1st "Bird Mart"

[NoLimitssjca]

So today I thought I'd go to the local "Bird Mart" at the Fairgrounds that comes around a few times a year. I've never been before and didn't have much of an idea about what to expect. What an event! Who new the first thing you'd see walking in was turtles? HELLO... Bird show! Oh yeah, there were puppies for sale too. Oh my!

Oh yeah, there were some birds too... Actually, it was mostly birds and bird stuff, but I have a wry sense of humor and enjoyed the experience. (Turns out that the birds were very well priced)

So I got an education in some things I didn't know about...
-- Toys were really well priced. Picked up a new gym (big and well built) for $19
-- Cages were well priced and a great variety.
-- Parrotlets are like 2" long (hey... I didn't know!)
-- I don't know near as much as I need too about our Feathered friends.
-- I know way more about our feathered friends than many of the people looking to buy a bird
-- Some breeders don't screen buyers
-- I'd never let someone buy a bird from me if didn't screen them
-- I have loads of respect for the people here that do their homework.

and finally
-- 8 bucks for parking is crazy when the street next to it is free!

Well, it was fun and I saw lots of great birds...

[angelicarboreals]

Wow- they charged for parking!?!?!

I have been to one show here in Tennessee last summer that was supposed to be great and when I walked in they had more dogs than bird stuff. Yep- at a bird show. There were two vendors that had bird toys for sale, it was unbelievable. Luckily there are two other shows run by local bird clubs and they are much better.

I am always amazed when I walk into a show- and I always leave having learned something new- it sounds like you did too!

[mundyzoo]

I love to go to them for toys and stuff, the prices are usually pretty good.

[LoveMyBeak]

Originally Posted by angelicarboreals

Wow- they charged for parking!?!?!

I have been to one show here in Tennessee last summer that was supposed to be great and when I walked in they had more dogs than bird stuff. Yep- at a bird show. There were two vendors that had bird toys for sale, it was unbelievable. Luckily there are two other shows run by local bird clubs and they are much better.

I am always amazed when I walk into a show- and I always leave having learned something new- it sounds like you did too!

when I go to a bird show I expect to see birds, I mean.... thats what I paid for right?
Sorry just had to vent a little, it really irks me to go to a bird show after about a hour and a half drive and the first thing I see is someone trying to push Chihuahuas onto me and my family, but usually it only takes a baby Hyacinth Macaw to grab my attention away from what I am doing heh heh........................LMB

[angelicarboreals]

Originally Posted by LoveMyBeak

when I go to a bird show I expect to see birds, I mean.... thats what I paid for right?
Sorry just had to vent a little, it really irks me to go to a bird show after about a hour and a half drive and the first thing I see is someone trying to push Chihuahuas onto me and my family, but usually it only takes a baby Hyacinth Macaw to grab my attention away from what I am doing heh heh........................LMB

I hear you!!! My boyfriend and I drove an hour to get to this show last year and when we walked in my jaw hit the ground. I could not believe it. There were playpens and playpens of puppies and when we walked by the gentleman was trying to get us to stop and look. If I wanted to see dogs- you guessed it- I would be at a dog fair.

[NoLimitssjca]

Well my favorite "surprise" were the chinchilla's! Yes, chinchilla's. I did find a cage I really liked. 48" wide 20" deep 24" tall with a divider $260. If I knew how big my space was I would have gotten it. There was a walkin avery that was killer! If only I had a place to put it.

[Flight]

Iam going to a bird fair this sunday, it will be my first one. I was wondering what kind of steps people take to protect their birds when they get home? Do you have a shower and what do you clean your new stuff with? Thanks for the info

[charlieandmom]

Last year I went to my first bird fair. They had puppies there to. The prices were decent. I should have gotten there earlier because all of the cages were sold. It was a really small fair compared to some I've heard people talk about. The seminars were interesting and educational. I ended up with a shower perch for my Amazon. I hope they have another this year.

[Willow]

The local bird club here hosts a show, and birds are not allowed. While it's disapointing not to see them all, it really is a good idea.

The ones in FL were huge with tons of birds, but I didn't see any other types of animals. If I walked in and saw puppies for sale, I would walk right back out again and let the hosting organization know darn well why.

I always did manage to get great deals of cages in FL, though.

[becca623]

The bird fair closest to where I live started allowing puppies and other animals for sale. Plus, visitors brought dogs, cats, bunnies. etc. They lost a lot of business that way. Many exhibitors stopped setting up there. Last year the bird fair got a new owner. He refuses to have any animals other than parrots there. He will tell people to leave if they bring a dog or something with them. He's really hoping to get it back to the way it used to be. I am too. There aren't too many exhibitors there anymore. Rarely, any that have cages and stands for sale. He's on the right track trying to get more people to come back but it's taking some convincing. Bird fairs depend a lot on the owner. They are very different. I love going to them. I like the prices, being around other bird lovers, and seeing a variety of birds that I otherwise would never see. It can be difficult to walk away from some of the birds, though; especially when I see plucked or handicapped birds. I have a serious soft spot for them. I like to take someone with me who isn't so soft to tell me NO,no, no!!!