Where to get Lavender Finches?

VM0572 · Post by **VM0572** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:47 pm

Does anyone know of any breeders, or anyone wanting to sell Lavender Finches in WI? As long as it's in WI, it doesn't matter to me.

Post by **Hilary** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:55 pm

Good luck! All of the lavs that came in with the last shipment from Africa are long gone. An importer told me about somebody in Tennessee and somebody in North (South?) Carolina who were willing to sell. They are very hard to find. I've heard that another shipment is now in quarantine, and should be available through Birds Express in a couple of weeks - you may want to check with them. You may also want to join the Lavender group in Yahoo Groups and see if you get a response from somebody closer. I'm looking for two hens (one of my "pairs" turned out to be two males), and I haven't had any luck so far. Oh, and there is somebody in Alabama - I can find his name if you're interested. I tried to find out if he shipped but didn't hear back from him.....

Dario78 · Post by **Dario78** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:13 pm

What a prices !!!!!

Lady Gouldian purple breasted $ 150.00 each???
Lady Gouldian - Blue $ 450.00 ????
But are those normal prices in USA for gouldians???
Here in Italy a normal (green body-purple breasted) price is 25/30 € (20 $ more or less) and 45/50 € for a Blue Gouldian..incredible !

Post by **Hilary** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:34 pm

Those are the prices per pair, not for single birds. Here in DC (which is more expensive) normals are $80 to $100, blues are $250 and silvers are about $300 - EACH. My lavenders were $175 each (yikes - I'm not going to think about it......)

Dario78 · Post by **Dario78** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:48 pm

Hilary wrote:normals are $80 to $100, blues are $250 and silvers are about $300 - EACH.

Very strange....how i've just said...here in Rome with $80 I can buy 3 normals or one blue/silver. In your country birds are very expensive!

Hilary wrote:Here in DC

What's DC??

VM0572 · Post by **VM0572** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:56 pm

Hilary wrote:Good luck! All of the lavs that came in with the last shipment from Africa are long gone. An importer told me about somebody in Tennessee and somebody in North (South?) Carolina who were willing to sell. They are very hard to find. I've heard that another shipment is now in quarantine, and should be available through Birds Express in a couple of weeks - you may want to check with them. You may also want to join the Lavender group in Yahoo Groups and see if you get a response from somebody closer. I'm looking for two hens (one of my "pairs" turned out to be two males), and I haven't had any luck so far. Oh, and there is somebody in Alabama - I can find his name if you're interested. I tried to find out if he shipped but didn't hear back from him.....

Ack..

I'd like to see the birds live before buying. So out of state is not an option.

Post by **Hilary** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 9:27 pm

Try the lavender group - they're all very supportive, and you never know! I ordered three pairs of red cheeks from Birds Express and they were all healthy birds, if that helps. The lavenders are wonderful little guys, aren't they? I really do hope you find some, and if you get any leads for my hens, let me know!

Dario, DC is Washington DC (sorry!). I wish we had your prices! Not sure what's driven the prices for gouldians up here, though for the Africans like the lavenders it makes sense. It's been very hard to import African birds between the bird flu scare and CITES, and many have not been bred much here in the States so they are just plain hard to find. The gouldians, however, have not been available for import for a LONG time and we have a good number of domestically-bred birds. I know you can get them as cheaply as $50 or so elsewhere in the country, but still.....

Dario78 · Post by **Dario78** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:10 pm

Hilary wrote:Dario, DC is Washington DC (sorry!)

Thank you !

Gouldians here are very numerous, perhaps now we have this prices cause is very easy to find them at pet shops.

Hilary wrote:It's been very hard to import African birds between the bird flu scare

Here too..finding birds as like cordon bleus, Orange Cheeked, Black-rumped, lavenders or other waxbills now it's really impossible. The same speech is for Mannikins and many other finches.

Very very hard to find.
I was looking for a couple of firefinches (Lagonostica senegala), but after beyond a year of search I've renounced.

Boothcreek · Post by **Boothcreek** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:59 pm

Here in Canada a Regular wild type Gouldian goes for $170. Black- headed ones I have seen for $225.

I thought of getting some blues(since they look quite so mixed up colour wise like other mutations) but they are the most expensive there are..... so I rather pass on those.

Dario78 · Post by **Dario78** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:20 pm

Here we had this prices...20 years ago !

VM0572 · Post by **VM0572** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:05 pm

Hilary!!! that's what I'm talking about!!! Check out that link! $\:D/$ $\:D/$

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-gY8U8mbDTQ& ... ed&search=

Post by **Hilary** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:31 pm

Oh my! From the name it actually looks like it may be the lady who moderates the Lavender group who posted that video. I had no idea she had so many. (Sorry, have to stop for a minute to wipe the drool off my chin.....) Aren't they elegant little guys? If I could find two more hens that would give me three breeding pairs - as hard as they are to find now, it would be a shame for anybody to get their hands on some and not try to breed. I'll let you know if I hear of any in your neck of the woods, but you may need to just take the plunge and ship from one of the importers if and when more are available!

VM0572 · Post by **VM0572** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:36 pm

Hilary wrote:Oh my! From the name it actually looks like it may be the lady who moderates the Lavender group who posted that video. I had no idea she had so many. (Sorry, have to stop for a minute to wipe the drool off my chin.....) Aren't they elegant little guys? If I could find two more hens that would give me three breeding pairs - as hard as they are to find now, it would be a shame for anybody to get their hands on some and not try to breed. I'll let you know if I hear of any in your neck of the woods, but you may need to just take the plunge and ship from one of the importers if and when more are available!

I'm drooling too! Man so many! Here's what I want to do with the Lavender Finches! Check out my video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AtQpuatJMqs

Post by **Hilary** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:39 pm

I love it! I also love your converted cage - very nice looking!

VM0572 · Post by **VM0572** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:43 pm

Hilary wrote:I love it! I also love your converted cage - very nice looking!

Yeah..a nice dresser huh? It houses my bestest of bestest Gouldian, Kiki. Very tame and simply a man's best finch. Someday...I'll get my hands on a Lavender. Not sure if you've seen this video:
http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/img/fe ... eed2-4.mpg

Just awesome!