My Account
Mark Dullabh, owner of Quality Bird Supplies, says he has been a bird fancier ever since he was a child.
“Whenever I could afford one, I went and got one and that’s where all my pocket money went,” he says.
These days he has children and adult bird fanciers flocking to his store, which opened in Silverdale towards the end of last year.
As well as a selection of birds, mainly Australian natives such as finches and lorikeets and hand-tame cockatiels, the store has everything to keep a feathered pet happy – from freeze dried crickets, grasshoppers and mealworms to chicken food, vitamin and mineral supplements, cages and the Top Flite seed range – 80 percent of which is sourced in New Zealand.
Each bird species prefers certain seeds and many that are on offer at Quality Bird Supplies are also popular with people, including sunflower, quinoa and chia – the latter a favourite with exotic finches.
Feeding wild birds is also popular, especially in winter, and there is a range of food for tuis and other birds in the store, including coconut feeders and blocks that can be hung from trees in the garden. If they are hung near the house, watching the birds squabble and feed can become an absorbing occupation.
Mark says that having a bird or two as pets can quickly become a hobby, and one cage can turn into an aviary full.
This was certainly the case for Mark, who originally ran the business from his family home in Red Beach, until the garage was bursting at the seams.
“Bird supplies began making their way into the house, which is when we decided it was time to look for commercial premises,” Mark says.
Mark says that birds make great pets, simply requiring regular food, water and cleaning of their enclosure. Patience and spending time with the bird can make them tame enough to sit on your hand.
Mark says that the health of the birds is the reason that he only stocks the best quality seed and other bird foods.
“I like all kinds of birds and helping people to give them proper nutrition and care is why I started the business.”
