Goldfinch Types

[gnasher16 30,470]

The mrs asked me what i want for xmas i said a pair of Goldfinches ......now shes hitting me with all these questions........Siberian,Eumo,British whats the difference ???......i just want normal ones like this.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/European_Goldfinch

 

Whats a decent price for them ive seen a few pairs for 300 odd.....seems a bit much to me but if thats how much they are......is there anything to look out for i know they have to be rung properly but are they easy to sex i dont fancy getting stuck with 2 the same.

 

 

[dogsbollocks58 36]

lovely choice of bird that,, mine too

[gnipper 6,543]

Stick to natives gnash and make sure their proper legit and correctly rung

[Malt 379]

Great choice!

[fireman 10,995]

Natives come in the best colour there is.........................Natural and it's only the northern/siberian/sibo's that come in mutations,,The northern birds (there all the same just with different names) are easy to keep but they don't like the damp so are better off indoors really but plenty of folk do keep them outside in the UK,one thing is if these birds are from belgium or holland or really any country from europe then chances are there drug dependant and unless you carry on giving them drugs then your'll find your £200+ bird on the floor of your cage with it's feet pointing up.The prices for these northern birds goes up to £1000's but why folk ever want to change the colour on perfection is well beyond me anyway and those white birds allways look missing something imo,a pair of goldies will do you well Gnasher and the cock will serve a good few canary hens as well as his own hen so your'll get some mules at the same time as pure goldie young.They are easy enough to sex generaly and here's some pics of a cock i have and the bits to look out for

the red carries past the eye underneath it where as a hen it'll stop either before or on the eye and it'll have patches on the back of it's head rather than the complete black this bird has,the nostril hairs are also black and they are brown on a hen

The wing butts(the bit between shoulder and elbow)although a little brown are mainly black and on a hen they are a lot more brown.

As for rings just check there round and not out of shape or stretched and the year is written on them so your'll know the age of them as well.

A grand choice of bird for sure Gnasher and best of luck.

[leo 4]

Good Choice

[tong po 129]

like fireman said go for native everytime although goldies seem to be a bit scarce this year,so goodluck in finding some

[gnasher16 30,470]

I didnt realise the picture i posted was a European one and not a native,well im on the case now going to see some saturday morning so i,ll let you know.......and thankyou for taking the time to explain Fireman its much appreciated

[fireman 10,995]

Just to add Gnasher any british bred goldie should have either IOA or BBC on it's ring any other set of letters there'll have been bred over seas and a pair of native goldies should be around a £100 ish give or take a bit either way.That pic you put up is a native or European Goldie and the only real differance in the northern/sibo's and the European is the sibo are a lot bigger in size and they come in mutation colours,good luck and we'll want pics.

[taz2010 1,297]

gnasher i have a hen ya can have, this years young one and i might have a spare cock, know better next week when sort them out ya can have them but you will have to collect or send a courier for them pal

[fireman 10,995]

gnasher i have a hen ya can have, this years young one and i might have a spare cock, know better next week when sort them out ya can have them but you will have to collect or send a courier for them pal

[gnasher16 30,470]

gnasher i have a hen ya can have, this years young one and i might have a spare cock, know better next week when sort them out ya can have them but you will have to collect or send a courier for them pal

 

Stone me thats very decent of you chief,i certainly couldnt take them with nothing coming back your way but the offer is certainly appreciated thankyou.......im looking at some saturday morning if nothing comes of it i,ll maybe have a trot over your way.....you sound a goodun Taz....and Fireman as usual your advice is invaluable

 

Just so ive got it right.....if a bird hasnt got either of those rings is it an illegal bird ?.... is there any reason the ioa or bbc wouldnt issue them ?...in other words,theres no excuse of any sort i should listen to for reasons not to have them ?

[fireman 10,995]

A bird bred in Britian will have one of those rings on it Gnasher,other countries use different rings but there still closed rings (a totaly complete ring like a wedding ring is and not a split ring that's like on a key fob) just with different numbers,letters etc.If the bird has no ring then leave it where it is and walk away as not only could it bring you no end of trouble wild birds don't generaly do well in captivity and most will pine away and die anyway so just not worth it really.

As for Taz he is a bloody good un and your'll not be dissapointed with his birds he's offering you if you take him up on his offer that's for sure .

The ioa and bbc issue them to anyone so no excuse for them not being rung and just this week i had a bird get hung up on it's ring and break it's leg right off until only tendons held it on (it was pts) and even then the ring was not miss shaped so again no excuse for rings being out of shape unless they have been stretched to go over a adult birds foot.Dont be shy and look carefully at the rings and if the seller ain't into you doing so walk away.

.

Edited November 22, 2013 by fireman

[taz2010 1,297]

cheers fireman for ya comment gnasher the offer is there if ya know anyone going to stafford ill be going so you could have them collected or buy the ones sat its up to you mate

[the_stig 6,614]

saves her buying you west ham pyjamas again gnash --- great offer taz and fireman sound advice again