Spice Finch at Petco for $29.99 is that a fair price?

Strickalator · Post by **Strickalator** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:57 pm

I was at petco getting supplies and I saw a really healthy spice finch, i think it was female as it was making high pitched peeps like my zebra female does. Is that a good price? Or should I not get that bird there.

It has a really silver beak with a light chocolate breast and a dark chocolate tail and back feathers.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 1:25 pm

Not high for a Pet Store....you could probably get one for about half that price from a breeder.

If it seems a fair price to you then that is what matters. Just know Pet Store birds are usually inbred and you really don't know how old and healthy they really are. At least with a breeder you have a better chance of knowing the age and health (most of the time).

Your call Strickalator!

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:25 pm

Petsmart here sells them at $20 each but i know another petshop that sells them for $7 each. $30 sounds ridiculous especially since zebras, socities, and spice finches are the most common finches sold at petshops.

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:17 pm

Heya Strick..

If I may suggest... don't be too fast on buying a bird.. I am the same as you.. I want one now when they look beautiful..

There are a lot of people in the DFW area that have good birds at good prices. I don't trust Petsmart or Petco with their birds. Just my opinion..

Hope you know that there is a Bird Mart in Ft Worth this February.. Know it is a ways off, but I think you would find a better quality bird from them. If all the vendors don't buy them before then.. hehe.. I went to the last one and will be going to the next one..

Just don't want you to be disappointed with birds from the big companies.. I prefer looking for them from local breeders. At least you know their heritage when you get them from local breeders..

Just my 2cents..

James · Post by **James** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:35 pm

talk to sally on here she lives in you area. she has all kinds of finches she knowledgeableand loves her birds. if I lived as close as you to her thats where I would go. you see her post on here all the time.

You can send her a private message.

check the memberlist to find her or just read through the post as she does more post than most of us.

James

Post by **Sally** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:10 am

Hey Shawn, I'd hold off on getting a new bird right now, too. The next Ft. Worth Bird Mart is Feb. 28, 2009, at the Will Rogers Coliseum complex. There will be lots of vendors there, plus you can get some of your supplies at better prices. There is usually a vendor with lots of cages and pretty good prices. There are all kinds of birds, from finches to macaws (of course, I favor the finches!). One vendor is Texas Pride Aviary, from south of Houston, and you have to look at their display just to see some of the more unusual finches and softbills--you will drool, I promise!

BillD is right about the vendors...I was a vendor for the first time this last fall, and as soon as I was setting up my table, other vendors are over looking to see what you have. I think I sold half my birds before the doors opened! Once you get to know the vendors, you can contact most of them ahead of time, and they can often bring what you are looking for.

There is also a bird mart from time to time in Richardson, which would be a lot closer to you. I was just talking to a lady the other day, and she had gotten some Gouldians and Fire finches this past weekend in Richardson. I will try to find out when they are having another one and let you know.

Post by **Sally** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:32 am

OK, I found that website, it is www.birdsandpets.com/. It is called Morningstar Expositions, and they have a mart in Grapevine on Jan 17-18, I think it was, and Richardson on March 6-7 or 7-8, I forget which. I may have gone to one of their marts one time, and there was not a single finch there, but I see that they just had a mart Dec 6 in Richardson, and Texas Pride Aviary (which is a huge vendor) was there, plus the lady I spoke with had gotten a yellow Gould and Fire finches, so that sounds worth checking out. I would also check out www.texasprideaviary.com/ as they post when they are going to a show, with a list of birds they are bringing.

James · Post by **James** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:02 pm

Strickalator:
See What did I tell you. In Texas Sally knows, one smart lady and loves her birds.

Hey Sally;
I hope you can join us in Atlanta this next Summer. I'm hoping we can get a good group to gether.

Everyone is invited to join us, let me know at <Quadra_Phonic@yahoo.com> if you would like to join us.

James

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:02 pm

Sally sure does know her stuff. I think I saw the display that Texas Pride Aviary had at the last Bird Mart and just have to say I was drooling.. well.. I was drooling over a lot of birds.

Sally did tell me that some of the vendors include a small cage when you purchase. I didn't know that before, but I'm going to bring one just in case to the next Bird Mart. I need to find where I can get those small cages. Just FYI..

Sally: Thanks for the links to the other Marts. I haven't built my aviary yet, but will get it under construction soon.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:04 pm

BillD
The best place for the small cage bird mart

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:35 pm

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:34 pm

I know at the bird mart I went to almost all the vendors sold those little cages with their birds. If you bought a bird from a vendor who didnt sell them, then you can buy the cage from another vendor near by (I paid $3 for mine from another vendor and took it over to have my birds loaded up

Post by **Sally** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:09 am

I have those small cages which I take to the Mart. I did have to buy a box of 30, I think it was, but I figure I will use them up eventually. At the FW mart, a nearby vendor ran out of cages, so his customers bought small cages from me. I did sell them for $4 each, as they had cost me about $3.50 each. For my customers, a cage is included with their purchase, though some had their own cage and didn't want the small cage I had. I use those ones that are 11x7x5.5.