I'm just being crabby....

[Lylwhen]

Hello all,
I just purchased a pair of waxbills, one gouldian, and two societies from a guy who believes he is an avid finch lover/ breeder. I give him kudos for hand feeding a green singer but he has all his breeding pairs in a tiny cage that is domed shape. In one tiny dome he had two societies, one gouldian, two owls, & the two orange cheeks.....OMG .....I only brought $100

I really feel that I actually SAVED the birds.....he tried to sell me his owl pair that we're sitting on 7 eggs for $75 each and sell his green singer that had one baby....he will end o
Up hand feeding.

The waxbill pair..$20 each...one can't fly up to perch with his mate so she resorts to hopping around the cage floor chirping for her mate.

The single gouldian, BH,PB,GB female.....her mate died under his care, he was so kind to sell her to me for $60 lastly the two societies he just wanted them gone so I agreed to take them When I compare her to my other gouldians, she is considerably smaller in body size.....poor nutrition I bet.

I'm disappointed with this.....he boasts that he knows finches....but his finch feed is a generic on sale finch/canary/ small bird blend from petco/ pet smart......that isn't a good direct for breeding birds.....

Okay enough of my ranting....just wanted to share...those owl finches were sooo tiny compared to my owls that I have at home.....POOOR nutrition.....someone help those birds....

[MiaCarter]

Aw, that's hard to hear.

It definitely sounds like you saved them. It was their lucky day, indeed!

Though I admit that I get a generic canary/finch seed at PetSm@rt. But really, it's not a staple food and they don't eat a whole lot. They focus mostly on the fresh foods, insects and specialty seeds like the tonic seeds, which is just fine with me!

Did you try to educate him at all on the space requirements for finches? I always try to educate people whenever the opportunity arises. Most do have good intentions; they just don't realize that a small cage isn't suitable. (Though you'd hope someone who's breeding would be more knowledgeable!!)

Really, it's partially the fault of shops that carry these small cages. I've seen a 12x12x12 cage with a label that pictures 3 or 4 birds! So no wonder people think it's okay! I hate that they even sell those small cages as primary residences. They should be marketed as travel cages or sick cages only, in my opinion!

How are your new birds doing?
Are they adjusting nicely, I hope?

What's going on with the hen who can't fly? Is she injured? Or is it a deformity that's always been present?

[debbie276]

You would be surprised how many times I've found very similar situations over the years. That's why I say pet store or breeder, makes no difference, there are good and bad with both.
Not sure that we can blame any store for selling cages too small. I'll bet you that most people just buy the cage without asking if it's suitable.

[wildbird]

As long as we're on the subject of pet stores, that poor cockatiel is still at Petco only now it's tail feathers are all ragged & falling out. He sits in the corner at the top of a ladder & doesn't look good. The conures are both there also, fluffed & sad. I don't see how they will ever sell these birds. Haven't heard back about the letter I sent either.

[lovezebs]

When I hear these things it makes me want to cry and then I want to knock heads together. Poor creatures. I see them as helpless victims. There is nothing they can do, just sit there until they die. I think even if someone does buy them, they are already damaged emotionally, mentally and physically.