Young Bird Sale - Tips

[cookey]

I will be attending the upcoming bird sale in Young NSW (February). As this is my first bird sale, I'm after some advice on how best to approach it. Apart from the obvious selection of healthy birds, a few others have told me to be at the front door with cage in hand, ready to run in when the doors open so I don't miss out on the birds I want. Frenzy?

Admittedly, I did think it would be a leisurely stroll through the sale; taking my time to select the birds I wanted to purchase but it sounds like this is far from the case! Would someone be good enough to paint a picture of what I can expect?

[wagga]

The Young bird sale is held, like most others sales around, in a large shed at the show grounds. I would arrive 30 to 45 minutes prior to opening of the sale doors to the public. OR arrive earlier, about 1 hour or so prior, and bring along a couple of show boxes of surplus birds to sell plus a spare empty box for any purchases. After benching your birds have a quick look around to see whats on offer, the sellers are asked to leave the shed prior to start. The sellers are then allowed back in to the shed just before the sale starts, check your birds are OK and wait for the buyers. If the sale is slow to start, no one is buying your birds, then go straight for the birds you want to buy.
At Young Bird sale the number of finches for sale can be quite small, mainly parrots. Normally the finches sell very quickly within the first hour assuming the buyers are there. This is the first sale of the year and a lot of people are looking not necessarily buying.


Note at bird sales there is a no trading/buying/swapping (pre-selling of birds) policy prior to the sale starting. Yes it does happen at all sales, some people are more obvious than others.

[jusdeb]

Ive been 'busted" buying before the doors open .
Another seller dobbed me in but the president of the club never said anything and we have spoken since a couple of times , seems it bothers the other sellers more than the establishment .

Tip ...carry boxes make great battering rams for those people that like to linger in the walkway .

Know what you want , research what a good healthy bird looks like and buy it ...procrastinate and it will be sold from under you .

Although there are bargains especially towards the end of the sale keep in mind that if a bird is cheap there is usually a reason and its not always good .

Enjoy it and hope its not too hot .

[Diane]

Admittedly, I did think it would be a leisurely stroll through the sale; taking my time to select the birds I wanted to purchase but it sounds like this is far from the case!

That was my impression too before my first sale. The reality was far from it. Its more like a contact sport!
As wagga said get there early, sometimes you can get a glimpse of the birds as they are taken in the hall/tent.
Just before opening of the doors to let the buyers in you will have to make your decision based on the amount of people in the queue....do you take a swift look around the hall noting the birds you want and risk them being gone before you get back to buy them, or do you see what you like the look of and buy straightaway.

[ray_223]

Hi Cookey,

For a quick video and a few pics check out the review of the last years Orange Bird Sale - it should give you a "feel" of what to expect:

http://orangebirdsale.com/blog/2011-sale-review" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jusdeb]

Orange moved quite well , a few congested areas but very casual and frindly .

Oh 11 seconds into the video is my son and his girlfriend ...yellow Tshirt

[Mortisha]

damn, this sounds horrible to me
I'm not pushy enough to cope with a whole lot of people wanting into get in first .
Might be better just to deal one on one with breeders when i finally get to purchase my new birds.

[jusdeb]

At least try it once Mortisha , my first sale was Gunnedah , I was traumatised for weeks lol .
Since then Ive stuck with Forbes Orange and Dubbo shows/sales and have enoyed them.

[Mortisha]

might go for a look at the birds but will leave the elbowing to everyone else

[Diane]

They aren't all like that, just the first one I went to, I was expecting a very sedate affair.
So between a combination of what I was expecting, a small hall and a very large amount of people led to that experience.