"spare" birds....

[toothlessjaws]

so i have just one large aviary and it was always my intention to keep a mix of small african waxbills in there (have 4 species at the moment).

however i have soon realised that one aviary is not really enough. it makes for zero flexibility of management. for example one of my cordon hens i bought was a dud. she died no sooner had i got here home. this left me with a spare cock that stated fighting with another cock over the lone female. i had to by a box to remove him before things got too bad.

i've soon discovered EVERYONE seems to create have birds (usually cocks). it just seems part of the hobby. so i'm thinking - i need another aviary.

i'm curious - does anyone else have just one aviary? an how do others get around that problem of that single spare bird who you just can't seem to offload.......

[Mickp]

luckily I have plenty of space.
if you are unable to find a replacement mate one thing you could do in the short term is to house the spare bird in a small cage for example: breeding cabinet or hospital cage

[toothlessjaws]

thats what i'm doing at the moment mick, but i do feel awfully sorry for him. today at the bird sales i saw a sad looking strawberry cock. the seller said he'd been alone for a year and gave him to me for $30.

he's probably old but, the two of them seen to be happy in each others company tonight!

i'm looking at buying (rather than building this time) a small secondhand aviary or two that i can keep outside for surplus birds and strawberrys....

[gomer]

I have bought prefab avairys in the past by putting a add in the local rag.its surprising how many people have bird avairys in there yard empty.And you can get them for a song.I sold a bank of seven for $300.a couple of years ago.

[Mickp]

in a few months time I will probably have a couple of young red cheeked cordon hens available, but cos there's so much distance between us the cost of freighting a single bird wouldnt be worthwhile. hope you can find a hen soon

[toothlessjaws]

thanks mick, i'll keep that in ind.

actually apart from the prices i saw at the avicultural society sale at the weekend (which were much more in line with correct pricing) most breeders and certainly dealers in melbourne overcharge so much for birds that its totally worth considering buying birds interstate.

my rudd... i mean firefinches, i had shipped down from NSW and i can tell you they arrived in pristine condition, clearly young and healthy. i haven't yet seen a firefinch in the flesh that even comes close to my birds (not that any of its to my credit). also all up i had 3 pairs shipped down for just a fraction more than what it would have cost to buy a scraggly old pair from my local dealer (who admittedly is probably a candidate for the most overpriced bird dealer in all of australia).

i'd definitely consider doing so again.

[gomer]

Will i to freight from around the country.There are alot more finches in warmer states.And they breed longer throughout the year then us.The only thing that is risky is acclimatising to Victoria's weather.If they make it through their first winter you are home and hosed.
Be good to see a pic of them.

[Diane]

Just out of curiosity What does it cost to ship a bird?
For example from Victoria to SA?

[Page0044]

Freight usually cost between $80 to $120

[Diane]

Wow! Guess it would have to be one of those 'must have' birds