Over the past 10 years of breeding birds, one of the most enjoyable things we would do is attend bird shows. These shows are usually put together by area bird clubs and enthusiasts in order to buy, sell, and trade their birds, and to sell all sorts of bird products.
These shows are open to the public and only cost a couple of dollars for admission. It’s like a combination flee market and trade show all in one! It’s a great way to kill a few hours, get some great deals, and rub elbows with other bird owners.
If you have never attended one of these show, let me give you a few of my impressions on things I’ve seen. I have attended dozens of these shows, both as a vendor and a visitor, and would encourage any bird owner to take the time to attend.
BIRD BREEDERS
The main reason for these shows is for the members of the bird clubs to sell their birds.
These club members are some extremely good and knowledgeable breeders. Their birds are not born in mass bird farms, but at their homes where they get constant attention. They are all hand fed, very friendly and make excellent pets. Most bird show organizers require the birds to be examined by a trained avian vet to ensure all of the birds being sold are healthy. The last thing they want is a reputation for selling diseased birds!
If you go to a pet store, you can usually expect to see a limited variety of birds, usually finches, cockatiels, parakeets and lovebirds. Better pet stores will have a few large parrots, and you really don’t know where they came from. They are also going to be priced through the roof!
At a bird show, you will find a huge variety of birds. The price is very reasonable. But the best reason is you can talk to the breeder! They will tell you everything about the bird because they have been with it from the day it was born. They know its history, what it likes and dislikes, and it’s personality. You will NEVER get all this information from a pet store.
They will also be able to give you tons of information about the bird’s diet, training, and training. You will walk away with everything you need to raise your bird.
Many bird shows are also run in conjunction with large groups like the National Cockatiel Society, to hold regional exhibits. Their birds are judged and given awards. You can view these birds and talk to the breeders, get advice, and just socialize with other bird owners.
TOYS! TOYS! TOYS!
Bells, blocks, ropes, stands, swings……Christmas time for your birds! It’s the Toys-R-US of birdland!
Many of the vendors sell hand crafted toys. A few sell all of the parts and supplies necessary for you to make your own! And once again the price is right! I have seen toys being sold for half the price of pet stores!
When we visit these shows, it usually costs us a bundle. But when you have as many parrots as we do, you go through lots of toys and supplies. We always stock up. The profits also help out people trying to make a few dollars, and support their bird hobby. So everyone wins!
BIRD CAGES
When we attended these shows as a vendor, we would sell our birds, plus a variety of cages. We handled a few different manufacturers, so we were able to offer a bit of a variety.
These shows always come with a number of cage vendors. What I loved to see were the hand made cages! These were generally large iron cages made by some incredible craftsmen who just loved to play around in the workshop. The prices were a bit high, but the quality always matched! You did get what you paid for.
Some vendors are representing area pet stores, so their prices and stock will be pretty much the same as their stores. Then there are people like me. We purchase large amounts of supplies and cages wholesale (since we are breeders). Since we don’t have a storefront, we don’t have the overhead. We can pass along some price savings to the folks who attend these shows. Again, everyone wins!
FOOD DEALERS
You will usually find a number of vendors selling bird food. Some are quite specialized, while others offer you basic brands that you can get at the pet store.
What you will find are a number of hard to find commercial foods. There are actually dozens of food manufactures in this country, but trying to find distributors, or stores to carry their brand, is always difficult. Bird shows is a good way to advertise their products and give bird owners a source to purchase them at.
A few of these venders are more unique. They would create a specialty blend. They had a list of ingredients, and you would tell them how much of each to mix in. We would usually look for these folks to buy some small mixes of “treat” seeds for our parrots.
WHERE ARE THE SHOWS?
The show organizers are under a budget, so doing a lot of advertising is out of the question. You will find listings of these shows by searching the internet, checking with local pet stores and veterinarians, or some pet magazines.
Bird Talk Magazine is readily available in many good book stores, and they usually carry a listing of upcoming shows. Also check out the internet site http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/shows.htm
If you are considering buying a bird, be prepared to transport your new pet. Some vendors do not supply a cage or easy way to transport them…..and if you have a long drive ahead of you, it’s important to get everything prepared for your trip. I have seen some people who came unprepared, and decided to just carry the bird to their car. Yup, it got away (the wings were not clipped) and there wasn’t a lot anyone could do. The vendor should have been read the riot act about letting their customer walk away with the bird this way.
I think every bird enthusiasts owes it to themselves to visit at least one bird show. You won’t regret it.
