Question:
since there was another topic started on breeding chinchillas, it made me think of this,,,

What do you guys think of people who breed numerous different types of animals? if a person just breeds chinchillas OR guinea pigs OR whatever i think thats fine because they are "specializing" in 1 type of animal,,,,and can put all of their time, devotion and knowledge into that 1 particular animal

but what about those people who "specialize" as they call it in chinchillas, guinea pigs, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, rabbits, etc,,,,how the heck can you stay on top of it all?? How can you possible spend time with every different species, give that animal exactly what it/they need?

Would you rather buy from a one species breeder or would it bother you to purchase an animal from a numerous animal breeder?


Answer:
I would rather buy from a one species breeder. They seem to have more knwledge on the animal. At my house I breed the chins and my mom used to breed the guinea pigs, with me helping out. It was alot easier that way. I dealt with the chin people and my mom dealt with the guinea pig people. So I guess we were both a one species breeder, just in the same house.

I can't imagine being one of those breeders that breeds 10 different species, there is no way I could deal with it all. I would probably get extremely confused and you wouldn't get to know one particular species as well.


Answer:
I think it depends- as always- on their intentions and their level of expertise and their conscience of care. Perhaps a person bred chins for several years. Should they STOP breeding chins to now breed rats? I would not have confidence in a person who bred multiple species, though- at least not all at one time.


Answer:
It all depends IMO...They could have done 10 years of research on each animal before breeding any animal...Me...I have done all my years (3-major, 1-little research, and still always learning) on chinchillas. My mom has done all her research and only breeds Akitas (dog). I have also done some research on animals over the years that I may not ever get (Virginia Opposum, Skunk, Raccoon, etc.) I also have done a lot of research on hedgehogs (even on breeding hedgehogs) even if I won't vere breed hedgehogs. I only own one and she is about 1 year old, and you are not supposed to breed then for their first time after they are a year. Maybe I will end up breeding hedgehogs in years to come, but not the hedgehog I have, but I will still be breeding chins...
People that breed more than one animal still might have extensive knowledge on each breed. They could even just have a very non-busy schedule..say your husband made enough money where you didn't have to work...and maybe you didn't even have ANY kids...and you only had 1 pair of chins, 1 pair of gliders, 2 hedgehogs, 1 pair of blah blah blah...you would most likely have enough time for each animal and be able to give each animal all of it's needs. It depends on how much you put towards the animal, and how much you want to put into learning, etc.


Answer:
I feel it all depends-I have to know about the animals I breed: Chinchillas, and mini dachshunds, and my leopard geckos: Admittedly the geckos are the easiest pet to breed that I have. I don't want to breed other animals as well as these, though my hubby wants to breed beardies and snakes.


Answer:
Originally Posted by Brandy
since there was another topic started on breeding chinchillas, it made me think of this,,,

What do you guys think of people who breed numerous different types of animals? if a person just breeds chinchillas OR guinea pigs OR whatever i think thats fine because they are "specializing" in 1 type of animal,,,,and can put all of their time, devotion and knowledge into that 1 particular animal

but what about those people who "specialize" as they call it in chinchillas, guinea pigs, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, rabbits, etc,,,,how the heck can you stay on top of it all?? How can you possible spend time with every different species, give that animal exactly what it/they need?

Would you rather buy from a one species breeder or would it bother you to purchase an animal from a numerous animal breeder?
I feel that people who breed numerous types of animals are in it for monitary profit and their animals are not necessarily provided the best living conditions or health care. This is my personal opinion. I would not buy from someone like this. Each situation is different so there are exceptions. I am speaking in general terms.


Answer:
It depends on the person I think. Whether or not a person is capable, depends on their experience, interest, knowledge and reasons for breeding. I have at times bought animals from some people that have several species and have been very knowledgable, on the other hand, I've also bought from one species breeders that should never have been breeders in the first place.
The top of my list is health,,otherwise it doesn't matter


Originally Posted by Brandy
since there was another topic started on breeding chinchillas, it made me think of this,,,

What do you guys think of people who breed numerous different types of animals? if a person just breeds chinchillas OR guinea pigs OR whatever i think thats fine because they are "specializing" in 1 type of animal,,,,and can put all of their time, devotion and knowledge into that 1 particular animal

but what about those people who "specialize" as they call it in chinchillas, guinea pigs, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, rabbits, etc,,,,how the heck can you stay on top of it all?? How can you possible spend time with every different species, give that animal exactly what it/they need?

Would you rather buy from a one species breeder or would it bother you to purchase an animal from a numerous animal breeder?


Answer:
I would rather buy from a breeder that focuses on one species. Its hard for me to say though because I haven't ever gotten an animal from a breeder (I always get them from rescues). But I'm thinking about getting my next ratties from a breeder so they will be in good health, and I will probably look for a breeder who just breeds ratties.


Answer:
I think it can depend on the person, but there are very few that I think could do it.

The example was given of one person, with complete time having 1 pair of several animals. I think that is not an ideal situation. Someone with a single pair of animals of one type would seem to be breeding for the sake of breeding. Even if they researched finding the best 2 possible animals out there, they aren't really doing the breed a service. They're just pumping out babies on the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' idea. It's hard to work on and improve your line if you only have one pair and keep selling all the offspring. The more you spread yourself, the less devoted to that breed you are. Yes, they may be knowledgable and have alot of info to give, but there experience outside of that one pair is limited. I would not buy from them.
People who have more then one species of animal in breeding are spreading themselves very thin and it takes a HUGE commitment to do it. I do not see the need personally, but some obviously do. If they were only breeding a second animal, perhaps a third, they may convince me. But anymore then that and I would just not be interesting in dealing with them.