the often forgotten addition to a cage

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:49 pm

Gomer..

Guess I need to ask the question. Do you export to the US? I don't know all the quarantine issues, but you seem to have an awesome place. Wish I had the room to replicate what you have.

MalditoGorrion · Post by **MalditoGorrion** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:09 pm

Mmm I am not sure but I think Australia has a very strong laws against export exotic fauna (especially birds) Tell me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure is a total ban.

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:19 am

Australia has some of the strictest import/export rules of any country in the world for animals and plants of any kind. Even for a zoo to get animals in/out of there in a timely fasion is nearly impossible (especially with quarintine times!). That being said, I think it is great that Australia is so protective of their native environment, afterall, you can't get it anywhere but there!
I just looked it up, you can't even get a beetle out of australia without the government permitting it. Here is one of the things I find on their web regarding household pets (limiting of three birds per permit):

"In the case of Australian native species permits can only be issued for the following bird species:

Cacatua galerita (Sulphur-crested Cockatoo)
Cacatua roseicapilla (Galah)
Cacatua sanguinea (Little Corella)
Cacatua tenuirostris (Long-billed Corella)
Nymphicus hollandicus (Cockatiel)
Melopsittacus undulatus (Budgerigar) "

crazy. I didnt even know that cockatiels were native to Australia!

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:20 am

sorry...for some reason it posted twice

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:59 am

I have the largest collection within 200km.But there is alot larger around.About three or four in my club have half or more of what I have in finches plus parrots.North from here there are ones twice plus in size.

Bill there should be people on this forum with what you want.And no I don't export.I am not in it that big. only as a hobby that's all it will ever be.At the moment I don't even freight at all.

I think they should export more, as some listed by bonnie.Are destroyed in mass numbers as they are regarded as pests in some areas.Its criminal.Many eggs are robbed from endangered species in the wild and illegally smuggled into other countries.

I think Australia export Red-face parrot finches and Cuban finches into the USA as they pay well for them and they are not Australian.It then pushes up the price here and could potentially harm our own gene pool.

MalditoGorrion · Post by **MalditoGorrion** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:17 am

Australia export Cuban finches? I didn’t know that. Well the most part of Cuban finches that I have seen comes to the US with human traffic smugglers. The human trafficking industry from Cuba bring humans and exotics species too. It’s sad but true. Usually this people bring on their boats many birds that they bought for a few cents there and they sell here for hundreds of dollars. By the way I am Cuban ^_^

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:46 am

Off topic now but... wow - that's quite an eye opener of smuggling birds out and into different countries. I mean I 'knew' it happened but to hear of it almost first hand makes it so much more real.

Back on topic - wish we had the temperatures (and space) here to enable us to have outdoor aviaries like yours Gomer. That's quite the set up. Other than Gouldians, what other species do you keep... any?

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 6:57 pm

I keep aussie finches only.as i have not enough room for any thing else.
Parson (diggles)
chestnutbreasted
crimson (black chest)
double barred
diamond firetail
gouldian Various types
Longtailed (hecks)
Masked White eared plus normal
Painted
pictorella
plumhead
blue face parrot finch
Red browed
star red and yellow and cinamon
yellow rump
zebra
I like to keep at least three pair of every thing.Some I have more some less.
Have plans in the pipeline for a 12m x 17m extension.but will wait a couple of years before that.plus am currently building a quarantine room come bird room.So i can have my shed back.
I am a jack of all trades,master of none.as you can see.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:32 pm

I'm believing you are master of all tasks you undertake - wow - that's quite a wonderful variety of birds you have!! Are they paying their own way by this time? I would imagine they have to be for you to keep growing as you are. You've certainly done something right!

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:53 pm

They pay for the seed.I don't really keep track of wot i spend.All money made goes back into them.I work a second job.About 5 hours a week which i put into them.As I am still filling the aviaries with what i wont.Some are $300 a pr.The next I build will hold the more expensive ones.
It will take the life of the aviaries to recoup the money for them.
I don't worry about that.As its only a hobby.And not a cent comes out of the family income so the wife's happy about that.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:04 pm

Gomer you are really into this Finch business! It is great you are doing something you really love and that you won't end up divorced because of it....hehe!

Does your loving wife have any favorite finch breeds?

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:33 pm

Sounds like wonderful money mangment to me! Good thing the birds are at least paying for their seed. What a lovely sounding collection!