Just wandering, what sort of prices do you pay for nice show birds?

 

I have difficulty in knowing what a reasonable price is for a budgie when i see one. I see some nice birds for $50 others for $200 and I cant see any major differences.

 

Thanks

 

Edited December 15, 200816 yr by KAZ

A bird is worth any amount of money you are willing to pay. BUT show breeders will sell their culled birds from $20 upwards. When starting out your average price might be in the $30-$50 bracket for something worth breeding with. The more show features it has the higher the price. Some breeders will look after you with regard to a good bird for a good price and some non club members / backyard breeders may well rip you off based on your lack of knowledge. Most breeders I know are reputable people and many give you back up service and help in pairing up your birds that you have bought from them. Most I have paid for a budgie to date is $235 for a hen and she laid 9 eggs first round and 12 the second. She was a bargain and her chicks are terrific.

You basically get what you pay for.

The best way to learn what to look for in a budgie and also how to buy the best birds for your budget is to join a budgerigar club. There you will learn much, you will change the way you view birds and you will buy smarter. You will also make friends and contacts that will help you get better birds.

 

Cheers Kaz

Edited November 12, 200816 yr by KAZ

A bird is worth any amount of money you are willing to pay. BUT show breeders will sell their culled birds from $20 upwards. When starting out your average price might be in the $30-$50 bracket for something worth breeding with. The more show features it has the higher the price. Some breeders will look after you with regard to a good bird for a good price and some non club members / backyard breeders may well rip you off based on your lack of knowledge. Most breeders I know are reputable people and many give you back up service and help in pairing up your birds that you have bought from them. Most I have paid for a budgie to date is $235 for a hen and she laid 9 eggs first round and 12 the second. She was a bargain and her chicks are terrific.

You basically get what you pay for.

The best way to learn what to look for in a budgie and also how to buy the best birds for your budget is to join a budgerigar club. There you will learn much, you will change the way you view birds and you will buy smarter. You will also make friends and contacts that will help you get better birds.

 

Cheers Kaz

 

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

IS the hen your referring to the same grey green opaline hen from the other thread? THats a really nice bird if i might say.

 

As a guide how much did the dom pied cock and the normal grey cock (last photo) cost you?

 

I stopped breeding budgies since we moved a few years ago. But im thinking of starting again. Ive only really bred a couple pairs, and they were okay quality, except a friend gave them to me free so i didnt really know what their fair prices were. The cock I had was good, the hen not as good but okay. Here they were 4 years ago.

 

Edited November 13, 200816 yr by extrusve

A bird is worth any amount of money you are willing to pay. BUT show breeders will sell their culled birds from $20 upwards. When starting out your average price might be in the $30-$50 bracket for something worth breeding with. The more show features it has the higher the price. Some breeders will look after you with regard to a good bird for a good price and some non club members / backyard breeders may well rip you off based on your lack of knowledge. Most breeders I know are reputable people and many give you back up service and help in pairing up your birds that you have bought from them. Most I have paid for a budgie to date is $235 for a hen and she laid 9 eggs first round and 12 the second. She was a bargain and her chicks are terrific.

You basically get what you pay for.

The best way to learn what to look for in a budgie and also how to buy the best birds for your budget is to join a budgerigar club. There you will learn much, you will change the way you view birds and you will buy smarter. You will also make friends and contacts that will help you get better birds.

 

Cheers Kaz

 

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

IS the hen your referring to the same grey green opaline hen from the other thread? THats a really nice bird if i might say.

 

As a guide how much did the dom pied cock and the normal grey cock (last photo) cost you?

 

I stopped breeding budgies since we moved a few years ago. But im thinking of starting again. Ive only really bred a couple pairs, and they were okay quality, except a friend gave them to me free so i didnt really know what their fair prices were. The cock I had was good, the hen not as good but okay. Here they were 4 years ago.

 

Yes Thats the hen .....

The pied and the grey cost me $150 amongst 19 birds for that money...so very little in fact...less than $9 a bird.

If you would like to introduce yourself to the forum and do some pictures...the MY FLOCK section is a great place to start. Happy to have you here

Its an interesting question... I know this is an older thread but for the showers amongst us what are you currently paying for a bird on average?

 

If you don't mind answering... :laughter:

It varies so much JB. You can buy average show types ( breeding stock ) for $30 ish upwards. If a bird has a little something special you pay more.

When I go and see the bloke in my club to buy my chrissy birds I'll let you know JB I think the trick is to get into a club and show all the older members that you're really keen but really poor, you tend to get a better deal that way :laughter:

:hap: I won't have to pretend very much :hap:

A very wise and experienced breeder told me not to pay more than $300 for a bird. As a Novice I think that is very good advice.

 

If you are making the transition from Pet Shop to Show Budgies, I suggest that you put a $50 cap per bird in your first year.

 

After you have had a chance to assess the results of your first year's breeding you should be able to identify "features" that your birds don't have- be that mask, spots, markings, melanine, blow (head), of course size, length, back scull, etc.

 

Then you need to go out and purchase those features.

 

This year, my second year as a Novice, I have purchased several birds over the $200 mark because I am setting myself up to transition into the Intermediate grade in 2010.

 

It is not uncommon for Open Breeders to pay several thousands for birds at Auction.

Hi there, I pay between $15 and $25 a bird, We have bought one for $50 and he is a real nice Bird but didn't through anything because he was a different line. I sold him for $15 dollars

 

I mainly buy from the one breeder but if I do buy from others I make sure the birds have the same blood line going unless I want to out cross or start a new line up which I have a couple going.

 

The way I look at it if you pay big money for a bird it could die tomorrow you never know.

If I had the money I would maybe pay a bit more for something that will improve my stud.

Just wandering, what sort of prices dod you pay for nice show birds?

 

I have difficulty in knowing what a reasonable price is for a budgie when i see one. I see some nice birds for $50 others for $200 and I cant see any major differences.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

Can I clarify something first. You don't buy show birds as they cost thousands of dollars. You buy stock birds. Birds that breed show birds.

 

I have paid up to $300au for a stock bird which has done me well. But the best start was a cock bird for $80 and three hens for $30 each. I won Champion Young Bird of show with one of the chicks.

 

I see a lot of stock birds on the forum. Birds that look good but have some faults. If you put two very good birds togeather that have different faults you could breed a bird that has none. This is your show bird.

Just wandering, what sort of prices dod you pay for nice show birds?

 

I have difficulty in knowing what a reasonable price is for a budgie when i see one. I see some nice birds for $50 others for $200 and I cant see any major differences.

 

Thanks

 

:question:

 

 

 

Can I clarify something first. You don't buy show birds as they cost thousands of dollars. You buy stock birds. Birds that breed show birds.

 

I have paid up to $300au for a stock bird which has done me well. But the best start was a cock bird for $80 and three hens for $30 each. I won Champion Young Bird of show with one of the chicks.

 

I see a lot of stock birds on the forum. Birds that look good but have some faults. If you put two very good birds togeather that have different faults you could breed a bird that has none. This is your show bird.

 

Well said Daz. :yes:

Just wandering, what sort of prices dod you pay for nice show birds?

 

I have difficulty in knowing what a reasonable price is for a budgie when i see one. I see some nice birds for $50 others for $200 and I cant see any major differences.

 

Thanks

 

:budgiedance:

 

 

 

Can I clarify something first. You don't buy show birds as they cost thousands of dollars. You buy stock birds. Birds that breed show birds.

 

I have paid up to $300au for a stock bird which has done me well. But the best start was a cock bird for $80 and three hens for $30 each. I won Champion Young Bird of show with one of the chicks.

 

I see a lot of stock birds on the forum. Birds that look good but have some faults. If you put two very good birds togeather that have different faults you could breed a bird that has none. This is your show bird.

 

Well said Daz.

 

 

daz if you have nice wings but small spots on a bird and a bird that has big spots yet lower drop on the wing could you get a good rezult or better to not breed the lower droped wing bird i ask as i been told breed birds with tight wings to birds with looser wings to perfect the error is that **** or not?

That is true, if you have a bird with loose wings put it with a bird with nice tight wings and it will improve the wing carrage.

But if you have a bird that has long wings which is a bad fault you should cull that bird.

That is true, if you have a bird with loose wings put it with a bird with nice tight wings and it will improve the wing carrage.

But if you have a bird that has long wings which is a bad fault you should cull that bird.

 

 

I have been to some breeders in Sydney who have won Nationals, and because im only starting out they have helped me out with some cracker of birds.

Depending on the breeder i have paid $50 - $150 a pair.

they ask you what you are wanting to achieve, and if you are joining there club they shall help you out.

I saw a champion breeder the other day and got the best birds i have ever seen. THe quality this bloke has was unbelievable. i only paid $50 a pair as he was helping me out. he doesnt sell any of his birds usually unless they are at auction.

 

Im going to be putting all of my birds down this week, so i shall take pics of them when pairing them up.

look forward to seeing them

That is true, if you have a bird with loose wings put it with a bird with nice tight wings and it will improve the wing carrage.

But if you have a bird that has long wings which is a bad fault you should cull that bird.

 

 

I have been to some breeders in Sydney who have won Nationals, and because im only starting out they have helped me out with some cracker of birds.

Depending on the breeder i have paid $50 - $150 a pair.

they ask you what you are wanting to achieve, and if you are joining there club they shall help you out.

I saw a champion breeder the other day and got the best birds i have ever seen. THe quality this bloke has was unbelievable. i only paid $50 a pair as he was helping me out. he doesnt sell any of his birds usually unless they are at auction.

 

Im going to be putting all of my birds down this week, so i shall take pics of them when pairing them up.

 

Sound good have you got some pics of those birds you just bought, can you show us and make us drool

Edited December 20, 200816 yr by splat

slightly Arnt they already paired up or are you pairing up with some of your birds? might wanna think about quarantine if they are breeding with your birds...

slightly Arnt they already paired up or are you pairing up with some of your birds? might wanna think about quarantine if they are breeding with your birds...

 

 

No the birds that i got shall be going down as how i bought them. they arent paired up, but i bought them as pairs. they gave me cocks and hens that worked to achieve what im wanting to achieve.

 

im wanting to breed dominant pieds. shall have 40 pairs. every pair shall have a dominant pied basically. I have a few pairs of normals though to keep up the quality of my normals.

 

if you look under my flock there is a picture of a few of my birds. my new birds are alot better than these.

daz if you have nice wings but small spots on a bird and a bird that has big spots yet lower drop on the wing could you get a good rezult or better to not breed the lower droped wing bird i ask as i been told breed birds with tight wings to birds with looser wings to perfect the error is that **** or not?

 

 

I wouldn't buy a bird with a bad fault to start with. A slight fault is easier to over look.

I agree with Daz . I would not buy some one elses cull that have bad traits because your just asking for trouble. I cull anything with loose wings, long flights mind you I have only ever bred one long flight bird and it and the parents all went. It mind sound harsh but I have no room for bad faults in my aviary.

You can see by my birds that I am improving all the time because anything bad goes.

Edited December 21, 200816 yr by splat

I agree with Daz . I would not buy some one elses cull that have bad traits because your just asking for trouble. I cull anything with loose wings, long flights mind you I have only ever bred one long flight bird and it and the parents all went. It mind sound harsh but I have no room for bad faults in my aviary.

You can see by my birds that I am improving all the time because anything bad goes.

 

But how do you by a bird without faults? If it has no faults why would the breeder be selling?? Other than the obvious, it doesn't breed well...

I mean like a long flights, two narrow in the head like pet shop birds, real short bib no spots when they should have spots, but of coarse all these faults can be fixed except for long flights but it takes for ever. But some of the above I will buy from the breeder where I BUY MY BIRDS because I know whats in the line for example that hen I won with the other day her mother is a 100% of the line I am working on and you wouldn't give a dime for her she is as plan as and small but knowing her background I put her with a bird of the same line which has been outcrossed and then put back to the same line and look what I got.

There was another one that dies and she was even better and the other sister is small and nothing special yet.

 

The father I bought from a pet shop and it was from my breeder and he gave me the pedigree and he is from line line I am working on.

You see thses breeders breed between 300 and 300 birds each year and they can't keep them all so he kepps the best 2 out of each nest and the rest go.

So you can buy good birds just have to be there at the right time.

Ahh okay. So would you rather pick a good bird that you don't know the lineage of or an average bird from a good line?

As long as I know what the background is a average one will do the job for me but you must remember I have a certain line going. BUT i would never buy a bird with bad faults I wouldn't how good it looked.

Edited December 21, 200816 yr by splat