Looking for Bird Broker Info

[TheWhiteFinchAviary]

I recently asked on another thread about bird brokers, but I didn't get a response. I don't know if many have experience with them or if no one truly knows the answers.

I'm genuinely curious as to what their practices are. Until recently, I believed all of the large-scale breeders were actually breeders (naive me). I found out that most of their stock comes from brokers, which makes them fall into the category of flippers who re-sell birds for profit.

This makes me wonder - Where do they keep all these birds they're flipping? How do they quarantine? Do these birds get to experience any kind of human or bird interaction? Do their temporary cages have toys & other stimulating objects in them? Are they loved in the same way that in-home breeders love their babies? Are they kept in a warehouse or ? And most importantly: How does the Finch community feel about brokers & flippers in general?

Note that I have not included a single negative remark in this post so please do the same in the comments so we can uphold the standards for the Finch Forum community of happy & polite discourse.

[TheWhiteFinchAviary]

Wow Finch Mom I'm so sorry to hear that happened!! I hope you get your money back soon.

This is why I worry about brokers in general, but surely there must be those out there doing it right somehow? Or is there really a "right" way to be a broker/flipper?

(Please refrain from naming specific companies if you're posting about negative experiences as this is against the forum rules.)

[Sally]

We are instituting a new policy on the forum regarding naming individuals, brokers, breeders, vendors, and businesses in posts. In future, discussions of this type will be general in nature, but any references to a specific person or business will be removed. If members wish to relate their experiences with a specific business, this can be done by private message.

[TheWhiteFinchAviary]

Thank you for the heads up Sally ! Could I ask why this is being instituted? And what medium do you feel is best for sharing negative experiences? Not to get off topic but I think it's important to know for future reference.

[Sally]

Thank you for the heads up Sally ! Could I ask why this is being instituted? And what medium do you feel is best for sharing negative experiences? Not to get off topic but I think it's important to know for future reference.

It's being instituted because it is only fair. Vendors often are not members of this forum, they have no way to offer a rebuttal. We aren't saying members can't ask for references or referrals, but the replies must be in a private message. There is nothing to be gained with a public bashing when the same information can be sent in a private message.

[TheWhiteFinchAviary]

It's being instituted because it is only fair. Vendors often are not members of this forum, they have no way to offer a rebuttal. We aren't saying members can't ask for references or referrals, but the replies must be in a private message. There is nothing to be gained with a public bashing when the same information can be sent in a private message.

Ah, I see. Thank you!

[mayble]

It's unfortunate that we can't have a sort of "breeder/broker review" sharing experience here.

[debbie276]

A broker I'm familiar with would go on a state to state weeks long road trips and gather birds by selling and buying of all kinds. When he/she got back to their home base they posted ads and or filled orders. I have been in their home and seen their set up. All birds were thrown together with no quarentine of any kind, housed in small temperary cages till owners picked them up. Knew very little about their bloodline and/or species.
Thankfully they are out of business Just an example of what you can find out there. Ask many many questions and I'm sure you will find the good from the bad.

[wellingtoncdm]

Perhaps as an example a post could read:
Anyone have any experience with Rich at http://www.richsfinches.com?
Looking at his owl finches.
Please PM me.
Thanks.

[TheWhiteFinchAviary]

We get it Charlie Thank you

Agreed Mayble. I usually post any negative experiences on my site or Facebook as scam alerts but have held my tongue about brokers since I don't know much about them other than what others have said.

That's really horrible Debbie! I'm glad they're not around any more too. You're a better friend than me because I would have exposed them quick fast and in a hurry.

I know there are good examples with the bad, and I'm hoping someone can provide a good example too so this topic doesn't become anti-broker. But I want everyone to be honest so don't hold back! (Except names if your experience is negative of course)

[debbie276]

Actually any time their names came up I private messaged the member with what I knew. I also do that with any other breeders/sellers that are brought up in threads.

[Ginene]

I purchased a RCCB hen from a broker once. He appeared to be a breeder (that's what the ad implied)...but actually bred only specific types of canaries, no finches. Anyway, his store walls were lined ceiling to floor with breeding cages that easily had 20+ finches in each. He had mixed species in each cage (ex. stars, RCCBs & Shaft Tails together in 1 cage). He said he drove long distances to get the birds and did quarantine them. But he recommended that I quarantine them too and treat them with a wormer and Iverlux. He was a nice guy...his cages were clean, his birds were in good feather and he sold practically everything that's on ladygouldianfinch.com. I was nervous to buy from him, but took my chances as I had heard good things about him. Anyway, my little RCCB hen died the 10th day that I had her. I tried to contact him about her passing to see what he thought it might be...but he never returned my call. I'm not sure why she passed...but that was my 1 and only experience with a finch broker. His store closed soon after that because people weren't buying as many birds as they use to.

[finchmix22]

I would like to know more about other vendors too, but I understand that it is not fair to criticize if the other person can't defend or explain their actions. I think we can talk about our positive experiences with other vendors, since that is free advertising for them and we are not criticizing, but making a referral, as in an business.

[Sally]

It's unfortunate that we can't have a sort of "breeder/broker review" sharing experience here.

Other forums have also found that the best way to handle recommendations/reviews is to do it privately. There is nothing to be gained by public bashing that can't be conveyed in private. As has been seen on the forum previously, one person can have an entirely different experience from another.

To assume that someone is bad because they are a broker is like assuming someone is good because they are a breeder. There are good brokers and bad brokers--there are good breeders and bad breeders. We've gone through this before. Why is it bad to be a broker? Why is it OK to try to make a profit on bird seed but not on birds? Why is a hobbyist better than a broker? A broker, out of economic necessity, will not keep his stock in the same exact conditions that a hobbyist may, it is unrealistic to expect that IMO. And what is wrong with purchasing birds for resale? Are we any better when we take birds to a mart, to a pet shop, or even when we think we are placing them in good homes. Do we really know how they are cared for after they leave us?

I deal with waxbills. Without brokers, I would not be able to keep them all. Many of my birds came from brokers. For those who deal only with the more domesticated species like Gouldians, they weren't always readily available to everyone. They were imported, brokers got them from the quarantine stations, and then they sold them to the pet shops, to breeders, to hobbyists. We can thank those brokers for helping to make many of these species available to us. To me, the word broker does not have a bad connotation, it is just a word. I deal with people, with people who care about birds just as I do. Some are brokers, some are breeders, some are experienced, some are newbies. I judge each on their own merits.

[wellingtoncdm]

It's unfortunate that we can't have a sort of "breeder/broker review" sharing experience here.

Other forums have also found that the best way to handle recommendations/reviews is to do it privately. There is nothing to be gained by public bashing that can't be conveyed in private. As has been seen on the forum previously, one person can have an entirely different experience from another.

To assume that someone is bad because they are a broker is like assuming someone is good because they are a breeder. There are good brokers and bad brokers--there are good breeders and bad breeders. We've gone through this before. Why is it bad to be a broker? Why is it OK to try to make a profit on bird seed but not on birds? Why is a hobbyist better than a broker? A broker, out of economic necessity, will not keep his stock in the same exact conditions that a hobbyist may, it is unrealistic to expect that IMO. And what is wrong with purchasing birds for resale? Are we any better when we take birds to a mart, to a pet shop, or even when we think we are placing them in good homes. Do we really know how they are cared for after they leave us?

I deal with waxbills. Without brokers, I would not be able to keep them all. Many of my birds came from brokers. For those who deal only with the more domesticated species like Gouldians, they weren't always readily available to everyone. They were imported, brokers got them from the quarantine stations, and then they sold them to the pet shops, to breeders, to hobbyists. We can thank those brokers for helping to make many of these species available to us. To me, the word broker does not have a bad connotation, it is just a word. I deal with people, with people who care about birds just as I do. Some are brokers, some are breeders, some are experienced, some are newbies. I judge each on their own merits.

Well written Sally. Thank you!!!