Which finch?
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:21 am
Hello, my name is Emily and I am a college student.
I would like to keep between six and ten finches for a study on bird vocalizations. The birds will be well taken care of by me, my advisor, and possibly one or two other well qualified, carefully chosen people. I am doing research and my advisor has kept finches before and the study does not require the birds to do anything but make noise, nor have anything be done to them that would harm them. Also, arrangements will be made for the birds to be cared for by a well informed person within our Science department, if not me, after the study is finished.
I am currently trying to choose a finch species. I can easily acquire zebra finches, spice finches, and society finches at local pet stores; these are all within my price range. However, a pet store is not my first choice for buying a bird. I would prefer to find a local breeder. My first question, therefore, is if anyone knows of any breeders in Iowa or Illinois. I would prefer not to use Zebra finches; I need to keep cost at or below $20/bird. The birds will be subjected to a lot of handling, I am aware that this may be stressful for the birds but I hope to accustom them to being handled without undo stress before I begin my project.
At first glance, I am interested in Spice finches; Society finches also have their advantages. As previously mentioned, I would prefer to avoid Zebra finches. If I could find them in my area, I would love to acquire some owl finches (depending on price); my advisor would love some Gouldians but all of the gouldians I have located have been outside of my price range. Suggestions on other good finches would be appreciated. The type of vocalization does not matter, only that the birds do make noise.
I would like to keep between six and ten finches for a study on bird vocalizations. The birds will be well taken care of by me, my advisor, and possibly one or two other well qualified, carefully chosen people. I am doing research and my advisor has kept finches before and the study does not require the birds to do anything but make noise, nor have anything be done to them that would harm them. Also, arrangements will be made for the birds to be cared for by a well informed person within our Science department, if not me, after the study is finished.
I am currently trying to choose a finch species. I can easily acquire zebra finches, spice finches, and society finches at local pet stores; these are all within my price range. However, a pet store is not my first choice for buying a bird. I would prefer to find a local breeder. My first question, therefore, is if anyone knows of any breeders in Iowa or Illinois. I would prefer not to use Zebra finches; I need to keep cost at or below $20/bird. The birds will be subjected to a lot of handling, I am aware that this may be stressful for the birds but I hope to accustom them to being handled without undo stress before I begin my project.
At first glance, I am interested in Spice finches; Society finches also have their advantages. As previously mentioned, I would prefer to avoid Zebra finches. If I could find them in my area, I would love to acquire some owl finches (depending on price); my advisor would love some Gouldians but all of the gouldians I have located have been outside of my price range. Suggestions on other good finches would be appreciated. The type of vocalization does not matter, only that the birds do make noise.
