Dear Friends & Valued Customers,

This year, 2009, is Cage'N Bird's 21st year. As always you, the customer, and your animals are our number one concern. We appreciate your support and we will always do our best to maintain your trust. We make every effort to supply you with the products and services you need in a timely and professional manner.

Aviculture, particularly avian pediatrics, has been a passion for well over 21 years. Life in rural south Louisiana has always included pets and farm animals. . Animals are and always has been a big part of family life here at Belle Ecorce Farms. Belle Ecorce Farms includes: Cage'N Bird our avian hand-feeding & breeder supply mail order company and our exotic parrot bird breeding facility; Très Belle Chèvre goat dairy and artisan/farmstead goat cheese; and our new venture  Bar U5 Miniature Horses.

I have cared for and ridden horses for most of my life and the farm has always included a variety of livestock. However, life with the birds began sometime in the mid 1980's, following the purchase of a single, hand-fed, lutino cockatiel. That initial purchase was the beginning of an interesting journey into the world of aviculture. At that time there was very little reliable information available on breeding birds or, hand-feeding hatchlings. Books on hand-feeding or simple guides or articles were few and mostly non-existent. The field of avian pediatrics was unheard of. Hand rearing proved to be a trial and error undertaking filled with mistakes and heartbreak. Study and practice eventually brought experience and a hard-earned understanding of avian pediatrics and hand-feeding in general.

Years of caring for animals has been and still is an enlightening and rewarding experience. To own and breed animals is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. This responsibility applies not only to the animals we keep but involves the ones that are sold as well. Education is the key to responsible ownership. We as dedicated aviculturists, animal keepers, and breeders should share our experiences and knowledge, as well as provide novice and future bird and animal owners with as much information and guidance as possible.

Because of my 25 plus years of experience in avian pediatrics I am happy to provide a free consultation and support service to the avian community. Nicole, my second in command, or myself, will personally take your order or gently guide you through basic hand-feeding technique, choose nursery equipment or help you with pediatric problems. We can customize a hand-feeding program to meet your particular needs. Your questions and comments are welcomed. Please call us at 337-394-6683 (our office number also rings in our home  so please do not call too late.). If we don't answer please leave a message, we will get back to you or e-mail us at  cnbirds@aol.com .

Considering our many years in the bird business, we breed or have bred and hand-fed many avian species. These species range from tiny finches, budgies, and cockatiels to the larger Amazons, Grays, Cockatoos, and Macaws. Our aviary has been down sized in lieu of the goats and horses, however, we do occasionally make our precious babies and sometimes breeder birds available to our mail order customers. A bird price list is included here on our web page or email us for a list of current hand-fed and breeder birds.

We hope you like our new web site and store front . We have included many fact filled published articles concerning avian management, hand-feeding and particularly avian pediatrics; links to Hand-FeedingHELP, Click to subscribe to Hand-FeedingHELP , an email list/forum where I and other experienced and novice hand-feeders discuss hand-feeding, bird breeding and avian pediatrics; a web catalog of our most called for products and a Birds for Sale page. Please enjoy our brand new web page. We welcome your feedback. Send us an email from our "Contact Us" page.

Don't forget to visit our Belle Ecorce Farms web site where you will find information and pictures about our farm and the animals we raise we look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Wanda B Barras
Belle Ècorce Farms' Cage'N Bird