I found Free Gouldians

[wellingtoncdm]

And I don't have room for any more cages just yet, (tho I do have some empty cages of various sizes), and had no plans to add Gouldians to our flock. When you all start talking about your RHPBYSJKLMNOP gouldians, my eyes glaze over and my head spins. But they are so pretty, and they are free, and if I don't call soon, they will be gone, but we weren't going to get any gouldians, and I don't have a place to put the cage and......

My point wasn't so much about free birds having issues, I also have given away many birds to people I like or friends. It was more about not rushing into something you had no intention on ever having just because they don't cost anything, especially when there is no place for the cage.

[dfcauley]

dfcauley

One time I sold four gouldians to a member of this forum. He came to get them and I felt pretty good about it.....until.... he put the cage into his trunk! You just never know......

OMG!!! That's CRAZY!!! You must have wanted to run and take them back from him!!! I cant imagine anyone putting a living being into a TRUNK!!!

Let me just say I freaked out. This person contacted me again and wanted three more. I made him PROMISE not to put them in his trunk before I would sell them to him.

[Ginene]

dfcauley
LOL!!! I can imagine myself chasing the car down, and hanging on to the trunk!!! I think a trunk is fine when you're talking about an SUV or minivan, as its still part of the inside of the vehicle. But the trunk of a car??? Yeesh!!!.

It was more about not rushing into something you had no intention on ever having just because they don't cost anything, especially when there is no place for the cage.

I hear what you're saying, Charlie. I was way in over my head with my last flock. Although I really wanted all of the species/mutations I had acquired, it really became too much work/stress. This time...no matter how much I love/want other species...I am going to stick to my plan...with the help of my cage counting hubby .

Ruth...I ADORED the 2 Gouldians ("the twins" ) that I purchased from Lisa!!! They were gorgeous, sweet and very happy little boys! The other 2, my very 1st 2...were GORGEOUS but they were also SUPER sensitive and high strung. IMHO ...if you have the room, and the birds look healthy and are well taken care of...I would go for it. I know you weren't "planning" on Goulds specifically, but you have had plans of more finches and Goulds are truly beautiful!!! I really would have loved to have another pair myself...M/M of coarse .

[cindy]

What is the other old saying... "if it is to good to be true....."

I would be leery....I always ask why would someone give away birds that they can get a good price for? Giving them to people you know and trust is one thing but advertising them and as free...I would still be cautious.

[paul-inAZ]

One thought is that this could be a 'bait and switch' deal. Selling cages or other birds that go with these birds or something like that.
Perhaps stolen and unable to fence them? always a possibility I guess. Around here there are occasional thefts from outdoor aviaries but these will more likely be big hookbills.
But if you can use them a look-see is tempting.

If safety is a concern I'd go with someone and leave a paper trail of the vendor's email address, street address phone # etc.

[Nerien]

Hubby is telling me to just do it, but then he pretty much always says that, anything I want, anything to make me happy. Which in itself has the opposite effect, it's "accident-guilt" (he was driving, tho there was absolutely nothing he could have done) and that is a real downer.

We will actually be passing by the poster's town next week, have an appointment farther out to be at. Maybe if there are still some birds available then, that would seem to be they're meant to be mine.

Gouldians are so pretty, and I've never planned on getting them because of the cost and then having to learn the complicated color genetics and resisting the temptation to breed more and more and more color combos, and that there are practically no finches of any kind beyond zebras, societies and spices in my area. I do see ads on ebayclassifieds at lower prices, $45-$75, down in the city (NY) and NJ, but the pictures show a ratty cage, petco size, with 20-30 or more birds all crammed inside. Same for the soc's and zeb's, obviously indescriminate mass breedings. Ick. This one looks clean and caring, from the pictures. At least they cared enough to take decent pictures, and make the cage look clean.

Will see how it goes by next week. Finches are very unpopular up here, maybe there won't be many takers. Maybe I can use this to finally get the room cleaned out and turned into the bird room. Maybe I can remind him that I have a birthday coming up real soon, and get things done, and the last two years my birthday was wiped out by hurricane and blizzard and no electric, water, heat, plumbing for the whole week. One birthday "dinner" was canned creamed (more like gelled) chicken over instant mashed potato grit with brown, canned green beans in the town Red Cross shelter they set up to offer people a place to get warm and get fed. Mmmmm mmmm, happy birthday to me! BLEAH.

[debbie276]

Wow, I'm sorry you are having a hard time finding any gouldians. I did a quick hoobly and oodle search and found several in CT, 50 dollars and up. Even silver gouldian chicks listed for only $125 2 weeks ago, also several ads from NJ and NY. And they were not in crowded small cages actually I only saw a couple that had a lot of goulds in the cage.

I also went to ebay classified and I see the ad your talking about with the free gould. If you do a google search "gouldian finch" that picture comes up with http://www.arastiralim.com under it and can be found here, http://jobspapa.com/lady-gouldian-finch.html . Clearly the seller cut off that part to call it his own. I also noted that the seller is unregistered and only active since 10/2013, this to me would definitely be buyer beware.

Will be interesting to see what they really have available, good luck

[Ginene]

debbie276
Yeesh!!! I notice people do this on FB too...They post an ad for "____ finches for sale," but don't use an actual picture of the finches they are selling. Some people realize it and ask for pics of the actual birds for sale. Very interesting...

[Finnie]

I hate ads that don't show the actual bird. Sometimes they say "This isn't my bird, but mine looks just like it". Yeah, right. If it did, they would be using their own photo!

Here's what I think. Since you have a week before you will be going that way, you can write to the seller now, and ask for photos of the actual birds, and for some more information, like why he is getting rid of them. A lot of times the back and forth emails can take up to aweek to sort things out.

And then based on what you hear back from the person, you can get an idea of their demeanor and whether you think they are being truthful. If they refuse to send photos, that tells you a lot right there.

If you are going to be driving that way with your husband, it seems like it would be safe enough to at least stop and take a look at the birds and their surroundings, if they are still there next week, and if it doesn't turn out to just be a scammer.

[Toddmin]

dfcauley, I remember when you told me that. I made sure to put mine in the car with me.

[debbie276]

I hate ads that don't show the actual bird. Sometimes they say "This isn't my bird, but mine looks just like it". Yeah, right. If it did, they would be using their own photo!

It's even more deceptive to photoshop off the copyright and pass it off as yours

[dfcauley]

dfcauley, I remember when you told me that. I made sure to put mine in the car with me.

Ha-Ha!!! You got three of my special birds. You would have never got far by putting them into a trunk Todd. I would have chased you down.

[wilkifam]

It certainly cannot hurt to go and look at them.

[wildbird]

That's why I don't raise birds. After my mother passed away I gave her birds away to people I had known for a short time. Turned out they smoked in the house and the birds didn't live very long. But then if breeders didn't raise them, I wouldn't have mine. It is good to see the people on this forum take such good care of their beautiful birds.

[Nerien]

there used to be more pictures with the ad, not just the pretty and obviously professional shot, and now it includes a more exact address, rather than just the main town name, which can actually include a lot of area up here, especially since this is New England and you just "can't get there from here."

Did email them tonight, tho probably, 99%, convinced we will say no. Will see what they say, how it sounds.