$$$$$$$ Owl Finches

williep · Post by **williep** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:39 am

I popped in at my favorite bird breeder yesterday and noticed he had about 6 pairs of owl finches for sale and all of them where surgically sexed.

I had already named the pair Benito and Bernice from their scientific name Poephila bichenovii or other common name Bicheno Finch until he told me what he sells them for!

$80 per pair, now before all of you jump on the "hey that is not so expensive" bandwagon, here in South Africa that is very expensive. They normally sell for around $50 per pair and you can get a pair of blue LG's for around $50 as well, star finches and shaftails are about $28 and zebras are between $5 and $12 per pair. I only had around $70 with me but he would not drop his price as there is no one else in our area that has any

. Darn the supply and demand phenomenon!

I would dearly love to have a pair, preferably 2 to increase my breeding chances but wow, how do normal people afford finches at that price? :sigh:

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:51 am

The prices you mention do seem low in my perspective since I paid $175.00 for a sexed unrelated pair. But I had saved up for them knowing how expensive they would be.

Yes the supply and demand sure makes a difference. The Owl breeder lives a half hour away from me which is great but she is the only one that I know of around otherwise I would have order and have some shipped and I don't even want to think about how much that would cost me!

I love my Owls and hope they live a good long time. I will try to breed them in about 3 months and see what luck I have.

williep · Post by **williep** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:19 am

Wow $175, is that what they normally sell for in the US?

I'm not saying that the $80 is expensive in US terms, just in our currency that relates to R 650 which is quite expensive, our birds are generally half the price in US$ than the FIC mentions. The point I was trying to make was that the breeder sold them for 60% more than they normally sell for around just because nobody has stock here which would mean you would have paid $280 for yours. Knowing this would you still have bought them at the higher price?

I might still buy them but it seems a bit unreasonable, but if the fellow forum members consider this not to be a rip off I will definitely buy them

Please comment, who here would pay $280 for a pair of owls?

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:04 am

Well I think that depends upon how badly that I wanted them. I overpaid for my first pair of gouldians. I really wanted them and didn't know where to find them so I settled . Now I know where to go to buy my finches.
But.... if it was something that I REALLY wanted, yes.... I would have.

Post by **Sally** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:32 am

I paid $130 for my unrelated pair of Owls. They were young and not ready for breeding at the time. It is all relative--prices are determined by supply and demand. Before the import ban on African finches was lifted, prices were quite high for them here, and now they have come down a lot. Also, a well-known and respected breeder can command far higher prices than the typical hobby breeder. I justify spending more than I should sometimes by telling myself I can sell babies to recoup my expenses. Of course, I am assuming I will have some babies to sell!

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:56 am

Williep,
Surgically sexed? Literally, or do you mean DNA sexed?
Maybe that's why he is charging so much for them.
Owls around here are usually $50-$60 each from a breeder.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:12 pm

The breeder where I got my Owls from sells them unsexed for $75.00 each or $150.00 a pair. If you want them sexed (which she does by observing them in separate cages to see who sings and is the male). then it is another $25.00 for the pair.

And like Sally I would hope I could sell some to recoup my expenses....and then turn right around and buy more birds...hehe!

pon · Post by **pon** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:07 pm

Call me a sucker, but my girlfriend and I paid $100 per bird when we got our Owls. 8/
On the up side, they are two of the cutest finches I've seen and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world, so it was a good investment, I think. (:

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:16 pm

I guess I am a sucker too pon..... I paid 99.00 apiece for mine!

And I wouldn't give anything for mine either. I think they are my favorite of all my finches.

williep · Post by **williep** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:08 am

atarasi wrote:Williep,
Surgically sexed? Literally, or do you mean DNA sexed?
Maybe that's why he is charging so much for them.

Surgical sexing is actually cheaper than DNA sexing in South Africa. The breeder where I purchase most my birds from is an avian vet who sexes the birds on site. The technique is used more with parrots and more expensive finches and it costs around $6 per bird depending on size.

The procedure is very popular in South Africa and was pioneered by a South African Dr David Rusell in the late 70's. He has also sexed some of my birds for me and it is advantageous if you want to ensure 100% you have a pair. Here's what it entails.

Surgical sexing is a somewhat invasive method, which involves using anaesthetics, usually gas and making an incision into the abdomen of the bird and looking at the sex organs with an endoscope or laparascope. With the advent of safer aesthetics, such as the isoflurane, better sterilization techniques, and smaller instruments, surgical sexing is now extremely safe.

The greatest advantage to surgical sexing is that it can detect some physical defects in the organs as well as the condition and maturity of the sex organs; another advantage is that there is a permanent tattoo placed under the wing of the bird.

I think all of you here have gone a long way in convincing me to buy the pair, I will keep you guys posted.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:35 am

That's interesting to say the least!
It's so different here. With DNA testing, they send you a white thick piece of paper and you cut the bird's toenail into the quick and place a few drops of blood on the paper. They mail you a report a few weeks later. I know it's a lot more than $6. Surgically sexing birds is more expensive than DNA testing. A lot of the breeders here swear they can tell the sex of owls, but of course, it's not 100% guaranteed.
If you lived closer or had paypal, I would be more than happy to donate $10 to you so you could have your pair of owls.

williep · Post by **williep** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:47 am

atarasi, I think the US, UK and AUS are miles ahead with DNA testing and that's maybe the reason it is cheaper there. I prefer the surgical sexing as the results are immediate and 100% accurate but more importantly the vet can identify problems with the sexual organs, this comforts you in that you know there is no medical reason the birds cannot reproduce.

Thanks for the donation offer, maybe I'll setup something so all of you can contribute

I was more concerned about being ripped off than actually paying that price being an accountant by profession, but like Sally also mentioned supply and demand plays a big role and IF they breed I can recover my costs in one season so I think I’ll just dive into this one (and not mention the price I paid to my wife)

# !

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:57 am

It really sounds like South Africa is miles ahead with the surgical testing!
I like the idea of being able to see if there are any anomalies with the reproductive organs. I would have happily paid $6 to finally get the society hen I was looking for. Luckily, the pet store took all the males back I purchased!

You're right about getting your money back. If you have a clutch of even just 3 chicks, it wouldn't be difficult to find $$ homes for them especially since there aren't many who breed finches there.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:08 am

wow some of the prices you have mentioned are scary, for a pair of owls here from a breeder it is only $40 australian.
but as people have said supply & demand play a large part.
then again to hell with the price if it was a pair of birds that I have wanted & been looking for for a while

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:25 am

I have to admit I've paid up to $200 a bird for those that were hard to come by and I just HAD to have!

I use DNA sexing using feathers for those that are hard to sex (like my lavenders and swees) - non-invasive, and very accurate. Of course, it's also something like $25 a bird, so you have to REALLY want to know the sex....