Aussie Finch Forum

Hi Luke,
I don't think he has any green seed left for sale but he is ordering some in from the Lowes so will have it when the next crop is harvested.
He is, however, I believe selling frozen sprouted seed if you are interested.

Which one is Berkshire? I have not heard of that one. I would to like add them to my list for my next trip out West.

I'm not a fan of ACE, even though I do visit. The stench of rodents is too much and seeing dry poop piled an inch high all over the floors of unkempt cages, and the stressed, unhealthy looking finches, is not my cup of cha.

Andrew's is scruffy but cared for. Lots of finch species and very knowledgable.

Kellyville used to have a fabulous bird room with rows of clean, well lit cabinets and a very good selection of finch species - rather like Crystal, only bigger. They were the reason I got into finch keeping, after screeching to a halt outside a cage of Gouldians and barely believing they were real. They also had a fantastic outdoor display area with huge finch aviaries for sale. I also would always find an excuse to visit.

Then Kellyville revamped. They spruced up everything else to turn themselves into a cookie-cutter modern pet store like a PetBarn/Biz chain, while dreadfully downgrading their bird room into what is now a dark, dingy, garage-like afterthought. They offer a meagre selection of common, miserable-looking finches . I've crossed them off my visit list.

Berkshire always had an interesting array of birds. I haven't been for many years and would never go back. I don't know if the owners are the same as about 17 years ago but I had a very unpleasant experience. I was breeding black breasted button quail at the time and had a problem many would love - I was breeding a high ratio of males and needed to get additional females to maintain genetic diversity. I called and they happened to have 2 females and a
Male. They were will to do a straight swap (of course they would). They would be getting the better end of the deal but that's fine.

I got out there and they had all three in an aviary together. Of course one hen was picking the head of the other. He proceeded to catch the hen with the picked head and I asked for the other. My bird was perfectly healthy and I saw no reason to accept a bird damaged due to his poor management. He threw the bird back in the cage and my cage at me. He then proceeded to tell that I was breaking up a pair about to go to nest. He then pushed several times in the back and made me leave the premises.

I have heard a few other similar stories but can't confirm. Apologies if it has changed hands but if not I wouldnt touch them with a barge pole. Violent, rude and unethical.

Barry died about 12 Months ago , his wife Judy and son Chris now run the shop .
Garry

I used to sell a heap of birds to Berkshire Park Bird Farm many years ago (at least 12 years ago). I was sorry to hear of Barry's passing last year and I always found them to be friendly and courteous. Coincidently I dropped in last week for the first time in about 12 years and spoke to Chris about selling them some excess finches. All of the shop and bird room had been rebuilt and looked much larger than I recall however it seemed the number of aviaries and parrots out back was greatly reduced (or maybe my memory fails me).