This is a new one...

[Celeris]

So, during my customary perusal of craigslist today, I came across this ad:

Hello, I'm moving/selling my place and need to find a temporary home for my birds so I can clean and prepare for showing. Best case scenario three to four weeks...

I would love to find someone experienced with Gouldians or finches. Ideally not have a ton of other larger birds or at least could be separate from them. I'm willing to trade several for your time and/or combination of trade/money. I will supply food etc.. If you can't...can you think of anyone that would to have these beautiful birds around for a month or so?

I would love to have them situated this weekend if at all possible...

I have about 60+ Gouldians and about a dozen star finches. I have one tall round cage for the gouldians and another cage for the star finches...so they are not that space consuming. Please call if you are interested or pass this onto someone that might....

Thank you.

Is it just me, or does the question of, "What kind of monster of a cage are you keeping 60+ Goulds in?" spring to mind? Either that, or how cramped are those poor birds?

I mean, if it weren't for a variety of factors, I might be tempted by their offer, since Goulds are very much on my "want" list. But I don't want to imagine transporting over sixty birds from one location to the next, not to mention finding space for whatever set up this person must have!

Here's the direct link, in case anyone in the Denver area has any interest: https://denver.craigslist.org/pet/6106162922.html

[Ricardo Ronsini]

Interesting advertisement.

I think his cage must be H-U-G-E for keeping this amount of birds

If one have space, it would be a good deal indeed.

[lovezebs]

Celeris

I'd get in touch, and ask questions.
Doesn't hurt to ask, right?
And you mignt get yourself some Gouldians for your trouble.

Transportation, would be up to this person, not you. He/she, would be responsible for supplying food etc. and so.....

[Celeris]

lovezebs

If my husband ever finds out what kind of influence you are, he just might make me stop talking to you! But you're right--it doesn't hurt to ask questions, if only to satisfy my curiosity regarding how MASSIVE the "round top" cage is. So I've sent off a message! We'll see what they have to say.


@Ricardo Ronsini

Quite a deal! I can't think of anything better than taking care of a bunch of finches and receiving finches as payment! That's a finch lovers' heaven!

[Ricardo Ronsini]

Finchtastic isn't it.

[Babs _Owner]

Celeris

Thats a lot of poop dropping down the tower. I dont think they will be in shape for "showing"

[w.l.]

I can't (and don't want to) imagine any tall round cage that is not space consuming housing 60 birds.
Even by our local markets' horrid standards, that sounds extreme.

[Celeris]

Babs

Haha, no kidding! I think there must be a typo in there or something they've omitted. (ie: They have 60+ Gouldians, but only 6 live in a cage, the rest are in an aviary. Or something!) I'm definitely trying to get to the bottom of things, if only to satisfy my curiosity!

[lovezebs]

Celeris

Maybe it's a giant outdoor 'big top' aviary, shaped like a circus tent, buahha ha hahhh...."Step right up folks, and see the AMAZING FLYING GOULDIANS!!!!"

Now I'm dying to hear what the response will be,"

[Celeris]

I have an answer! As I suspected, it's not as simple as the ad stated.

This person's CONDO is their bird cage! They have built an entire habitat out of their home for their finches! Talk about a finch lover living the dream!

I guess the plan is to utilize SEVERAL smaller cages and they've apparently found a suitable boarder who, unfortunately, has a deadline. I've thrown out a counter offer of clearing my guest bedroom (which is currently storage, while I procrastinate repainting it) and letting the birds stay with no deadline. We'll see if the distance is enough to deter them, however.

Barring that, I'll try to talk them out of a couple of the Gouldians, since they'll have to catch all the birds anyhow.

[w.l.]

Celeris

The ad clearly said "I have one tall round cage for the gouldians", so one cage for a condoful of birds.
Hardly realistic.
If you want to take those birds in, make sure they come in suitable temporary accommodation.

[Celeris]

w.l.

Oh yes, I feel like the ad definitely wasn't entirely truthful. I find it's not at all uncommon for folks posting on craigslist to fail to properly communicate, however. There is definitely a major difference between "several" cages and "one tall round cage."

[GouldianGuy]

Well it seems they have an excess of Gouldians and need someone to rescue 10-20!

[lovezebs]

Celeris

With 60 birds, they would need several very large flights, not just a few small cages, lol.

If you do get them, make sure that you everything in writing with signatures and dates , and all the nitty gritty details. If birds get sick, if birds die, if they need Vet care, meds, etc. If they breed, eggs, babies and so on.
You don't want to end up having to feed and care for all these birds endlessly if these folks pull a disappearance act for god knows how long, then show up a year later wanting them back.

Be careful, but definitely grab a few Gouldians from them if they're willing to part with some .

[Celeris]

lovezebs

The guy insisted that I call him to get any more info. Very nice guy-- we chatted about birds for nearly an hour! Unfortunately, I felt very strongly that the cages he described weren't nearly enough and he really seemed to want the birds to be allowed free reign of the room anyhow. Couldn't blame him, since they're so used to having an entire condo, but had no interested in unleashing 80ish birds on my guest bedroom to-be. (Also, he mentioned that he had two or three active nests of babies and all I could picture was getting stuck fostering abandoned Gouldian babes, which was more than I bargained for.) However, I may still get a couple birds from him when he's moving the birds to their (and his) new home in a month or two, since he'll be driving through my area of the state anyhow.

Happy to have solved the mystery!