!!Warning big rant coming up!!

lisalambourne · Post by **lisalambourne** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:13 am

Hi some of you know my story of having a single parent zebra finch (now 5 chicks too). well I have fallen in love with finches and my hubby is keen to build me an aviary os we can start breeding, also when chicks are bigger I hope to get a male (or female) friend for Cash. Well here in the UK all the pet shops I have enquired at no longer sell birds, there doesn't seem to be that I can find a breeder close enough to me, at this rate I am going to be looking at shipping from US which would be very costly let alone stressful for birds. I am sorry to have a rant but I am well getting into this but have hit a major brick wall. I have fallen in love with owl finches and lady gouldings (excuse spelling if its wrong). and would love in time to get some I just feel soooo dispondent. Thanks for listening to my rant.......lisa.........

StevePax · Post by **StevePax** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:20 am

I think there are a couple of other folks here from the UK - is the trend of pet stores not selling finches spreading all over the UK? I agree, shipping from the US isn't a very good solution.

lisalambourne · Post by **lisalambourne** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:23 am

that seems to be the case, I am assuming that this is because of bird flu.

Post by **Sally** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:35 am

I imagine the bird flu scare has caused a lot of pet shops to cease carrying birds. Here in the States, it varies from area to area. Some pet shops carry no birds at all, or if they do, it is parakeets and canaries. That is why I love our bird marts twice a year, though attendance and number of vendors is way down for the last two marts.

Surely there are some finch breeders in your area--the hard part is always finding out about them! Are there any bird clubs in your area? Again, a hard thing to find out about. I know it is very frustrating when you want birds and can't even find any available. Have you done a Google search for your area for finches, bird clubs, finch breeders, bird shows? Even if it is say a canary show, there may be people there who also have finches.

So much of our bird information is word of mouth. I recently was at a meeting of my local herb society, overheard a woman mention her aviary, inquired as to what kind of birds she has--finches!! Now I have been going to meetings with her for about 1 1/2 years, and neither of us knew the other had finches. Best of all, she wants a pair of Diamond Doves, and I have been thinking about rehoming my pair--perfect!

So keep your spirits up. You will eventually find that link to local information. Seems like I recall Kenny talking about a local newsletter all about birds. I'll see if I can find it, or if he sees this post, he will have the information.

Oops, I just found the posting, and it was your thread.

lisalambourne · Post by **lisalambourne** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:41 am

Hi yes there is a magazine but I can't find anyone who stocks it but will keep looking it may be that I just looked to early or late in the week/month. I will keep up those internet searches too. thanks for your support

lisalambourne · Post by **lisalambourne** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:57 am

http://www.birdtrader.co.uk/browse/0/12

yay look what I found....
thought I would podt the link for any other uk breeders

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:20 pm

Lisa, check out this link, http://www.budgerigars.co.uk/breeders/buckinghamshire/ It is a list of budgie breeders in Buckinghamshire, they may also have finches for sale or know of finch breeders in your area.

Finches4life · Post by **Finches4life** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:31 pm

Almost EVERY single petstore in my area selles birds. I know If I was you I wouldn't spend on shipping. Wouldnt it be heaper to drive some where hours away from you (And less stressful for the birds)??

readingfc · Post by **readingfc** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 5:41 pm

Lisa, There are a few pet shops selling finches etc where I live in Berkshire but we found a really good one nr Heathrow. It's called Heathrow Bird Centre and they stock loads of different species!

here's the link
http://www.heathrowbirdcentre.moonfruit.com/

lisalambourne · Post by **lisalambourne** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 4:04 pm

hi guys, thanks for all the links and info, i have found that newspaper now and also a breeder in oxford. and northampton......lisa.......