Selling your bird can be a quick and easy process. Simply create an advert with basic details about the bird and a good picture. Send the advert to your friends and family, and contact your local bird clubs, veterinarians, and conservation societies to see if they know anyone looking to buy a bird. Screen the buyer before giving them your bird to ensure that they are capable of looking after it well. Before you know it, your bird will have a wonderful new home.
Steps
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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. [1] X Trustworthy Source Best Friends Animal Society Nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving animal lives by operating and supporting no-kill animal shelters Go to source
- 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.
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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. [2] X Trustworthy Source Best Friends Animal Society Nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving animal lives by operating and supporting no-kill animal shelters Go to source
- 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.
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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. [3] X Research source
- 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.
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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. [4] X Trustworthy Source Best Friends Animal Society Nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving animal lives by operating and supporting no-kill animal shelters Go to source
- 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.”
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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. [5] X Trustworthy Source Best Friends Animal Society Nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving animal lives by operating and supporting no-kill animal shelters Go to source
- Consider setting up a separate email account for selling your bird if you don’t want to give out your personal email address.
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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. [6] X Trustworthy Source Best Friends Animal Society Nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving animal lives by operating and supporting no-kill animal shelters Go to source
- 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.
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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. [7] X Research source
- 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.
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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. [8] X Research source
- Consider dropping a flier about your bird into their clinic so that they can give it to their customers.
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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. [9] X Research source
- Consider taking your bird or some fliers to bird club open days.
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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. [10] X Research source
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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. [11] X Research source
- If you decide to advertise your bird online, choose a reputable site is aimed at aviary owners.
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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. [12] X Research source
- If you are unsure if the reference is trustworthy, ask the potential buyer for a second reference.
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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. [13] X Research source
- Visit the buyer's house and view the bird cage for further peace of mind.
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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. [14] X Research source
- 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.
Community Q&A
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QuestionDo you know some webites that would allow me to sell budgies?Amy HarrisonTop AnswererWebsites that are available to you may depend on which country you are living in. Try sites such as Gumtree and Craigslist, which allow the sale of live animals, or certain animal groups on Facebook.
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QuestionI have a male and a female budgie, is it okay to sell my female? How will it affect my male? My female is so scared of me and she dominates my male. What should I do?Community AnswerEven if she bullies the male, he is probably bonded to her, and he might get depressed and/or sick if you sell her. If you really want to do this, I suggest getting another companion for him, perhaps a male this time.
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QuestionWhat if I want to sell it to another country? Because my country doesn't have good avian care.Community Answertry using animal transport.co.uk, but first make sure you know the exact address to send it to or your animal may get lost.
Tips
References
- ↑ https://bestfriends.org/resources/rehome-my-dog-cat-or-other-pet
- ↑ https://bestfriends.org/resources/rehome-my-dog-cat-or-other-pet
- ↑ https://www.petcoach.co/article/cost-of-owning-a-bird-setup-supplies-and-veterinary-care/
- ↑ https://bestfriends.org/resources/rehome-my-dog-cat-or-other-pet
- ↑ https://bestfriends.org/resources/rehome-my-dog-cat-or-other-pet
- ↑ https://bestfriends.org/resources/rehome-my-dog-cat-or-other-pet
- ↑ https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/giving-up-your-pet/guidelines-placing-bird/
- ↑ https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/giving-up-your-pet/guidelines-placing-bird/
- ↑ https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/giving-up-your-pet/guidelines-placing-bird/
- ↑ https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/giving-up-your-pet/guidelines-placing-bird/
- ↑ https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/giving-up-your-pet/guidelines-placing-bird/
- ↑ https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/giving-up-your-pet/guidelines-placing-bird/
- ↑ https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/giving-up-your-pet/guidelines-placing-bird/
- ↑ https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/giving-up-your-pet/guidelines-placing-bird/
About This Article
To sell your bird, consider asking a trusted friend or family member if they're interested in a pet bird. Or, you can contact a local avian veterinarian and ask if they know of anyone who's looking to adopt. You can also reach out to a local bird club for possible buyers. Just try to avoid selling your bird online since it could end up going to someone without a lot of experience raising birds. To learn how to create an advertisement for your bird, keep reading!