How Has the Finch Hobby Changed for You?

[Moth Feathers]

I know a lot of birdkeepers here have been in the hobby for years and have seen a lot. I, myself, have been owning finches for a little over just one year, so not a lot of experience.
So, I'm wondering, and please tell me, how has the finch/bird hobby in general changed?

I'm wondering in particular, have finches become any more or less common? Are finches more readily available today (from pet stores, community classifieds like Craigslist, etc) than in the past? Or are they -less- common?
How have prices changed? Are Zebra finches more expensive or less expensive these days than in the past? What about Gouldians? (and any other species).
Are there a lot more color mutations available now, or about the same?
Do you think finches as a whole are just as healthy and long-lived as the finches in the past?

Finally...do you think the finch hobby is growing more popular or less popular?

I was thinking earlier about how the popularity of birds have waned or increased. Maybe 80-100 years back or so, canaries were the really popular thing. Now I never find a canary anywhere except at Petsmart (but those poor canaries are always sickly for whatever reason).
And then for centuries and centuries of human history, dove and pigeon keeping was quite popular. At some places in the world, practically every house had a dovecote! But again, in my area I never find doves or pigeons for sale, ever, except for the lethargic Diamond Doves at Petsmart.
I love finches so much, I'd really hate if they went the way of the canary or the dove where it's difficult to find them. And since the bird show in my area seems to have disappeared...who knows when I will have the opportunity to find lots of rare finches. =(

Sorry if this is in the wrong place. I wasn't sure where to put it, but thought Species would be best since it kind of involves what species have declined/become more popular and similar things.

[kathmcm]

This is an excellent question. I'm also new to finch keeping - but hope others here can provide their perspective.

[Sally]

First off, I think I will move this to Finch Chat, since it is more about the hobby as a whole than about a specific species. But it is an excellent subject for discussion, and I hope others join in with their experience.

For myself, I first saw finches in a German version of a K-Mart in the 70s, and I'd never seen anything so exquisite and tiny! I knew I had to have some. I was living in Hawaii at the time, and fortunately for me, there were several pet shops that specialized in birds and had a nice selection of finches. I had Stars, Gray Singers, Red-cheeked Cordon Bleus. There was little information available, no internet of course, so when my RCCBs tossed their babies, I had no idea what to do. The one finch book I had was a very good one, but much of the information in it is outdated today. For example, in the 70s, Gouldians were considered very delicate and only for the very experienced breeder. I couldn't afford them and would have been afraid I would kill something that expensive. I don't remember the prices I paid for the finches I did get, but I did not consider any of them as inexpensive at the time--I think that was because I was living in Hawaii. I kept them for several years, then had to get rid of all of them.

I next got back into finches in 2005 when I retired. Saw some Zebras at a feed store, and I was hooked again. In 2005, CITES still restricted the import of the African species, so most of those were expensive and hard to find. I had Zebras, Stars, and Gouldians.

In 2007, the CITES restrictions were lifted, and import stations were flooded with African species. I made a trip to a wholesaler in Maryland in 2007, and the sheer number of birds and number of species was almost overwhelming. The prices were still high though, so I couldn't buy as many birds as I wanted. Many of the African species eventually became available for a fraction of what they cost prior 2007. Now the imports have really slowed down, and many species that were coming in haven't been seen in the import stations at all for a while. Many feel that the restrictions will be put back in place one day, and then, if we haven't been preparing for it, we will return to the pre-2007 prices and availability.

I guess the biggest change I have seen is the internet, the availability of information, forums such as this, so even a newbie can learn a lot in a short period of time.

Mutations have exploded, with pied everything and the search for something new and different. My first fawn Owls were horribly expensive, now they are so much cheaper. Personally, I am turning back to the normals, I just feel like the species as it is found in the wild is the most attractive to me.

And I really think our birds are getting healthier and longer-lived, as we learn more and more about the proper way to maintain them. Also, there is such a variety of foods and supplements available to us today. My parents had a mynah back in the 70s, and there wasn't a diet made for them at that time--they were told to grind up dry dog food and feed it moistened, along with fruits.

As far as popularity, I think it depends on where you live. Some areas have shows, marts, fairs, bird clubs, and a large network of breeders. Others have none of the above, so those people really depend on the internet in order to locate birds to be shipped to them.

I have only been a member of my bird club for about three years, but the club has been in existence for over 50 years, and at one time, had a much larger membership. I hear that bird clubs all over the country are having trouble keeping members. One problem is that many of the members are older, and as they either die off or get to the point that they cannot care for their birds any longer, they drop out. All clubs need to work on getting a younger membership, so the old folks can pass on their knowledge, and the younger ones can keep the hobby going.

Guess I have rambled on long enough, blame the late hour!

[Emma]

Wonderful to hear your finchstories. And i agree about the internet, everything has been soo much easier now.

For me it starts whit a little gouldian, and the year was 2000. Before that i have budgerians when i was kid, and i have always love birds. But this was something different, i went with a friend to his relatives and there, in a dark corner, i saw somethin i never have seen before.. It was love at first sight! So adorable!
I had never seen a gouldina before, and maybee you can imagine my face! he he.. Just staring!
But it was a bit sad, because they only have one left. He was soo lonley! And the family has 5 kids and a small house, where the bird almost stod on the floor. And i ask if they want to sell him to me, but no.
When i went home i couldnt sleep and i think of this little fellow for weeks and i saw in my head over and over again this little poor guy sitting there alone in a stressful enviroment...
But then my friend tell me that theyre change their mind! Ohh, i was soo happy!! I got my litte Turbo to my calm and small apartment ( living by myself at the time ) and he seems to enjoy his new home besides of one thing. He never says a word!
I tried to ask for a female in the petstore, but the only answer i got was "we have not have gouldians for 10 years, and theyre so sensitive that we want get one either"
After 3 month i heard a strange sound and look in to the room.. Nothing.. Hmmm...?? And then again.. What?? Looked again, but nothing. After that, he sings! Soo beautiful!!
After a few months i got a female for him, and after that... well... Now i have 20 ( 2 canaries ) and i couldnt live without them!

Another funny thing about Turbo was that he didnt sing like a gouldian.. I record it once, and here you can hear the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svlOcct_Wyw

These cages on my film was just temporary! I hate small cages! I think the film is from 2002 ore so..

And another thing... Sorry for my bad english... again!

[cindy]

I was first introduced to finches, canaries, Pekin robins, mynhas, parakeets by my parents. They had (in the 60's) every type of species of finch you can imagine...nuns (white headed to which to this day I wish I had bought the pair I saw few years ago, they are so hard to get), twinspots, strawberries and many more.The species were abundant and so very cheap. Strawberries for $5 to $10 dollars...most finches were $5 or under.

They had a large aviary amd breeding area my dad built. I was involved in the care, cleaning and feeding. It was a "chore" my mom assigned me to but really it wasn't. The birds fascinated me, our house was filled with song.

In the warmer months my parents hung the flights and cages under a gazebo my dad builtl that had a running waterfall and pond, the yard and patio was a really nice place to relax, listen to our birds.

We moved from NJ to Miami and our collection was sold. I missed it and when ever I saw finches I was reminded of those days. My mother carefully making up eggfoods...she had some sort of mix she used and it was eaten completely, egg cups were empty within a short time. The smell of fruits filled the kitchen on "fruit day". The canary males would all get excited when the water was turned on they all sang, and if romaine was taken out of the fridge they all would get excited jumping back and forth as we cut it up and cleaned it.

I dabbled in lovebirds, larger parrots, conures, finches and parrotlets throughout the years. I got back into finches about 4 years ago. I live above Tampa and formerly from Ft Myers. I've seen the market change...finches were the rage, then the smaller hookbills, then the larger hookbills...the finch market died off a bit especially in Ft Myers. Gouldians were only kept by those what had special rooms and the birds were labeled very delicate and hard to get, breed and care for. The bird market changed. The hookbills and bigger birds commanded a higher price and the market was flooded with them. Then due to everyone having them the market started to change the smaller birds like parrotlets and lovebirds became the birds to breed. Then finches came back but not as strong.

Where we live now there seems to be a happy blend of birds of all kinds though looking for mutations is a bit tricky at times. Sometimes the finches do not sell as quickly or they sell so fast. The economy has effected some of this.

The birds due to modern medicine and advances in diets seem to live longer. In the early 80's and late 70's if you had to handfeed young you made up your own formula and cooked it. Now you can buy it pre-made up, so much easier and not as messy.

I have a roomfull of different species now, for some reason throughout the years I have always gone back to the little finches from time to time. People that know my family say I was bitten by the finch bug a long time ago and just never got over it! Guess not.

[CandoAviary]

Mostly what I have noticed over my 45 years of birdkeeping has been the available information. Like Sally pointed out with the internet and the sharing of birdkeeping paractices from all over the world. I also think this is why bird clubs don't have the members it once did. The clubs were where people congregated to learn and share with one another. With the internet you can share instantly with a click of a button.
The other big change has been the readily available nutritionally balanced diets on the market. Along with the suppliments and meds. I remember back when I first started, their were cuttle bone and quartz gravel..... that was considered mineral suppliments! I remember making a sort plaster with eggshells and calcium carbonate powder for mineral blocks Now we know better and the market offers many mineral suppliments.
Also a great improvement in cages... Flights on wheels with pull out trays and grates make for housing finches simple. Along with plastic nest boxes and feed cups, waterers, etc. that make sanitizing simple.
I bought my first birds, a pair of parakeets and a pair of nuns from a Woolworth's department store with my saved up allowance. I was about 8 years old and have had birds of some sort every since then.
I remember when the gouldians hit the market and how rare it was to get a pair in the store. I remember back in the 80's when I worked in a pet store a breeder brought in a pair of red heads. I was mesmerized! I asked him every question I could about how he breed them.... was some of the best information I ever received
I am thrilled to now offer these birds for sale at my store and love the people that stop outside the windows and become mesmerized by the beauties in the store front window.... They come in and ask..."what are those?" then they move onto the cordons, stars, etc. It is a pleasure to share these little gems with so many that really have no idea of there existance.... hopefully with responsible breeders, clubs, stores, and education the future will even hold more positive changes for the birds we so love

[FinchFlurry]

This is such an ineresting topic

Although I'm new to breeding finches, im not new to finches in general.

I grew up all my life, having a pair of finches in the house. Always. They've been there since before i was born. It all started when my mother's uncle, who had an incredible passion for birds, gave her his 2 beautiful green singers, Tonton and Tontine (french names) In 1989. He had owned them for almost 7 years at that point, and they lived until I was 5 years old (1998) I couldnt believe they had lived so long... He had taken such good care of them. I remember wondering why they never moved around. I found out later how old they really were!
since then,
I've had 1 society, 1 silver bill finch, 1 shaft tail and 9 green singers...

My parents would always tell me not to touch them or stick my face too close, but i was little, and I didnt really understand why. I had (and still have) this incredible love for nature, and living creatures, and I always wanted to try and make come kind of connection with any animal i came into contact with.

My dog was already very close to me so i didnt worry about that. But the birds always had me curious. I could never stop staring, and i never got bored of just watching them, and whistleling with them.

I remember the second pair of green singer we got, when i was 6, the female, Bonnie, was so tame, and when my parents werent home or were not looking i would put my hand in the cage and pet her chest, and she never even twitched!
I was fascinated, haha. eventually, she would let me hold her in my hand, so long as there were some seeds in there with her.

It was the first time that i held her in my hands, that I wanted more of this. I love watching them, seeing them get used to me, and maybe even trust me enough to get close
As i got older, my interest in the finches never faltered, and only got stronger.
If i had it my way, i'd of made an aviary in the yard and gotten tons, but my dad wasnt for it, so I sucked it up.

But then, just this year, when i decided to pick up my lone GS male Vinny, a buddy at the petstore... I said "what the heck! I'm getting him a girlfriend!"
That day, I also bought nest supplies, a nest, a few fake plants, and a bunch of wood. I went home and built a flight cage that would fit somewhere in my house, where my dad wont mind.

and since it was already built by the time he got home, he couldnt protest. So he said so long as i know what I'm doing, i can breed the birds.
I was so excited that I looked stuff up online, and i found this place!

Now, about 3 months later, my pair of finches became a trio when mia had her first chick

I do think its really popular, but then, I suppose you;d only know if you were really into it.
I had no idea finches were so popular until I really looked into the subject.
Though, for me, about 10 years ago, almost all the people i knew had birds, now none of them do

The price of finches have been up and down for years, but since we only seem to get Green Singers, the prices go nowhere but up!
(also, one of the reasons i want to breed them. not enough people do)

But anyway, that's my story. Not much, but i'm also still learning