How to Sell Your Bird

Creating an Advert

Take quality photos of your bird. This is the easiest way to give potential buyers a clear idea of the bird's physical characteristics. Make sure to include the face of the bird in the photo and any distinct markings or features. Use a high-quality camera to ensure that the image is clear. Ensure the bird you are selling is the only bird in the photo if you have more than one. Avoid including photos that are blurry or poor quality.

Write down the breed, age, and gender of your bird. This is important information, especially for breeders. If you don’t know the exact age of your bird, estimate its age or write how long you have had it for. If you don’t know the gender or breed of your bird, simply write “gender/breed unknown.” For example, “We are selling Johnny, our 5-month-old male parakeet.” If you are breeding birds and selling young chicks, make sure to mention that the bird is very young and will need special care.

Decide how much you want to charge for your bird. If you are unsure what to charge, look online to see how much other birds of the same breed are selling for. This will give you an idea of the going rate. If your bird can do special tricks or is purebred, consider charging extra. The price of birds varies significantly depending on their breed. Birds can be sold between $5 - $8000. A finch sells for about $15. Budgies start at $20. Lovebirds cost about $40 and a canary sells for about $90.

Write a list of the bird's traits and behaviours. If you are selling your bird because it is badly behaved, it is really important to include this information. This allows potential owners to evaluate if your bird will work with their existing pets. For example, “Polly has a friendly personality. She is good with children and doesn’t bite. However, she will often chirp loudly during the night.”

Include your contact information. Write your first name and phone number or email on the advertisement so that potential buyers can contact you. Avoid writing your home address on the advert as this can lead to robberies. Consider setting up a separate email account for selling your bird if you don’t want to give out your personal email address.

Print copies of the flyer and save a digital file to send to potential buyers. This is a cheap and effective way to advertise your bird. Make your own advertisement or search online for a flyer template. If you are printing the flyers, it is best to print them in colour so that potential buyers can see the colour of your bird.

Finding a Buyer

Ask your friends and family members if they want a pet bird. This is a great first step, as you can trust that they will take good care of your bird. Send a group email with an advert to your close friends and family, or ask them in person. If none of your friends or family want to buy your bird, ask them if they know anyone that is looking to adopt a bird.

Contact an avian veterinarian and ask if they know of anyone looking to adopt. Avian veterinarians are often asked if they know of any birds for sale. Search online for avian veterinarians in your area and let them know that you are selling your bird. Consider dropping a flier about your bird into their clinic so that they can give it to their customers.

Check if your local bird club has anyone looking to buy a bird. This is a great place to advertise your bird, as all the members will have an interest in birds and are likely to look after your bird well. Search online for the contact details of your local bird club coordinator and ask if they know anyone looking for a new bird. Consider taking your bird or some fliers to bird club open days.

Contact a conservation society if your bird is endangered. If your bird is it is important that it is looked after well and bred with other birds of the same breed. Contact your local conservation society and ask if they are willing to buy your bird.

Avoid advertising online as this can result in mistreatment of your bird. Advertising to the general public online or in a newspaper can result in people with very little bird knowledge buying your bird. Avoid this risk by advertising your bird to people with an existing interest in animals and birds. If you decide to advertise your bird online, choose a reputable site is aimed at aviary owners.

Completing the Transaction

Ask potential buyers for a character reference. It is important to screen potential buyers to help ensure that they will be a trustworthy and reliable owner. Ask the person to provide a written character reference from a neighbour, colleague, or friend. If you have any questions about the character reference, call the reference contact to find out more information. If you are unsure if the reference is trustworthy, ask the potential buyer for a second reference.

Meet the buyer in person to ensure that they are able to look after the bird. Ask the owner if they have a cage, feed, and toys for the bird. It is also wise to check if they have other pets, as these may put the bird in danger. For example, if the buyer has a cat, ask if the cat has a bell on its collar to stop it from being able to sneak up on the bird. Visit the buyer's house and view the bird cage for further peace of mind.

Ask the buyer to sign a contract that includes your wishes for the bird. This is a good way to ensure that the new owner will treat the bird in the same way that you did. For example, if you want the bird to be in a cage with other birds, include this in the contract. Similarly, if you want the bird to live in a large aviary, write this into the contract. Keep a copy of the signed contract for yourself and give the original to the buyer. Search online for a pet adoption contract or write your own.