We Do Things a Little Differently.
What is your Health Guarantee?
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Our Health Guarantee warranties your Baby to be free of any genetic or congenital (physical defect) or other inherited abnormality to the best of our knowledge for a period of 1 year. It cannot, however, guarantee against any communicable illness, other potential diseases, toxin or infection exposure, or owner negligence beyond our initial 72-hour period, because we have no control over what your baby may be exposed or subjected to once they leave our nest. Owner negligence (such as Teflon/toxin exposure, lack of feeding, purposeful or accidental injury, etc) will also NEGAGTE the 72-hour Health Guarantee period.
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Every Baby here is either tested for Polyoma and PBFD, or comes from negative tested parents. In addition to this testing, we conduct full panel disease testing twice a year for all 6 major Avian diseases:
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Psittacosis (MOMP)
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Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)
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Avian Polyomavirus (APV)
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Avium Bordetella (BAL)
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Pacheco’s Disease (PDV)
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Psittacine Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD)
Most recent testing results are posted publicly and go home with each Baby purchased.
What is your Lifetime Guarantee?
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We guarantee that if at any point in your bird's lifetime, you are no longer able to care for them, give them the time or attention they need, or otherwise can no longer keep them, we will accept the bird back on a Consignment basis. We will go above and beyond to search for the very best forever home for them, assuming all costs of food, housing, and veterinary care.
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When and if a new home is found, we will take a 40% Consignment fee to recoup any costs we've incurred during their stay with us and the remainder will be immediately credited to you. You can rest assured that you will always have a place for your bird should the need to rehome them arise. If no new home can be found, your bird will enjoy life with us forever. At the time of this writing, we are the only breeder or store in Illinois that offers this guarantee.
Why do you have limited babies at any time?
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We do our best to do things WITH nature, rather than fight against it. In the wild, Australian parrot species like Cockatiels, Linnies, Kakariki, and Grass Parakeets like Bourkes, breed during the wet seasons twice a year. They raise a clutch to about 3-4 weeks old, boot them from the nest and start another clutch. Mom will tend the new eggs, and Dad will feed the chicks and wean the babies. They do this to take advantage of the plentiful foods during the wet season to raise as many young as possible while they can. After the second clutch, they then rest until the next wet season, about 5-6 months later.
This is how nature designed birds, yet in captive breeding situations, we struggle to work against this process, trying to force them to take breaks between each clutch. This very rarely works and is stressful for everyone. So, we've decided to follow nature's advice, and let our birds do what comes naturally. We pull the first clutch to hand feed when the babies are 2 weeks old and allow the pair to nest again if they choose to. Nests are closed after the second clutch is pulled, and the pair is allowed a nice, long break. For this reason, available babies are often limited, and many are reserved before they're even eggs!
Do you hand feed every baby?
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Yes, every baby! All babies are pulled for hand-feeding at 18-21 days old, depending on their species, and we assume 100% of their care and feeding from that point on. Babies are fed on a strict schedule, using soft-tipped syringes. The amounts fed are carefully tracked, as well as daily weight gain or loss. Hand-Fed babies are 100% human-dependent. This makes for a "cuddlier" and more friendly baby, however, keep in mind like all babies, they can be quite needy and require much reassurance as they grow when they first go home. Hand-fed babies may also take a bit longer to wean before going home. Babies are hand-fed while parents are allowed to have a second clutch if they choose to.
What if my baby is going to be a future breeder?
If your baby is going to be a future breeder, we still pull for hand feeding, however, we make every effort to allow them to become a bit more independent and bird-bonded, rather than strictly human-bonded.
What do you feed your birds?
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We are proud to start our babies on their lifelong journey to healthy eating. All babies are raised on the healthiest foods possible from the very start. We don't feed just one formula here. Hand-Fed babies are raised on a mix of Higgin's inTune formula, (which is the only Brown Rice-based formula on the market, that contains NO CORN!), Roudybush Formula 3, and Kaytee Exact High Fat. We feed a wide varied blend of foods (and we suggest you do too!) to help avoid picky eaters! Our "dry" Small and Medium Bird Blends, consist of high quality HUMAN GRADE seeds, dried fruits, veggies, herbs, and nuts. We also feed mixed pellet brands like Tropican High-Performance Granules* (pellets), Tropimix Formula for Cockatiels and Lovebirds (pellets with dried fruits, veggies, and nuts), Higgins Fruit and Veggie Blend for Cockatiels, Roudybush Maintenance Crumbles (pellets), and more; along with daily fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and homegrown sprouts. Healthy seeds and grains are offered cooked or sprouted only, not as a daily addition to their dry food. Other species here are fed species-specific diets.
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Every Baby goes home with a bag of the foods we've weaned them on to, and a detailed Care Packet outlining safe and unsafe foods for your new pal. You are welcome to feed your baby what you'd like once Home of course, but we will make sure your Baby comes home ready to explore any foods you give them! Feeding a wide variety of foods helps avoid future picky eaters! We get 'em started, you keep 'em that way! :)
We blend several mixes together to provide a completely balanced dry food great for foraging!*
What training will my baby get before they come home?
We don't just raise your Baby. We also teach them how to become a loving companion! Once Baby is moved to a Transition Cage, we start working on some basic training.
Harness Training: Baby will be made familiar with a harness, to help you once home. We use, and recommend, ONLY the Aviator brand harness. Baby will learn to sit nicely while the harness is placed over their head, and each wing is lifted through the loops. You simply continue the training at home!
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Target Training: From the moment they can stand, your Baby has been started on the very basics of Target training. Our first training tool is the scale. Babies are weighed daily, and are taught to stand nicely on the scale while their weight is recorded. As a result, your baby will go home knowing the target word "Scale", and will stand nicely awaiting a reward while you weigh them. Continue this training at home to help with well behaved Vet visits! We also use the target word "Touch". All babies are conditioned to follow your finger and "Touch" their beak to your finger, wherever it might be. Continuing this at home can help start a wonderful experience for you both! Your Going Home packet goes over basic Target Training ideas.
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What's the ring on my Baby's leg? Can I remove it?
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We realize this topic can be a controversial one, so we feel it prudent to mention that we band all of our babies with CLOSED aluminum bands, for positive identification and record-keeping purposes. Our bands are traceable back to us for the life of your bird and contain vital information. All species are banded with color-coded CLOSED aluminum bands printed with our aviary name, the year of the hatch, and the sequential number of their hatch order for that year and are specific to that baby. Many times a band has been the only way an owner could positively ID a bird that was lost or recovered. The reason behind this is that bands can only be applied to a baby bird and during a very short window of time.
Closed bands can only be applied by the birds' breeder. They must be slid over the foot between 10-14 days of age. We apply the band and a photo of the baby with their band is taken. The band information is written in all of our records, on their Hatch Day certificate, and in all of your records in your Going Home packet.
Please Note: While there have been RARE cases of issues arising due to a leg band getting caught on a toy or cloth, we feel the security of their positive identification outweighs the rare occasion of any reported issues. In addition, in the majority of these reported cases, a SPLIT or open band was used. Split bands are open on one side and can be inadvertently crimped too tightly on the leg, or snag on a cloth hut or toy.
Should you want the band removed, please have your Avian Veterinarian cut it off and keep it for your records. Under no circumstances will we forgo banding a baby, UNLESS we have missed the window for some reason. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Do you clip all babies' wings? Do they have to be clipped?
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All babies, after mastering flight, gliding and turning, and landing safely, will have their wings trimmed for their safety. We do NOT do full clips (chopping ALL feathers on each wing), or uneven wing clipping (clipping only one wing to throw the bird off balance). We practice what is called Managed Flight. With this method, no more than the first 4-5 primary feathers on each wing is trimmed. This results in a baby that can still fly straight, and glide safely without crashing, but cannot get an upward lift/take-off.
While it may be a controversial topic, we HIGHLY recommend taking a trimmed Baby home. A fully flighted baby in a strange new home can be dangerous, or even deadly! If you do NOT want your Baby trimmed, you must let us know before they fledge. We are happy to oblige, but please be aware that a non-trimmed Baby will nullify our Health Guarantee. (PLEASE ALSO NOTE: Even a clipped baby can fly! Always use secondary precautions to keep your Baby safe!)
When will my baby be ready to go home?
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We do not force wean here. Force weaning is depriving babies of feeding when it's felt they are "old enough" to be weaned. We follow no clock on weaning and each baby chooses when they are ready to reject feedings. We allow them to continue with feedings until THEY decide they're "Big". This is called Abundance Weaning, and it is the ONLY way our Babies are weaned at the Clutch Hutch.
We will NEVER stop feeding a Baby that's "too old" to be on formula. We are never in a hurry to send them Home. There is no set timeline, therefore your Baby might come Home at 8 weeks, or 12 weeks. We will be 100% certain before your Baby goes Home that they are independently eating and drinking on their own, and will not revert to begging for hand-feedings. We ask that you also not rush the process!
How will I know if my baby is a boy or girl?
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There is no guessing here! Your Baby's gender will be 100% known before they leave our nest. All babies are either DNA sexed (via laboratory blood testing), or "Nest Sexed" at or before 2.5 weeks of age, and will come Home with their DNA results (if DNA sexed) and a custom Hatch Day certificate.
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"Nest sexing" is possible with any breeder who understands the basics of sex-linked genetics, and knows precisely what a pair can or cannot produce. For example, in a pair that can only produce female lutinos, any lutino babies are automatically known to be female, so we wouldn't DNA them. With species that are Dimorphic, gender can be determined visually, so no DNA is needed. We never guess! If there is ever any doubt, we DNA to be sure!
How will I know if my baby is healthy?
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All babies born here are either directly Disease tested, or come from Disease tested parents. If you'd like your baby directly Disease panel tested (via lab-tested blood card sample) prior to going home, we will gladly send the baby's samples in at your expense. This full Wellness Package tests for:
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Psittacosis (MOMP)
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Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)
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Avian Polyomavirus (APV)
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Avium Bordetella (BAL)
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Pacheco’s Disease (PDV)
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Psittacine Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD)
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Wellness Package testing is $75 (lab cost plus FedEx 2-day shipping), and can be done at any time before Baby goes Home! (*If you require the results BEFORE Baby goes Home, be sure to allow up to 3 weeks for the lab to get results to us!)
(We currently test our aviary bi-yearly for all 6 major Avian Diseases via lab testing. If you would like additional Avian disease testing done individually on your Baby, we are happy to order any additional tests you'd like run, at your cost. Please let us know ahead of time and we will check with the lab for all avian tests available. We charge only what the lab charges us for testing.)
Can I come to look at/play with babies, or visit my baby?
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Well, yes and no. Firstly, we are a 100% CLOSED AVIARY.
What does this mean? A closed aviary means we do not take in birds from outside or unknown sources, without a quarantine period and a vet check. We also do not allow random visitors to just stop in whenever they like. We don't do this to be cruel, or because we are hiding anything. We do this for the safety of our birds, their comfort and stress levels, and for health and sanitation reasons. A stressed parent may crush eggs or trample their own young in a frantic moment! This is a heartbreaking scenario we try to avoid at all costs. As a result, no visits to simply see babies are allowed. We will not expose our babies or adults to germs needlessly. We are happy to do live video chat virtual visits through Facebook messenger, or send countless pictures of your baby, as well as offer our Live Cameras.
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However, once you have chosen your baby, and they have fledged, you may come and visit with them for short periods! This is offered by appointment only, and you will wait up front, while we go back and get your baby.
Where are you located? Do you ship? Is it safe to ship a Baby?
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We are located in Illinois and suggest you make arrangements to pick up your baby prior to even placing a deposit if you are not located in the area. Please plan accordingly. In the event in-person pickup is not possible, shipping via Delta Airlines is available, weather permitting.
We also offer a delivery service for a flat fee for fairly local customers, should you prefer that option. Costs for delivery or shipping, plus travel crates, are at the buyer's expense and are not included in the baby's price. The baby's balance, and transport or shipping fees must be paid in full prior to travel arrangements.
See the Pricing page for prices and information.
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What if I can't pick up Baby right away?
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You must make arrangements to pick up the baby within 7 days of them being ready to go home unless we have a previous agreement for them to stay longer. Failure to do so may result in you being charged a daily boarding fee. We will board your baby for an additional 14 days beyond the weaning 7-day period, at your cost to be paid upon picking up the baby.
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Why must you pick up the baby when they are ready to go home? We have limited space for babies and there are always more Babies hatching that need our attention. By leaving your weaned baby here longer than they need to be, you are depriving them of the interaction and bonding they need with their new family, as well as taking space and time that another baby needs! We have waiting lists of loving families, waiting patiently for a baby. Failure to pick up your Baby on time tells us that you may not want your baby as much as another family will.
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We understand that emergencies happen, but communication is key! If we haven't heard from you and the time to take the baby home has come and gone, you may forfeit your deposit and lose your baby. We have other homes waiting all the time, and some babies are reserved the day they hatch! Please come get your baby when it’s time for them to go home! They are eager to begin their new lives with you, too!
What if I'm getting Baby as a gift for someone?
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Do not purchase a baby as a gift for someone, unless you are certain that person wants the baby. Many birds often end up in shelters or are returned, when they were given as a gift to someone who didn't really want a bird. Birds are forever pets, not Christmas, Birthday, or Anniversary gifts. Please also do not purchase a baby as a gift for a young child. (Some exceptions may apply.) We also need the Owner's information on our Contract, so purchasing Baby as a gift makes paperwork complicated.
Do you have other things for Baby?
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Visit the Shop page and check out our growing line of food, supplements, toys, perches, supplies, and more! We'd love to hear your feedback about additional products you think we should carry.
From time to time, we may also have new or used cages available for purchase. Any used cages have been power washed to thoroughly sanitize them and may have been re-powder coated and repaired when needed, prior to them being available for purchase. Used cage prices may be somewhat flexible, or we may be able to work out a bundle price if you are also taking a baby home or purchasing several items at the same time.
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We also produce our own high-quality line of interchangeable, custom powder-coated play gyms and fun activity walls! Contact us for details!
