Any recommendations on song finches ?

solo_birdlover · Post by **solo_birdlover** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 7:06 am

Hi all. I've just found this site not too long ago and I'm glad this one doesn't seem to be dead like other ones I've come across. This is my first posting here and I just have a couple of questions and hope someone will reply. I have recently decided to get back into the bird keeping hobby after more than 20 years of not having any -except for a couple of budgies for a few months- and have recently bought a flight cage and currently building another wooden+plexiglass flight too. Like many of you who may have experienced it, I seem to be having the bird-buying-rabies now but due to limited space and finances I'm trying to keep the number of birds I'm planning on having around 8. I'm trying to limit my choices to finches that sing to help with my depression since I live alone in the rainy and depressing North West in Canada and the songs of some birds kind of help me imagine myself in a warm sunny garden... So, I'm wondering if any of you can recommend some birds that are known for their soothing songs -besides Canaries. I have a pair of young Strawberries that I recently bought for cheap and one of them -I think it's a male- has just started singing but it's mostly a short repetitive song a few times a day. I'm thinking about getting a pair of Green Singers since I really liked their song when I heard it on Youtube. I've also read here that Cordon Bleus have nice songs and wondering if you'd recommend them. Someone here mentioned that Yellow-belly Swees have a really nice song too and wondering if any body has heard them. One bird I know that does have a really nice song is the European Goldfinch but it's non-existant here. I also have a pair of cut-throats and wondering if they can be kept with the Green Singers since both are known for their aggressive nature. Finally, because of the rarity and the ridiculously high prices of these birds here where I live, looks like my only option is to buy them from a pet store in Toronto that I found on the net but I'm wondering if it's safe to do so since that involves shipping those birds on long flights. Does any body have any advice on that?
Sorry for the long post. A reply would be really appreciated. Thanks.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 7:13 am

We have several member on here from Canada. Are you close to any of them? If so, it may be worth a drive as some of them sell their finches.

You are very lucky to have strawberry finches. They are hard to find here and the male has a beautiful song.

Courdon blues also have a lovely song and I love to hear them.
I am not sure about the green singers. If you will look on the left side of this page and visit the finch information center you will find alot of helpful info there.

I don't think you would want to mix the goldfinch or the cut-throat with any of the above finches. Also, if you are planning to have eight, be sure you have a large enough cage.

Welcome to the forum!

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:45 am

Hello and welcome to the Finch Forum. Nice to see another Canadian on here. Whereabouts in the "depressing North West" are you? It may be your best bet to order finches from Toronto to be flown out to you and most of those that ship guarantee that their birds will arrive alive. But I think you'll need to pamper them for a bit after such a long flight. Note also may be getting close to the time of year when airlines will not fly live animals due to the temperature drop in the luggage compartment. You should check when the cut off date is - most vendors will know of course if they ship their birds. Good luck and welcome again!

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:52 pm

Hello...just wanted to welcome you to the fourm!

franny · Post by **franny** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 9:15 pm

Welcome,

If you buy from Toronto, then you can probably have them shipped via Air Canada Cargo. They fly them in heated planes (the cargo section IS the whole plane), not in the unheated belly of the passenger planes. At least that's my understanding. I've flown my dogs and cat with them, and was very pleased with the caring attitude of the staff, and everyone arrived safely, both times I've used them.

If you're near YVR, (Vancouver Airport), then Air Canada Cargo is nearer the entrance to Sea Island, not as far as the main terminal. And the shipper usually calls to let you know when they have left there, so you can arrange to be at the airport as soon as they arrive here (assuming you aren't trying to get to the airport by skytrain and bus).

IF you give them a call, they'll let you know if there are any restrictions about when they'll fly birds, and then you'll know when you talk to the seller and can tell them your preferred carrier.

By the way, I also live in the depressing, rainy northwest... about 45 minutes east of Vancouver. And I agree that finches will certainly help you cope!

I also have listened to the Gouldians singing in the pet stores, and think they have a nice song, a bit like a society finch, but better. I think the cordon blue's are a bit shy as I've not seen/heard either them, or the strawberries singing in the stores... I have Goldbreasted Waxbills, and they are a bit "iffy". My adult male doesn't sing much, but the baby male who just left home today, had quite a nice song.

I agree that the green singer has a nice song, but I think they are too agressive and too active for my liking. My vote would be cordon blues(they would get along with the strawberries I think) or gouldians.

Hang in there, the rainy season will be over in 6 months or so!

solo_birdlover · Post by **solo_birdlover** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 6:53 am

Thanks to all who replied and welcomed me, dfcauley, L in Ontario, featherharp and franny. Yeah, I guess I'm lucky to have bought those young Strawberries since I only paid $60 for both of them from a breeder. They're sold for $60 or more each at pet stores or online. I'm just hoping they are a male and a female and so far it looks they are because only one sings even though his song sounds different from the ones I heard on youtube. I guess I have to wait a little longer to see if its color changes when it's in the breeding season. I can't wait to get some Cordon Bleus since these birds have such a nice color and cute look on them. Looks like I'm going to have to buy from Toronto and have them shipped to here. I will put the CBs with the Strawberries and the Green Singers with the Cut-throats in a separate cage- if they get along. BTW, I just want to mention that right now I have the Strawberries with the Cut-throats and they're getting along just fine. Actually sometimes the Strawberry cuddles up to the Cut-throat. Only when the Strawberries go into the CTs nest (empty) do they get chased out by the CTs.
Yeah, I'm close to Yvr. I'm in surrey.
Oh my God ! You made my heart sink. 6 more months of rain

! I try not to think about it. I know we've been lucky so far this winter. And last summer was nice. But for someone with winter depression even one rainy day is too long.

rfn1 · Post by **rfn1** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 3:07 pm

I love the star finches as singers. The male as a very sweet, long song that is great to wake up to. I can hear the pair of them in the next room (they love listening to football!). They will certainly brighten your day, even when the weather is not so great.

franny · Post by **franny** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:49 pm

solo_birdlover wrote: Yeah, I guess I'm lucky to have bought those young Strawberries since I only paid $60 for both of them from a breeder. ....Yeah, I'm close to Yvr. I'm in surrey.
Oh my God ! You made my heart sink. 6 more months of rain ! I try not to think about it. I know we've been lucky so far this winter. And last summer was nice. But for someone with winter depression even one rainy day is too long.

Lucky you! Good price on those Strawberries - yes I saw them at Petland in Surrey for $167 for a pair!

You're close to me, in sunny Surrey, eh?

I know about the depression thing. I grew up in Winnipeg (also known as "Winterpeg"), but at least the hours of sunshine were way more than here in the winter... but look on the bright side, you don't have to shovel the rain...

I'm glad to meet a fellow finch keeper in my neighbourhood. When you need something to cheer you up, just come on this forum and poohbear will be sure to make you smile.

solo_birdlover · Post by **solo_birdlover** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 3:58 am

Nice to meet you, franny. I'm glad too there's someone here from the neighborhood. "Sunny Surrey" !! Where is that ?

I know, last time I checked the price of Strawberries at Petland it was like $120 or 130 but they didn't have them. What's crazier was the price of their Cordons. They're asking like $ 350 for the pair they have.[/quote]

franny · Post by **franny** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 12:02 pm

Might want to try contacting these folks and see if they know of any breeders of Cordon Blues...they are in Aldergrove.

http://www.bcexoticbirdsociety.org/contacts.html

The next birdmart isn't until May 2009.

solo_birdlover · Post by **solo_birdlover** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:50 am

Thanks for the info franny. I found a breeder (pet store) in Toronto and their prices seem to be good but I'm just a little worried as to what condition their birds might actually be in. I hear about stories of people receiving sick animals sometimes and that worries me.

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:08 am

There is at least one local breeder of CBs here in Ottawa.
I don't know if she ships, but you can ask.

I met her at a small bird show and sale, her birds were nice and healthy. I will pm you her email, so it isn't sitting on the forum for spammers to pick up.

solo_birdlover · Post by **solo_birdlover** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:12 pm

Thanks for the info kiko. I'll try that too.

FINCHforum

Any recommendations on song finches ?

Any recommendations on song finches ?

Re: Any recommendations on song finches ?

sweet song...