can resist not having even just a pair of zebras?

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

Full Name:  Kurt Byron Ang
Address:  EDSA, Caloocan, Philippines
Contact No.:  +639064450558
Breeder Since:  June 2006
Breeds:  Zebra Finch, Gouldian Finch, Shaftail Finch, Java Finch, Diamond Doves, African Lovebirds, Parakeets

Interview:

FinchMe(FM). When and how did you start breeding finch?
Kurt(K). I started June 2006.  Somebody (my tutee) gave me a pair of zebra finch, and everything just rolled from then on.  

FM. What was the main reason behind it?
K. I’m a pet lover ever since I can remember.  I have been raising chickens, doves, turkeys, ducks, and rabbits since I was a kid of 8.  Then in 1996, I started breeding fish.  I did that for almost 10 years, until 2006. Then last year I discovered these cute little birds from a friend. Well, the main reason I started breeding finches is because it eases the stress that I feel from my day job.  The finches have now become a reason for me to wake up early in the morning and something to look forward to after coming from work.

FM. Can you tell us your usual day schedule with your finches, from morning until after you come home from work?
K. In the morning, I prepare their egg food—mainly consisting of fresh eggs, bird seeds, and even sometimes oats.  I usually mix in vitamins and supplements with the food. Most of the time I usually put Vitamin C in their water as well(For would-be breeders, make sure that you change the water every day!).  This everyday routine takes at least 1 hour.  Then I’m off to work. At night, our household helper puts in a new mix of food, sometimes with vegetables(cabbages) and usually I just inspect the birds and their cages. I would check for newly-laid eggs, chicks, and I usually keep a record of the pairs and their young.

FM.  What difficulties and setbacks have you encountered from breeding finches?
K.  The initial difficulties I have encountered are irresponsible finch parents throwing their eggs out of the nest basket. I’ve also had some pairs which do not tend to their young.  In these cases I just transfer the eggs or the chicks to another pair which will take care of them.

FM. Where do you usually get your birds?
K.  Most of my finches now come from breeders as well.  During my first few months, I used to shop at Cartimar near the LRT-Buendia train station. Then, I met some breeders and went to their place to get some new breeds.  Some of them were introduced by friends and other breeders, and I hope that through this website I will be able to meet more breeders for gene source, and even customers as well.  I’m planning to sell some of my birds already.

FM. How many finches do you now have?
K.  Right now? Finches? I think over a hundred. Monthly I get around 10 babies minimum from my breeders.

FM. Lastly, what advise can you give to other finch breeders?
K. Be patient with your birds, take good care of them, and just enjoy seeing nature at work! Hehehe..:)