FINCHforum

Hi Everyone,

I've been doing a little research for my local club on sources for the cardboard bird carriers people use to carry their newly purchased birds home. We thought we might be able to get a quantity discount or even a free perk from a seed company, but I haven't been able to find anything like that.

CeDe used to give away bird boxes, but they tell me that was years ago and there aren't any left anywhere. YML said they will sell their small box for 40 cents apiece. RedBird sells them for 50 cents. There are other, more expensive ones, like from Drs. Foster and Smith, but wanted to find the least expensive ones we could.

I have been thinking of just buying plain cardboard boxes and can get those for 21 cents apiece. We tape our boxes anyway so closing wouldn't be that much different. A few holes poked and good to go.

Does anyone have any other ideas - or know of somewhere I've missed? What do you all do?

Thanks for any ideas!

I think plain cardboard boxes are the way to go. Finding something like this: http://www.packagingprice.com/forms/pro ... uctID=2040

Poking some nice holes, lining the inside with some newspaper or paper towel, and making a handle with some hard duty tape is an affordable way to transport birds. You make the "handle" by liberally wrapping the tape around the box in a horizontal position so that one has something to hold onto when carrying the box.

Martie, i think the cheapest os the best! Cardboard boxes are fine, who needs a fancy design. Have you tried calling petstores? I see alot of superpet boxes used at petstores.

Martie, the other option is this

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-1881439748 ... 33_8212146
http://www.countryfeathers.net/TRAVEL-CAGES.html

a small travel cage 30 for $83 and you can mark them up to3 to 5 each.

If I come across a vendor for the boxes in my hunt for them as well I will let you know.

I wonder if one of the petstores can order them in for you.

Bugaboo5, at this point in my search, for my own purposes, I am liking the regular corrugated cardboard box. The more rigid sides seem safer somehow and a nice newspaper floor would be good. They laugh at me (in a good-natured way) because I wedge a millet spray in the boxes at fairs, but I just feel bad for the little guys sliding around in there with nothing to hang on to or munch on.

Dante and Cindy, thank you for the idea to check out the pet stores! I had not thought about that, and it makes perfect sense. You can buy those Superpet boxes at Bird Supply of NH for 59 cents apiece, so maybe a local store might get them for less. And thank you, Cindy, for keeping it in mind as you find things on websites.

I'll let you know how I do with our pet stores.

Martie, I am on the hunt as well...doing my first show in June!

I will for sure keep you posted with what I find out. It's not that it's such a huge expense - just something I don't want to spend a lot of money on - and we thought it might be a great way for our club to do something good for the members.

Good luck with your show! I really enjoy doing them - it's so much fun to meet and talk to all the people.

Thank you Martie!! My friend told me about a source earlier today but I could not write it down...I'll see if I can get that again!

Doctors Foster and Smith has them:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=23420

Small 4" X 4" X 5" is for 99 cents

Also found these:

http://www.discountedpetproducts.net/FP ... 67552.html

http://www.lotsofpets.com/80250.html

https://www.birddogandcatfish.net/produ ... rrying-Box

300 for 100 dollars:
http://www.tscpets.com/bird-carriers.html

Martie wrote: They laugh at me (in a good-natured way) because I wedge a millet spray in the boxes at fairs, but I just feel bad for the little guys sliding around in there with nothing to hang on to or munch on.

In my opinion,Finch keepers should have proper carry cages...I don't like the cardboard used by pet shops.Transporting birds is stressful for them, and I think it's important that the bird has something to grip.Sliding about in a smooth box can't be good for them.

Paul....I agree but often the people walking into the shows do not bring cages with them. More experienced birders do. I am leaning more on getting the a stock of little wire traavel cages and selling those.

If I was doing a local show perhaps pairing some of the birds in a small inexpensive parakeet cage that can be used later as a hospital cage or a cage to put the bird in while cleaning a cage.

This is what I take to the shows. Country Feathers sells a case of 30 for $83...I could add a few dollars to the sale and provide a carrier if needed.

debbie276 wrote:Also found these:

http://www.discountedpetproducts.net/FP ... 67552.html

http://www.lotsofpets.com/80250.html

https://www.birddogandcatfish.net/produ ... rrying-Box

300 for 100 dollars:
http://www.tscpets.com/bird-carriers.html

Debbie - great sleuthing! Thank you so much for finding these. It seems quite possible to find them priced at 40 to 50 cents - which is good to know.

That is great....Thank you Debbie, so appreciate it!

Some buyers bring cages but some of the cages are filthy...how hard is it to wash a small cage down and change papers...I think to myself that you raise healthy birds only to have a bird placed in a cage with goodness knows what at the bottom!!!

I have a question for experienced show sellers....how do you handle the guarantee on your birds if they are placed in carriers with birds from other vendors....if you held your stock, treated them and know they are healthy...if they caught say ASM from another vendors birds or the owners birds when placed in an aviary without quarantine.....if the bird passes do you replace the bird?