FINCHforum

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum but have been reading posts on here for a few days and it seems like a friendly forum to join. I'm looking to get a Java finch. My Spice finch passed away a little over a week ago and her zebra pale is left by himself now. Well sorta by himself, he shares a large cage with my Conure Bobo. None to worry, they've been around each other for 4 years already and they seem to mind their own business. I also allow the cage door open at all times.

I really want to find him a new friend soon and hope that addition can be a Java. These guys seem pretty cool and fascinating to me. I realize they are bigger but my zebra can be a little pushy bugger so thinking the size shouldn't be a problem and he's use to diff birds.

My question is, are there certain times when Java's are available throughout the year at petstores/breeders? Neither Petsmart or Animart have any currently. I emailed a breeder in my state of Java's and he did respond back saying he'd have Java's for sale in the spring but that was all he said. I was hoping for more information so I emailed him again and he hasn't responded so not sure if it's a dead end.

I appreciate any information on Java's and availability or any concerns you guys might have about them for me.

Thanks

Hello Bobojenday & welcome! I have no idea where you are located. If you're near me in Canada, I know where there's a few Java's available right now.

L in Ontario wrote:Hello Bobojenday & welcome! I have no idea where you are located. If you're near me in Canada, I know where there's a few Java's available right now.

I'm located in Wisconsin thanks.

Welcome to the forum,if you fill in your profile we will know where your at in the world and be able to answer question better
The java are seldom available where i live also,but the are a very nice looking bird good luck finding them

bobojenday wrote:

L in Ontario wrote:Hello Bobojenday & welcome! I have no idea where you are located. If you're near me in Canada, I know where there's a few Java's available right now.

I'm located in Wisconsin thanks.

Wellllllllllllll I guess that's nowhere near me - not even on the same side of the border. Good luck in your search!

I think I got some luck. Animart said they had some that sold but should be able to order more and will call me to let me know tomorrow. I hate the word order for some reason in that sentence but I guess that's about what it is. My 2nd option is to go through a breeder in Iowa. He said he knows someone with family very close to where I live and would be able to send the Java with her when she goes to visit up this way.

Any thoughts on going directly through a breeder verses a petstore. I can't see the breeder being able to offer any kind of gurarantee though since we live hours apart where the petstore would. But then petstores, the birds are exposed to more sickness/diseases with all the other birds there. I'm a little paranoid of bringing something home to my other birds.

Honestly if it were me - I would take the one that could -

A) offer the best price, and
B) get me the bird sooner rather than later

I know I might be making myself unpopular here, but years ago when I bought society finches from a local breeder, they died the next day. I went back to him and he grumbled but gave me 2 more. They also died the next day. I did not go back to him...I know I had a good setup, and no environmental causes, because I then went to a pet store and the pair I got from them I had for years. I think the ones he sold me were just too yound and hadn't been fully weaned yet, and I was not there to notice they weren't eating.

So while most breeders are OK, and you will sometimes have the benefit of knowing the bird's history and age, you could get one like I did, who will let his birds go to an inexperienced person (myself) before they were ready.

I also tend to think that at a Pet Store, while you won't get the bird's history/age, you will often get a very healthy bird from a pet store because if they can survive in that kind of a setting, they are survivors!

You got good advice from liz,if you get one just be sure to quarentine the new one. I would get one from either sooner the better

As B CAMP said, be sure to quarantine any new birds, no matter where they come from. I have purchased from petstores, from breeders, and from craigslist listings, and have had good and bad experiences with all of them. Most breeders are very good, but there can be the bad egg here and there. The bad ones are very bad, because they will not be honest with you about the birds you are buying. The biggest objection to petstores for me is cost--I can buy birds much cheaper from a breeder--and you never know their history. Craigslist is a real c**pshoot, you can find deals or you can be taken.

When you want a species that isn't readily available, it comes down to who can get it for you at a decent price.