Profile Firstly, hello
and welcome. I
have created this website to help my fellow bird fanciers, whether
they are trying to sell or buy a bird, need some advice, in which
case you can visit the species information pages or e-mail me; or
maybe you just want to look around etc... For whatever reason you
have visited my website, I hope you find what you were looking for.
About Me
My name is Samantha Goodhead and I live near Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, West Wales, UK. I am originally from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire in England. I have just finished studying for my ABC Animal Care Level 2 and my City & Guilds Pet Store Management, Livestock Management certificate. I have also previously completed 2 years of a BSc (Hons) Animal Science, but have had to defer the final year due to family illness. I am aiming my career working with animals. I would love to become a Birdkeeper or Zookeeper, but really, as long as I can work with animals, I'll be happy in any role. I have been keeping birds since 1996 when I was only 12 years old. Aviculture is an excellent and especially rewarding hobby. Through the years I have learnt how to care for my birds, to give them the best conditions I can, and I have to say the learning never ceases. With birds, something new, and I would say magical, happens every single day. They are truly amazing creatures, with such intense intelligence. They leave me awestruck which is why I have decided to devote myself to them within my hobby and future career.
Darcy - The Website's Namesake
My first bird was a six week old sweet and gentle little Budgerigar whom I named Darcy. He was a Normal Dark Green and completely out of proportion (he was an exhibition type X pet type), with wings way too big for his little body, but he was the richest bottle green, with the cutest face and brightest eyes. He was one of the smallest Budgies I've ever seen! Darcy was extremely tame and such a wonderful little songster. He bought such joy into my life and gave me six years of devotion. Darcy passed away in June 2002 after a severe gastrointestinal infection. The vet tried everything he could to save him and I nursed poor tiny Darcy day and night for a week, until the pain finally went away and he died in my hands, after giving me one last little chirp and nip. Darcy was a fighter to the end. This website is devoted to Darcy and all the other special birds who have been part of my life for the past nine years.
Current & Past Avian Species I have cared for a variety of species over the years including: Budgerigars, Cockatiels, Eastern Rosellas, Bourke's Parakeets, Indian Ringneck Parakeets, Peachfaced Lovebirds, Masked Lovebirds, Celestial (Pacific) Parrotlets, Eurasian Blackbirds, Zebra Finches, Bengalese Finches, Black and White Mannikins, Java Sparrows, Japanese Quail, Chinese Painted Quail, Fantail Doves, Ringneck Doves and Diamond Doves. I have now decided to specialise primarily in: * Cockatiels - Normal Greys, Dilute Greys, Light Pieds, split Pieds, Pearls, Pearl Pieds, Cinnamons and Cinnamon Pearls; * ...and Ringneck Doves - Pied in Dark, Fawn and Peach [Rosy Tangerine], Fawn, Ivory, and Pearled and Whiteback in Tangerine, Rosy Tangerine, Ash [Frosty Tangerine] and Rosy Ash. ...with further breeding of: * Bourke's Parakeets - Rosa; * Budgerigars - Green Series: Normal and Opaline in Dark Factor & Grey Factor; * Diamond Doves - Normal Blue and White Rump Blue; * Peachfaced Lovebirds - Green Series: Dark Factor, Orangefaced and splits; * ...and Eastern Rosellas, beginning 2009 - Normal Greens. Though I shall always keep a small selection of species which interest me and hold a special place in my heart. Aviary I have 2 outdoor aviaries:
The first measures approximately 8'2" long x 3' wide x 6'4" tall and houses 1 Eastern Rosella hen and 3 Diamond Doves. I built this aviary myself from 2"x2" tanalised timber and 1/2"x1/2" 19g galvanised weldmesh. The second is a mixed breeding colony aviary measuring 8'2" long x 8' wide x 6'6 tall. I also built this aviary myself. This aviary houses: Cockatiels, Bourke's Parakeets, Budgerigars and Ringneck Doves. None of my birds are aggressive or fight (any aggressors, which are extremely rare, are removed and housed seperately). They all get on extremely well together, all looking out for one another and developing very strong social and pair bonds.
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