December 1999 Featured Breeder

INTRODUCTION: Joyce Baum is a well-respected breeder who I've come to know through her participation on the bird breeder lists. She is a caring, wise aviculturist who puts alot of time and energy into breeding.

I have always been an animal lover and began raising pigeons in high school. From there I went on to raise canaries, fancy chickens, dogs (German Shepherds, Dalmatians and Great Danes, cats (Siamese and Manx), peafowl and pheasants. My husband and I raised and trained Appaloosa horses for 25 years. My most recent hobby of raising hookbills begin in 1987. I currently specialize in mutation Indian Ringnecks, but also have Congo African Greys, Vosmaeri Eclectus, Sun Conures, Painted Conures, Hawkheads, Caiques, Cockatiels, Finches and Budgies.
	Since 1987 I have been a very active member of our local bird club here in Tucson, Arizona, The Avicultural Society of Tucson (AST) [http://theaviary.com/ast/]. I was a board member of AST for eight years, and have once again been elected the Vice President this year. I've been an AFA delegate since 1988, and the AFA State Coordinator for Arizona for the past two years. Membership in our club has grown from about 40 to close to 400 since 1987, and we do a lot of education as to the proper care of birds. I was very involved in getting our current adoption program for unwanted birds in place, and it has been a great success now for about six years. This past year I was elected to the board of the Asiatic Breeders' Association (ABA), and I have enjoyed working with other wonderful folks that breed Asiatics.
One of my personal goals, as well as a goal of AST, is to educate people on the proper care of exotic birds. Some of the handouts I have created are on care, nutrition, caging, and also why not to purchase an unweaned bird. These handouts are distributed to buyers of my birds as well as at bird club meetings, and at local bird marts, to all who will take them. I believe this type of education is very important for the welfare of all birds, and all breeders should educate their prospective buyers prior to selling them a bird. Some of my articles have been published in bird club newsletters, as well as a local publication called Pet Guide here in Arizona.
My ringnecks are bred in flights that are 3' or 4' wide, 6' high (walk-in type), and 8' deep. I also have some larger flights for the younger birds to mature in...some are 8' x 8' x 6' high. Males are placed separately from females in these, so that I can easily pick out the sex and color of bird ordered. All flights are covered with a roof. Nestboxes are in a back corner of each flight, with privacy panels around them. All flights have misting systems operating during the hot summer weather. If you'd like to contact me, call 520-825-3400 or e-mail me at: ringnecklady@msn.com

Former Featured Breeders: Hookbill Haven™ Aviary Joy Kelly on Mutation Breeders