As the title suggests, I'm having two weeks in South Aust. working and holiday, yesterday I decided to drive from Clare to Adelaide and check out the SA show/auction. I had a good day as my friend Ian Hunter was judging and another friend Stephen Elliot won the major awards. What struck me most were the differences between SA and Victoria. IN Vic we have seed on the floor of all cages, in SA they had a 1/2 round dish of seed, whilst I'm sure it saves a lot of seed and some cleaning up, I think it was a distraction for many birds played in the dish and didn't show well. The best birds were really good, but sadly I thought the quality dropped off very quickly. I asked a couple of people if the senior breeders were helping them, but was told that rarely happens in SA. I checked out the auction birds, but didn't buy any, I thought they lacked overall size, but there were some which would help beginners. Anyway it was a good show with over 400 birds and plenty of people, don't know what they'll do next year if the number of entries increases as the hall appeared full. Just my thoughts, thanks to the SA members who made me welcome. chees Clearwin

The thing you mentioned about senior breeders helping the juniors is a true and sad reflection on the state of the hobby! While it obviously doesnt include ALL top breeders, a LOT only help out breeders whose birds are of a similar quality or possess a feature they like - swapping birds or buying out others while only selling their poor birds at auction or to new breeders.

 

I have been visiting a lot of top breeders here and the answer is all the same 'cant help you out with birds'. Cant help me out when you have 300 birds? Righto...

 

Edit: I have also been visiting the shows every week here in New Zealand - and the difference between the novice birds and the champion birds is appalling. The novice birds are all birds I would cull from my aviary and im not even showing my birds this year (sold most of them in preparation for what i was doing above - looking for a top breeder to set me up with a good 4-6 birds to start a line). It frustrates me no end that so few are willing to help out someone like me who has tried so hard to research and get good husbandry skills but now cannot find good birds.

Edited June 20, 201014 yr by Dean_NZ

well at first when i entered hobby i was getting no help with good birds and spent 600 on 5 **** (compaired to what others had ) birds

so i flew some in from wa

with help of this forum

when i did that people wernt very imprest i was told so i said if i cant get help ill help myself

i was prepaired to bring birds in when ever needed

just happens im very lucky and have since been given loads of great help and advice

took a while 1 whole year and a few not half bad birds to take to club showing

 

my birds have all been under 20 or 50 at most since these first 6 brought i told myself never again was i paying more than fifty till i can breed a better quality bird myself and understand bird s features and pairings

i was going to go to our clubs auction but have decided not to

to just stay home what i dont see i cant want then breed what i have and hunt down a few birds at latter date even if it means bringing them in from wa again

as honestly i can wait im in no rush the longer it takes to get good birds the more i can learn with my best of the best of the worst you can get

plus the few gifted birds im very very grateful for to get me off the ground that in my veiw are quiet nice and will be very useful to me

 

all i can say is stick it out its hard here also but i guess our older breeders relize the hobby will diminish if they dont help and teach us i for one apreshiate everyone whoms helped me out her in vic and out of state and over seas

Edited June 20, 201014 yr by GenericBlue

Hi Clearwing,

I was at the auction also i wish i had know you were there as i would have liked to meet you ,never mind maybe next time .

 

I was outbid on every bird that i liked but i went to the auction with no intention of bidding i was just going to observe and record prices hence my lack of funds in the purse on the day

 

However i was lucky enough to introduce myself to Stephen Elliott and have now made contact with him to hopefully purchase some nice birds.

 

Cheers Libby

Hi Libby66, yes maybe we will cat ch up another time I'm in SA one week every month and look forward to meeting breeders when I'm here. I enjoyed the show, two other differences I noticed were in Victoria we give a Diploma for the best young bird at the show, this is concidered the major award, you don't do that in SA. We also have four classifications for breeders, Beginner, Intermeadiate, Open and Champion, you do not have a Champion class. cheers Clearwing

So do they get points. Is there something that replaces the Diploma. I think all states should be the same, a standard point system and rewards system, what do others think.

So do they get points. Is there something that replaces the Diploma. I think all states should be the same, a standard point system and rewards system, what do others think.

I also think all states should have the same systems in place, but whose system will be chosen to adopt ?

OURS!!!!!!! Victoria Victoria leads in all else so we should lead in this too Don't ya think

The thing you mentioned about senior breeders helping the juniors is a true and sad reflection on the state of the hobby! While it obviously doesnt include ALL top breeders, a LOT only help out breeders whose birds are of a similar quality or possess a feature they like - swapping birds or buying out others while only selling their poor birds at auction or to new breeders.

 

I have been visiting a lot of top breeders here and the answer is all the same 'cant help you out with birds'. Cant help me out when you have 300 birds? Righto...

 

Edit: I have also been visiting the shows every week here in New Zealand - and the difference between the novice birds and the champion birds is appalling. The novice birds are all birds I would cull from my aviary and im not even showing my birds this year (sold most of them in preparation for what i was doing above - looking for a top breeder to set me up with a good 4-6 birds to start a line). It frustrates me no end that so few are willing to help out someone like me who has tried so hard to research and get good husbandry skills but now cannot find good birds.

 

This is what I'm faced with every time I try and get some nice birds from breeders and frankly it stinks!

I am always willing to pay more for the better birds but I have been told that they wont sell them to me because they can get more for them at auctions.

How can someone not help you out when your standing there with your 9 and 11 year old boys who want to get into the hobby and need a hand with buying some good birds.

I have offered breeders as much as $150 for a good bird and I get the same response the only ones you can buy are those @#$%^ ones in that cage.

We have breeders up here who will not sell there good birds locally in stead they send them interstate to the auctions. Why not help your state win the Nationals with selling them locally?

This is just my experience with hobby so far and do I hope it gets better. I must say there are some really nice people in the hobby out there who are battlers just like us and who have been a great help to me.

I have resorted to buying culled birds from the markets.

 

Geoff

This is what I'm faced with every time I try and get some nice birds from breeders and frankly it stinks!

I am always willing to pay more for the better birds but I have been told that they wont sell them to me because they can get more for them at auctions.

How can someone not help you out when your standing there with your 9 and 11 year old boys who want to get into the hobby and need a hand with buying some good birds.

I have offered breeders as much as $150 for a good bird and I get the same response the only ones you can buy are those @#$%^ ones in that cage.

We have breeders up here who will not sell there good birds locally in stead they send them interstate to the auctions. Why not help your state win the Nationals with selling them locally?

This is just my experience with hobby so far and do I hope it gets better. I must say there are some really nice people in the hobby out there who are battlers just like us and who have been a great help to me.

I have resorted to buying culled birds from the markets.

 

Geoff

 

 

I so agree with what you are saying.

This issue is AUSTRALIA WIDE !!!!!!

I have had to resort to buying my outcrosses and ongoing breeding stock from interstate auctions and interstate breeders for quite some time now. Breeders that once sold me birds now wont as my birds begin to beat these open breeders on the show bench. Even waving a huge amount of cash ( $500 upwards ) under their noses will not let you get one good bird and you get shown the sh*tty cull cage......the "dregs". And these are the very breeders who criticise you when you buy from interstate. All I get offered are birds with issues, hens who scalp their chicks, birds with cysts, feather issues, health issues, lame birds etc. I have taken to taking photos of my birds with me on the camera to show them why I dont need those problems and why I need just one good bird, one outcross etc.

At National selections we wonder why we are low in numbers of birds offered to be selected. A great many breeders have fantastic birds and arent even putting them up for selections anymore too. There is a general feeling of apathy and lack of motivation. There is grumbling behind scenes and in the ranks. There is far too many saying they have been ripped of or sold dodgy or sick birds by the upper levels of breeders who should know better.

It seems to be that every single one of us us GOING IT ALONE with little to no support and little to no UNITY as a group. No wonder so many fall by the wayside and give up.

There seems to be less accountability for rubbish birds sold as "good birds" to the newbies. I am hearing all the time of birds even sold for $1000 plus that fall off the perch in far too short a time and no offer of a replacement bird. What happened to conscience and good faith and doing the right thing by others.

And then of course our best birds are going interstate to fill auctions......the mighty dollar is a drawcard for that. What gets left behind in the state for others to buy and work with ? Not a lot considering the breeder wont sell to you once you show you know what you are doing with your birds and breeding and have gone up a level. If they arent meeting the demand for interstate auctions because of the invitations to submit birds, they are sending them away to be sold so that local breeders cant get a hold of them and do something good with the bird. A fear of someone beating you on the bench with your own bloodlines that someone may have improved by the right outcross or good pairings.

I have heard from TOP breeders here that no other breeder will sell them a bird too. Even they feel it................some have walked off laughing when others have asked to buy a bird.

 

All I can say is, if this continues, with us all having to go it alone with no community spirit of assistance and helping fellow club members move forward, there will be no progression and things will die a death, members will leave the hobby disheartened and the only ones doing it and well will be the ones with $$$$$$$$$$$$$'s.

Edited June 21, 201014 yr by KAZ

This is what I'm faced with every time I try and get some nice birds from breeders and frankly it stinks!

I am always willing to pay more for the better birds but I have been told that they wont sell them to me because they can get more for them at auctions.

How can someone not help you out when your standing there with your 9 and 11 year old boys who want to get into the hobby and need a hand with buying some good birds.

I have offered breeders as much as $150 for a good bird and I get the same response the only ones you can buy are those @#$%^ ones in that cage.

We have breeders up here who will not sell there good birds locally in stead they send them interstate to the auctions. Why not help your state win the Nationals with selling them locally?

This is just my experience with hobby so far and do I hope it gets better. I must say there are some really nice people in the hobby out there who are battlers just like us and who have been a great help to me.

I have resorted to buying culled birds from the markets.

 

Geoff

 

 

I so agree with what you are saying.

This issue is AUSTRALIA WIDE !!!!!!

I have had to resort to buying my outcrosses and ongoing breeding stock from interstate auctions and interstate breeders for quite some time now. Breeders that once sold me birds now wont as my birds begin to beat these open breeders on the show bench. Even waving a huge amount of cash ( $500 upwards ) under their noses will not let you get one good bird and you get shown the sh*tty cull cage......the "dregs". And these are the very breeders who criticise you when you buy from interstate. All I get offered are birds with issues, hens who scalp their chicks, birds with cysts, feather issues, health issues, lame birds etc. I have taken to taking photos of my birds with me on the camera to show them why I dont need those problems and why I need just one good bird, one outcross etc.

At National selections we wonder why we are low in numbers of birds offered to be selected. A great many breeders have fantastic birds and arent even putting them up for selections anymore too. There is a general feeling of apathy and lack of motivation. There is grumbling behind scenes and in the ranks. There is far too many saying they have been ripped of or sold dodgy or sick birds by the upper levels of breeders who should know better.

It seems to be that every single one of us us GOING IT ALONE with little to no support and little to no UNITY as a group. No wonder so many fall by the wayside and give up.

There seems to be less accountability for rubbish birds sold as "good birds" to the newbies. I am hearing all the time of birds even sold for $1000 plus that fall off the perch in far too short a time and no offer of a replacement bird. What happened to conscience and good faith and doing the right thing by others.

And then of course our best birds are going interstate to fill auctions......the mighty dollar is a drawcard for that. What gets left behind in the state for others to buy and work with ? Not a lot considering the breeder wont sell to you once you show you know what you are doing with your birds and breeding and have gone up a level. If they arent meeting the demand for interstate auctions because of the invitations to submit birds, they are sending them away to be sold so that local breeders cant get a hold of them and do something good with the bird. A fear of someone beating you on the bench with your own bloodlines that someone may have improved by the right outcross or good pairings.

I have heard from TOP breeders here that no other breeder will sell them a bird too. Even they feel it................some have walked off laughing when others have asked to buy a bird.

 

All I can say is, if this continues, with us all having to go it alone with no community spirit of assistance and helping fellow club members move forward, there will be no progression and things will die a death, members will leave the hobby disheartened and the only ones doing it and well will be the ones with $$$$$$$$$$$$$'s.

 

this is majority rule i know

however i think hear in vic we to have many that will help and many that hinder

its really just a judgment of who you meet and whom you trust

as i said i have for one been lucky and have met some lovely helpful people

ive met my fair share of hard nosed cold unhelpful people also along with the ill help you GO BACKWARDS type

 

myself im happy to just help anyone i can

i introduce myself to everyone i meet big named small named and weather they help me or not is their decision

but i take in all they say and ponder it as sometimes people help you maybe its not with birds but knowledge

I think one thing that helps in Victoria is the competition between our 18-20 clubs, all clubs want to improve there standing, so senior members will help club members in order to help their club. But a warning to beginners ALL senior breeders have helped out beginners in the past just to find their birds in a pet shop months later. As a beginner get involved in your club, make it known your in it for the long haul, then seek to get assistance and birds from one senior member do not approach everyone, put your faith in just one breeder and your more likely to get help. Cheers Clearwing

I think one thing that helps in Victoria is the competition between our 18-20 clubs, all clubs want to improve there standing, so senior members will help club members in order to help their club. But a warning to beginners ALL senior breeders have helped out beginners in the past just to find their birds in a pet shop months later. As a beginner get involved in your club, make it known your in it for the long haul, then seek to get assistance and birds from one senior member do not approach everyone, put your faith in just one breeder and your more likely to get help. Cheers Clearwing

good advice clearwing

yes people forget about the breeders that try and help and get burnt

I think one thing that helps in Victoria is the competition between our 18-20 clubs, all clubs want to improve there standing, so senior members will help club members in order to help their club. But a warning to beginners ALL senior breeders have helped out beginners in the past just to find their birds in a pet shop months later. As a beginner get involved in your club, make it known your in it for the long haul, then seek to get assistance and birds from one senior member do not approach everyone, put your faith in just one breeder and your more likely to get help. Cheers Clearwing

Thank you for the good advice. My problem is finding a club that will have me. okay i already live over an hour from the nearest club, NO NEW MEMBERS!! okay second nearest doesn't even exist anymore. So the club that does welcome new members is about 4 hours away. Maybe i should quit while i'm ahead.

Name and shame and I would let the BCV know about this club. As they are trying to get more people interested in the hobby and you have a club that won't take new members, that is awfull.

I think one thing that helps in Victoria is the competition between our 18-20 clubs, all clubs want to improve there standing, so senior members will help club members in order to help their club. But a warning to beginners ALL senior breeders have helped out beginners in the past just to find their birds in a pet shop months later. As a beginner get involved in your club, make it known your in it for the long haul, then seek to get assistance and birds from one senior member do not approach everyone, put your faith in just one breeder and your more likely to get help. Cheers Clearwing

Thank you for the good advice. My problem is finding a club that will have me. okay i already live over an hour from the nearest club, NO NEW MEMBERS!! okay second nearest doesn't even exist anymore. So the club that does welcome new members is about 4 hours away. Maybe i should quit while i'm ahead.

 

w t f nonew members what club is that thats the stupidest thing i have heard

i do know some clubs are invertation only but thats different

even though i think that also sucks

I had to submit my club application form to the club board, and they then vote you in. Which is fine by me

It does help if you already know people in the club.

 

Why wont a club have you? They must be a bunch of !@#$% to not give you a go and an helping hand to get started.

Rachelm don't give up as I'm also a distance away from my club and I get updated through email as I can't get to many meetings.

Most clubs are the same, they vote you in and from my experience that is mainly to get trouble makers out. I am not talking budgie club, I am talking clubs in general.

Like when I was in this rock'n'roll club we had to vote possiable new members yes or no. One occasion we did a no because this particular person was out to breakup marriages and was well known for it. The club didn't want any trouble so we said no.

That's bad. I thought the clubs like new members. Maybe you could go to some shows or auctions. You most likely meet the same people at these events every time and they will start talking to you...that's what happened to me and I got invited to a club meeting as I mentioned I wanted to join one.

Edited June 22, 201014 yr by lealotta

Thank you for the good advice. My problem is finding a club that will have me. okay i already live over an hour from the nearest club, NO NEW MEMBERS!! okay second nearest doesn't even exist anymore. So the club that does welcome new members is about 4 hours away. Maybe i should quit while i'm ahead.

No new members So did their little meeting room run out of chairs

Name and shame and I would let the BCV know about this club. As they are trying to get more people interested in the hobby and you have a club that won't take new members, that is awfull.

Sorry, I may have over exaggerated and I don't want to cause trouble. I rang someone that has a lot to do with BCV (judge). He said I'd have no luck joining 'this club'.

I had to submit my club application form to the club board, and they then vote you in. Which is fine by me smile.gif

It does help if you already know people in the club.

 

Why wont a club have you? They must be a bunch of !@#$% to not give you a go and an helping hand to get started.

Rachelm don't give up as I'm also a distance away from my club and I get updated through email as I can't get to many meetings

Thank you for your encouragement, it's just a little disheartening.

That's bad. I thought the clubs like new members. Maybe you could go to some shows or auctions. You most likely meet the same people at these events every time and they will start talking to you...that's what happened to me and I got invited to a club meeting as I mentioned I wanted to join one.

Thats a very good idea

No new members ohmy.gif So did their little meeting room run out of chairs rofl.gif

Name and shame and I would let the BCV know about this club. As they are trying to get more people interested in the hobby and you have a club that won't take new members, that is awfull.

Sorry, I may have over exaggerated and I don't want to cause trouble. I rang someone that has a lot to do with BCV (judge). He said I'd have no luck joining 'this club'.

I had to submit my club application form to the club board, and they then vote you in. Which is fine by me smile.gif

It does help if you already know people in the club.

 

Why wont a club have you? They must be a bunch of !@#$% to not give you a go and an helping hand to get started.

Rachelm don't give up as I'm also a distance away from my club and I get updated through email as I can't get to many meetings

Thank you for your encouragement, it's just a little disheartening.

That's bad. I thought the clubs like new members. Maybe you could go to some shows or auctions. You most likely meet the same people at these events every time and they will start talking to you...that's what happened to me and I got invited to a club meeting as I mentioned I wanted to join one.

Thats a very good idea

No new members ohmy.gif So did their little meeting room run out of chairs rofl.gif

no luck as in they were not going to be very good help or no luck as in they dont want you theirs a diffrence

Hi GB, No luck as in, don't bother asking because they don't want you. Maybe they only want experienced breeders?

Why can't there be a club on the mornington peninsula? Please!

Hi GB, No luck as in, don't bother asking because they don't want you. Maybe they only want experienced breeders?

Why can't there be a club on the mornington peninsula? Please!

are you in vic ???

and having this much trouble

let me look into it for you do you drive ??

theirs a few choices your way

and personally if they dont want you thats their total lose mate :} you see

 

if was nepean they have good reasons though although i dont know them lol

Edited June 22, 201014 yr by GenericBlue

Hi GB, No luck as in, don't bother asking because they don't want you. Maybe they only want experienced breeders?

Why can't there be a club on the mornington peninsula? Please!

are you in vic ???

and having this much trouble

let me look into it for you do you drive ??

theirs a few choices your way

and personally if they dont want you thats their total lose mate :} you see

Yes i'm in Vic and i do drive. Thank you GB