Various questions

[Freespin]

I have been making a lot of threads lately so I decided to just make a thread where i can post all of my quick questions!

Firstly i would like to say... Do you have ANY idea how lucky you Americans are! I had a wee looksy on craigslist the other day and the price of large parrots!!!! I saw Macaws listed for $450!! Over here you are looking at starting price of $6000 (if you're lucky) though more commonly $7000+!!! Also our Amazons go for no less that $5000 and they are few and far between.

Anyway. First question. Pricing!
You can get hand raised grey for $2500. Recently there has been a grey listed online for $6000!! Because the owner has "spent so much time training him and he is so special". Is this common and is anyone stupid enough to fall for this?? It blows my mind!! Surely anyone who has had anything to do with birds knows no matter how much training one person can do with a bird that can go out the window and be undone very quickly in the wrong hands! There was also an Eckie advertised on the same site for $4800 when you can get a hand raised one for $1800-$3000 depending if you buy from a breeder or pet shop. He was priced so high for the same reason. He has been advertised for over a year!!! Before i got Nelson my partner contacted the owner and asked about reducing the price and he wouldn't budge! He came with nothing!

Next. Rescue pricing.
Up until recently i have only ever seen teils and budgies advertised at rescues but lately a Sulphur Crested came up. He was rather over priced i thought. I kind of had the idea in my head that rescue birds would be a cheaper way to go. Is this common?

Will add a few more later =D

 

[KeroRocks]

In America Macaws and Amazons are cheaper, in Australia Cockatoos are really cheap...all depends on where you live. In Mexico amazons are super cheap.

I would never pay more for a rescue bird than I could get a handfed baby. Here the rescues tend to be very inexpensive but some come with baggage of improper handling.

 

[Freespin]

What would you pay for toos in the states?

 

[Birdman666]

Well the most expensive are Black Palm Toos, which, if you can even find them, and there is usually a long waiting list, go anywhere from $17,000 to 22,000 for the small ones and $26,000-28,000 for the larger species.

Major Mitchell's toos are around $4,500.

M2's are probably around $2,500-$3,000. or so.

U2s are around $1,500 to 1,800. or so.

The smaller toos are around $1,000 or so.

No one in his right mind falls for the, but I spent so much time training him routine, unless the bird was a performing bird that did professional shows and you were making money on. THOSE go for a pretty penny, and the market for them is limited. Other than that, you'd have to be an idiot.

Rescues? I never paid for any of mine. People have been giving me birds for years. I have turned away more than I have taken in.

Try FREE macaw... (It bites! Well, duh! Look at how poorly you trained it.)

I paid $1100 for my red front. Every other macaw I have ever owned has been FREE. In fact, on rescue calls, on more than one occasion I was told to "get THIS THING outta my house." I kept two of them. Rehabbed and rehomed the others.

Higher prices, at least mean people take care of them.

You don't see many neglected Hyacinths or Black Palms.

CAGS here are somewhere around $800 to $1500. depending on whether it is a CAG or a TAG.

And the rescues are overflowing. So, that is a good resource if you are connected... and have the ability to retrain and provide the proper home for what is often a neglected or abused bird...

 

[Birdman666]

In America Macaws and Amazons are cheaper, in Australia Cockatoos are really cheap...all depends on where you live. In Mexico amazons are super cheap.

I would never pay more for a rescue bird than I could get a handfed baby. Here the rescues tend to be very inexpensive but some come with baggage of improper handling.

In Mexico, they rob the wild nests. They don't breed them. Quite a difference in "pet quality."

 

[Freespin]

Thanks! The toos sound pretty similar in price as over here on regards to the smaller ones. M and u2 are very rare over here and the price reflects that. Palms. Well we dont have them =( or Hyacinths.

I can't imagine anyone would be stupid enough to pay such money for the two I mentioned (reflected in the fact the eckie is still not sold!).

And so jealous about the macs! Makes me want to just pack up and head on over!

 

[Birdman666]

Well, NEW ZEALAND is still on my bucket list of places I have to go before I die...

 

[Freespin]

Well, NEW ZEALAND is still on my bucket list of places I have to go before I die...

Well if you wouldn't mind smuggling a parrot or two over for me when you come it would be much appreciated =)

 

[Birdman666]

I can see that now...

Is that a macaw in your pants or are you just happy to see me?!

What's the penalty for parrot smuggling in New Zealand?!

Can you legally import one?

 

[Freespin]

You can't import them, not sure on penalties but surely it can't be too bad... Yea...You should be fine. I'm planning a career in customs so maybe just wait till I sort that out and I can pull some strings. That should work =D

 

[Birdman666]

Well, there you go.

I'm terribly sorry, but I'm going to have to confiscate that bird.

 

[Birdman666]

I just looked it up. No pet birds may be brought from the US to NZ... EVER!

They don't want non-native species apparently.

 

[Freespin]

Yea that's why we smuggle them!

 

[Birdman666]

"If we look at the 1993 Price Conspiracy- which smuggled birds into New Zealand from Australia, there were 6 conspirators. Three were unemployed, one was a sickness beneficiary, one was self-employed and one was an agriculturalist. The conspiracy moved Australian parrots worth hundreds of thousands of dollars into New Zealand in a small aircraft. Only one individual was fined ($5000) and the rest received jail terms of 6-12 months. The reason was simple- the conspirators didn’t have the wealth to fine to be a proper deterrent."

BUT SEE, HERE WE HAVE A DOUBLE WHAMMY, BECAUSE FIRST YOU'D HAVE TO SMUGGLE THE MACAWS INTO AUSTRALIA, AND THEN SMUGGLE THEM OVER TO NEW ZEALAND...

No wonder macaws are so expensive!!!

 

[Freespin]

Psht why? Stop making excuses. Start building a boat!

 

[Freespin]

Then if you get caught and they ask you about this bird just play dumb and pretend you're a pirate. Everyone knows pirates have parrots. They would probably just let you free

 

[Terry57]

I can see that now...

Is that a macaw in your pants or are you just happy to see me?!

HAHAHAHA...That was hysterical!!!

 

[Birdman666]

I can see that now...

Is that a macaw in your pants or are you just happy to see me?!

HAHAHAHA...That was hysterical!!!

Not half as funny as what would happen if you ever tried to ACTUALLY PUT a macaw in your pants...

I don't know what they're paying you to smuggle that bird in, but what ever it is, it ain't worth it!!

 

[Freespin]

Haha I doubt you would ever be "happy to see" anyone after stuffing a mac down your pants!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Is that a macaw in your pants or are you just happy to see me?!

OMG....I can't breathe....That is THE best funny - EVER!!!!