Most expensive.

[elferoz777]

550 for a pair of blue goulds ( colour bird plus split).

I work my way up on price eg sell cheaper birds then upgrade in difficulty and price as my skill level increases

[arthur]

:
to find 5k for a pair of finches must have taken a fair set of kohuna's.

The difficult bit was keeping the purchases from the radar screen of the better half


I bought a couple of pair of Napoleons when they were 'way up there' and managed to change the subject (or tell a white lie) whenever price paid was mentioned

My good wife wasn't overly interested in birds . . apart from the normal disdain that some women have for anything that diverts a husband's attention from where it should properly be

She would however come to conferences and aviary trips, usually involving herself in alternative activities


But as luck would have it, she was sitting right by my side during a presentation by one Russell Kingston, with regard to one of his African adventures

And as luck would have it Russell just happened to highlight the high price of Napoleons in Oz against their giveaway price in their land of origin . . and possibly for the 'wow factor' the Oz price he mentioned was a bit above the price that I had actually paid . . Thanks Russ

The 'love of my life' simply turned and looked at me . . she didn't say a word (she didn't have to)






But being the forgiving person that she is . . now, after only a couple of decades . . she rarely mentions it

[COUNTRY CAPITAL]

at least my "better half" shows no interest at all in my birds....very unlikely to repeat your scenario Arthur!
she who must be obeyed has horses to busy herself with and net outgoings far outweigh my bird enterprise....sometimes I even show a profit, rather than a blue ribbon!!
one day someone will have beautiful firetails and an offer I cannot refuse....

[iva]

Bought a pair of Green singers for $200. Hope for some babies.

[matcho]

Wow,

I am really glad I posted this. The response has been special, memories, prices etc, etc. Must say some of the prices paid in years gone by are staggering compared to the average wage in those times. I remember in the late 60's early 70s Orange Breasts and Gouldians were $36 and $60 a pair from Frank Schultz at Premier Aviarys, at Kogarah. That was big money. Considering I was working 60 hours a week as an apprentice butcher for $19.00 a week. Still the same price...go figure.

Come on people......give us some more memories of times gone by or what is happening now.

Ken.

[iaos]

No the subject of little white lies, a mate, who is also a member here tells his better half that his high end birds cost as much as $300

He must be able to buy foreign softbills cheaper than I can. Haha.

Cheers Ian

[arthur]

Matcho those prices, if your memory serves you correctly were extreme

My recollections (and remember that I am a Qlder, so may have been some variation) . .

1971 . . OB's about $7 or $8 pr . . Gouldians B/ R/ Y . . $6/ $7/ $8 . . with Y-Heads near impossible to obtain

Gouldians in those days were still being legally trapped

[arthur]

No the subject of little white lies, a mate, who is also a member here tells his better half that his high end birds cost as much as $300

Cheers Ian

Another 'plus' for the forum . .

In the 'good old days' we as beginners had to gain knowledge and skills such as this, the hard way

[finchbreeder]

For the lady finchos, just point hubby at the tool dept of Bunnings with the account card and he will forget those silly questions about how much you spent on finches.
LML

[arthur]

Gee . .

Just imagine a family unit of two bird-nuts

Great collection but perhaps more 'dinner-times' than 'dinners'