cage mates?

[birdguy]

Hey Y'all...

It's been forever since I"ve been on, and all is good, but I"m thinking about exchanging some of my flock out for new, rarer, harder to breed birds.

Atm, I have an aviary, not sure on exact dimensions, but I believe that the dimensions are 36 inches wide, 24 inches deep, and 5 feet tall. Currently, I have 6 zebra finches, a diamond dove, and a parakeet. I am hoping to trade in 4 finches, so I"ll have a single pair of zebras, and a parakeet. The keet has to stay because it's my sisters, and she bought it with her own money, blah blah blah....What species would be good for me? Remember, they have to be compatable with zebras and a single keet...I really like pintailed whydahs(one male, 2+ females) Would they be okay? what are my other options?

Thanks, Andrew

[huntress]

TRADE IN?? You expect us to answer that? You lost me at the "trade in" part. So when you tire of the new ones your gonna "trade in" those too??

[birdguy]

Yes, I actually expect you to answer that. Believe me, there is a much better way to say what you ment to say than the way you said it. The only people that I would expect to answer that the way you did, would be young people. And yes, I just called you immiture. And if you keep talking the way you are, others are going to believe it too. I really like the respect I'm getting here. You just don't know the whole story, and I wasn't able to type it because I was in school LEARNING HOW TO BE AN ADULT AND HANDLE THINGS RESPONSIBLY, and didn't have time to finish typing the whole thing. That's right, I can be a bitch too.

Anywho...

I have too many birds(hard to believe, I know, and it kills me to say it). I can't (for lack of better words) get rid of my lovebird. She's already been rehomed once, and it almost killed her. She's like a little person. She even has more personality than some people I know. My parakeet(actually my sisters, but I take care of it) I can't rehome either. It's my sisters, and it's her only pet(her gerbil just died and she doesn't think it's fair for me to have 5 fishtanks and all the birds I have along with the turtles and her to have no pets). So, that leaves the dove and the finches. I'll be keeping a pair of finches, my Aunt wants a pair of my finches, and I can sell the other pair. I know that the finches my aunt wants will be going to a good home. I only live a mile from her so it won't be that hard to help take care of them. The other pair I can sell to the pet store I work at. I sell all my baby zebras there as is, and since I work there, I can be sure that they will go to a good home.

Now, you are probably wondering how I may be downsizing my flock if I"m getting more birds after I rehome the others. Easy, I rehome 4 finches, I only purchase 2 more(unless I go with whydahs, in which case I'll be getting 3 more), thus, downsizing my flock.

I'm only 16, and am currently working 2 jobs in the winter, 3 in the summer, ON TOP OF SCHOOL. I'm only home 2 nights a week, if I'm lucky, and I'm gone all day Saturday and Sunday working. And on top of all that, I have school. Next year I"ll be a senior in highschool, and the year after that, it's college time. My parents aren't paying for college. Which is why I work so much, so that I'll have enough money to go to college so that I can get a good job in a good paying field. I just don't have time for all my pets. It was a mistake of mine in the first place to get so many, and now I'm paying for it.

[jenseits]

Birdguy, it sounds like you've got a lot going on in your life with school and several jobs. It honestly sounds like you don't really have the time to devote to any pet right now if you are "only home 2 nights a week". And once you go to college, it's going to be even worse.

Your explanation for how you work really hard doesn't really address the concerns that huntress raised and others will too (forum commandment 1: though shalt know thy audience -- no one here is going to be receptive to anyone "trading in" members of their flock).

It honestly sounds like it would be best for you and your birds if you rehomed them, and then waited until your life was more stable/less hectic. You'll be doing the right thing by giving up the birds you don't have time for, but getting other birds to replace them isn't going to solve any of the difficulties you're having now.

[huntress]

That's right, I can be a ***** too.


He also needs to watch the language and the suggestion of name calling Thank you.
Oh and to get one thing clear? I am old enough to be your mother. Possibly your grandmother.

[jenseits]

Huntress, it's funny that you say that because I was writing my response (taking deep breaths) I was thinking "you know, it's not like I'm old enough to be this kid's mom, but I'm going to sound like... wait a minute, OMG, I AM old enough to be his mom... technically/biologically speaking. When did that happen?

[huntress]

ROTFL, happens fast doesnt it! About the grandma part....Not quite yet *whew*. But I could hear myself calling him a young whippersnapper!!LOL.

[Johno]

I am only fairly new here and dont come here all that often but im gonna stick my neck out here. I get so tired of people (well actually its only ever been one person) trying to tell me what I should and shouldnt do with my birds. I really dont see the problem with selling them to honest buyers. Its better than them sitting in a pet shop for months on end getting fed a bit of seed and water. And even pet shops are waking up and starting to treat the birds with a lot more care and respect ive noticed over the last few years. What about all the guys out there who breed them for a living? Are they all bad for selling all their babies or for selling one of a pair that dont pair up?

I think its Birdguy's business what he does with his birds, after all for a lot of us it is a hobby and if he is wanting a new challenge he should be able to do so. Im sure his current flock will go to a good home. I think some people just have far too much time on their hands. Its a good thing that you guys care so much about your birds, it really is, but telling an honest bird person he cant sell his flock to start a new one is a bit rich. How many times have you seen breeders have to clear out their aviary and start again? It happens for a lot of good reasons.

[NCSUBird]

I'm really not trying to be argumentative, but....

What is the difference between selling baby birds and selling young adults? I sense that the issue here is that they're being traded in as an "uprade," but if they were simply being sold - would it be as much of an issue?

ETA: I don't recommend housing finches with parakeets/budgies in the first place.

[Johno]

Yes I agree, its just that someone once had a go at me because i couldnt find the right pairs due to lots of different circumstances and had to keep buying and selling until i got the right ones.

Admittedly i get itchy feet with my finches too and will sometimes sell a pair to try a harder to breed or more exotic pair, but i just do it on a smaller scale. Not in one big go like birdguy. But i still dont see what the problem is if he wants to do that. "Trading them in" just makes it sound bad. Your building a straw man and making him out to be somthing he's not. It comes down to space too. Not everyone has the space to keep all of their birds and at the same time add new birds and keep it interesting.

Wouldnt you rather he remain passionate about his birds and sell the ones hes got to someone who will take even better care of them while he gets some new ones that he will like better and most likely treat even better?