Finding Good Homes

[Egret]

Hi, All:
I'd like to pick your brains about how we go about selling our birds. When I bred birds back in Central Texas in the 1980's and 90's, I was a member of a large and thriving bird club, and rarely (actually never) had to sell a bird to anyone but club members. I bred birds that were hard to find in the area at that time (Norwich Canaries, Lories, Exhibition English Budgies, etc), and did well showing the Budgies and Canaries, so there was always interest when I had some to sell. I usually had a waiting list.
Now I find myself becoming addicted to Society Finches, and living in an area where there isn't really a bird club. There is one, but their focus is mostly on exotic mammals and reptiles, and a few hookbills. There are a few finch and canary people, but no one breeding exhibition Societies (that I know of).
My quandary is how to find good homes for the Societies that don't "make the cut" for the next generation of my breeding program. I don't want them going for snake- or raptor food!
For those of you for whom this is a concern, what do you do to find the kind of owners you want for your babies? I know I can easily get a booth at the many bird fairs around the Nashville area, but then I have to just sell to anyone who wants to buy. Craigslist? Means a bunch of strangers showing up at my house.
I thought about selling at the Bird Shows but charging substantially more, with signs at the booth stating that these birds have been raised in an environment undergoing quarterly quarantining for all the diseases/parasites, getting a high-grade diet, blah, blah, blah, and then making a better deal if the prospective buyers seem like good homes.
Of course, what I'd really like to do is just keep them all!
Ideas?

[Jen]

Egret
I relate to your concerns! I sell birds using a local classified internet site that covers southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. So I get good response most of the time. It is a free add so that makes it even better. I ALWAYS have a conversation with the caller and ask questions about what type of birds they are breeding, what type of cage they have, what area they are from, etc. Bird lovers don't have a problem answering my questions, but rather enjoy talking birds! The ones that do have an issue will not get a return call. I recently had an older man call for my button quail and when going through my "phone interview", he said he raised Hawks! He wanted to feed them to his hawks!

When I do agree to sell to someone, I always meet them at a local shopping center or some type of busy area. They don't come to my home. I am not comfortable with that scenario.

Best of luck selling your birds and let us know how it works out for you!

[MariusStegmann]

Try and get the mobile numbers of all bird-keepers in your area. Make a whatsapp group and then you can advertise on the group when you have excess birds to sell

[Sally]

You've gotten some good advice already. If you ask enough questions, you can usually spot the buyers who don't have good intentions. And as Jen said, meet them in a public place. If you advertise on places like craigslist, you certainly don't want strangers coming to your home.

[FLDoc]

I just sold 15 Societies today to someone whom I met on Craig's list when I advertised the first time trying to find an outlet here. I find that normal Zebras (grey) are a pariah in trying to sell. So much different than when I lived in FL. I finally found someone with my preferred - mutations - and got rid of the normals, so it's easier now. Societies here sell for about $20+ here in most store, so asking $10 each or a better deep for pairs and others are all good deals. I will usually meet the buyers in a public place, like Baker's Square parking lot. I try to make sure they are going to pet homes. I don't have many clutches to sell. So it's not a frequent occurrence nor too hard to find them homes over time. I always charge as those buying to use as food will not usually want to pay the $5 - $10 for a bird when they can get feed rodants that are more substantial (my opinion only). Recently, I found two independent pet shops that are interested in birds if they have the need when I have birds ready to go. I will be calling them first before considering CL.

Hope that helps and good luck.

PS... If you add to your post in any arena that you are a 'Breeder of prize-winning birds', potential new owners are more likely to look you up sooner than someone just trying to dump pet birds.

MHO only.

[Spreckles]

When you say "prize" birds what do you mean? I'm not that far from Nashville. I have been wondering too. I do have a friend I may give some too. I don't want inbreeding. I just got 2 CRESTED my first fledgling and I am happy with my little flock. But interesting colors are interesting!

Karen

@Jenny does this mean we don't get our tea on the porch???? I still may come to Texas one day!