High Priced Bird

[4HAND]

I was reading an old thread about the high price of some birds and wanted to share my experience.First let me say that there are some very responseable breeders out there who have healthy, well socialized,babies that they have lovingly handfed and have a great deal invested in both time and money.You are not likely to get a breeder such as this to come down in price because their birds are in high demand.However, quite often I see a bird in the newspaper that seems way over priced,this was the case with our blue crown conure.He had been abandon by his owners when they vacated the appartment and the landlord was trying to cut his losses by getting something for the bird.When I answered the ad he sounded great,four years old,nice cage,many toys etc...But when we got there....plucked bird,over-grown beak ,poor diet,distrustful of people,cage unfit for a chicken in a third world country,I could go on.I tactfully told this man that while I thought I could give this bird a wonderful home,the $500.00 price was too high.He was going to need a new cage,vet services,and lots of TLC.Also I pointed out there was no way to prove his age[which latter, with Monica's link to a legband tracking website I found to be at least 15].I gave my phone number and left.Then my son and I spent an anxious week checking my messages.After the ad had run it's course,the phone rang and Pollo had a home.Some people are not comfortable with bargaining,but unless you ask you will never know. Tena