Finch Prices (vacationing in FL)

[buteo4]

Hello!

I am on a week long vacation (having arrived yesterday) in FL From the southern U.P. of MI. Where I am from it is difficult to find finches (other than societies, zebras, orange cheeks and occasionally spice finches). I am fairy new to finches, but my dream breeds are Gouldians and Owls. I went to a bird store in New Smyrna Beach today and the lady had a few different species. She wanted $189 for a pair of Gouldians (black head, lilac breast, green back), $169 for RCCB, and I believe $159 for fire finches. Obviously I can't purchase birds here anyway as I don't know how I'd get them home, but from the research I've done so far these prices seemed a bit high?
I am hoping to get another large flight/aviary built soon and hope I can find Gouldians closer to home (and not so expensive!).
I'm loving the weather here, having left WI in a blizzard, but I miss my birds back home!

[dfcauley]

Compared to prices here in Georgia... yes those are way too high.
I hope you can find what you are looking for. Good luck and enjoy your vacation!!!

[ac12]

Store vs Bird Mart

Bird mart prices in SF Bay Area for GB is about $60 each.
Things get expensive when you go for YB ($100+ ea) and BB ($175+ ea)

I recall a store quoting me $360 for a pair of normals (RH-PB-GB).
But that was the only bird store that I've seen with any gouldians.

[Sally]

Hi Gina, I was born in Sault Ste. Marie--didn't grow up there, but visited many times, the U.P. is beautiful. Those pet store prices are quite high. Since you aren't in a big hurry anyway, maybe you will be able to find some bird marts to attend. I know they have some in Livonia, which isn't close at all, but maybe if you had another reason to visit that area, you could combine trips.

[CandoAviary]

Bird stores have higher overhead and most have to buy finches from breeders or brokers also so they mark them up. Always cheaper when you can buy straight from the breeder or broker yourself.
Funny thing is many people don't go to bird fairs and are quite content supporting their local pet store even if it is costlier.... Of course when you add up your gas to and from the fairs, the food you consume and all the extra stuff you buy when you do get to the fair (not to mention more birds than you planned to)....
well maybe it would be cheaper to buy from the pet store

[flrancho]

I've been in Florida all my life and I actually thought those prices were very good.

I was in a store the other week selling Gouldains for $120 per bird. At those prices $180-ish seems very good for a pair.

[poohbear]

Nip over to the UK...I'll get you a pair of gouldies for $60

[finch master]

Nip over to the UK...I'll get you a pair of gouldies for $60

to right poohbear,in the uk i sell normal gouldians £20 each,yellows £25 each and blues fo r£30 each,
stars , bichenos and hecks £15 each..
good luck finding them
paul

[dfcauley]

Most people don't go to bird marts because they donh't know about them. I bought my first pair of gouldians from a pet store. Later I discovered he went to the bird mart and bought them and then resold them to me for quite a profit.

[mathewsmom21]

All of my birds are from breeders with the exception of my Cordon Blue Finch. He was from a pet store. I like to do research and find a reputable breeder and stick with them! MUCH cheaper and you know more about your birds most of the time! I have no idea how old my Cordon is or where he came from or anything!

~Nicole

[Sally]

Most people don't go to bird marts because they donh't know about them. I bought my first pair of gouldians from a pet store. Later I discovered he went to the bird mart and bought them and then resold them to me for quite a profit.

I so agree with you Donna. There has been a bird mart twice a year in Ft. Worth for years, but I never knew about it. One day I saw a flyer at a feed store, went to the mart, and thought I'd died and gone to heaven--all those birds, cages, seed--and I talked with breeders till I was hoarse! Same with the bird club--it's been here for more than 50 years, but I didn't know about it till I did a search on the net for bird clubs. It's too bad all the marts and clubs don't do more advertising.

[MLaRue]

Most people don't go to bird marts because they donh't know about them. I bought my first pair of gouldians from a pet store. Later I discovered he went to the bird mart and bought them and then resold them to me for quite a profit.

I so agree with you Donna. There has been a bird mart twice a year in Ft. Worth for years, but I never knew about it. One day I saw a flyer at a feed store, went to the mart, and thought I'd died and gone to heaven--all those birds, cages, seed--and I talked with breeders till I was hoarse! Same with the bird club--it's been here for more than 50 years, but I didn't know about it till I did a search on the net for bird clubs. It's too bad all the marts and clubs don't do more advertising.

LOL! While living in Florida the breeder I mentioned in the past that had flights and flights of outdoor aviaries full of every species known to God - now that is where I died and went to heaven! I listened and listened to him with his very thick German accent - riding around on his golf cart! That is how huge his operation was! The first fair I went to here in Georgia I was guarded and skeptical of the brokers and found myself feeling sorry for all birds. I was so used to all the pet stores in my area of Florida that had all the cages and supplies you could ever want so seeing all that at the fair was nothing different for me.

I guess the big chain pet stores have ruined it for the little shops like what Candace wants to open and what Michele did in IL - so the fairs are the best route for most in this economy because like it or not most people are looking for a deal no matter what...

For me it was going to the homes and aviaries of the private breeders - that is what I enjoy the most (still) and never think twice about paying for their quality...

[MLaRue]

Most people don't go to bird marts because they donh't know about them. I bought my first pair of gouldians from a pet store. Later I discovered he went to the bird mart and bought them and then resold them to me for quite a profit.

They do now in our area - billboards and one every month is kind of hard to miss now

[lstyles]

So how do you find these bird marts? I am in northern california and it seems like the only ones I have seen advertised were in Fresno which is 4 hr drive each way for me (hard to justify the gas). There was one closer by in San Jose but it was about 2 weeks BEFORE I got bitten bit the deadly Finch bug!
Lori

[MLaRue]

You could join the NFSS - there is an awesome network of people that are in California and most are members of the NFSS.

or google found these

http://www.californiafinches.com/fairs.mgi

http://www.exoticbirdexpos.info/CA.shtml

http://birdmarts.com/events/

http://birdshows.net/