Aussie Finch Forum

So the princess and I are strolling around the local markets this morning when we hear the unmistakable screech of Quarrion . Over we go and to my surprise I see a tiny little cage with 2 baby quarrions in among the adult cages .
I ask are they for sale ..YES
I ask how old ...THEY CAME OUT OF THE NEST THIS MORNING
So now I am disturbed as Im thinking these babies cant be weaned yet and why are they away from the parents for such a long period of time?
Is it not illegal to sell unweaned birds ?
So wanted to buy them , take them home and feed them up for a few weeks before reselling them , Bloody should have but didnt and am kicking myself now.

This is when you wish you had a mobile in your pocket with the phone no. of your local friendly CALM or equivalent officer. Particularly if said officer has the same attitude to people like this.
LML

Yes it is illegal to sell any animal that has not been weaned.I guess a blind eye can be found with regard birds and genuine buyers wanting to finish off the young. But just to drag chicks in hope of selling them, I think they should either be threatened or dobbed into the RSPCA at least. You can go further if you wish and there would be more serious penalties.

Maybe a quiet word or letter to the organizers of the market would work, they might ban them from selling there anymore.

That's disgusting.
do you know the guy's name?

Am going out to see the folks at the RSPCA tomorrow , cant help that I could have done more but also Im adding to the problem by giving them money ...the authorities can handle this one .

Just found an online cruelty reporting page and have emailed complaint of to RSPCA , this and seeing them tomorrow should prompt some action surely.

should be banned at markets for sure.It is not uncommon with breeders to sell them this way.At least they can screen the buyers to make sure they are capable of feeding the young.In most cases they will also be getting paid less for the young when sold like this,So there is no financial benefit for the breeder doing this,but more bonding for the capable buyer this way,If the are willing to do the extra work.

My son actually suggested selling my birds out the markets , I think it would be a bad idea too Id rather talk to the buyer give them some seed , hints and my phone number face to face , see if they are sure the bird is what they want , give them time to think ....then theres the impulse buyers .
They were wanting $40.00 for these babies , still good money for an ordinary Quarrion of no real colour or breeding plus the expense of formula , heating and time spent socialising , think these people were quite up themselves as far as bird breeding goes.

I have done in the past to people claiming to have 'experience' in hand rearing. Told them it only had about a week before it was on 1 feed a day in the evening, got a call 3 weeks later asking when they could stop feeding it, so from then on, I won't do it, unless I know the buyers, & know they are experienced to do it.