How to Get a Free Pet Bird Safely in Canada | PetzLover

Why are pet birds offered for free?

Most free birds are not unwanted in the usual sense. Owners move into rentals that do not allow pets, have a baby, develop allergies, fall ill or die while their birds are still young. Other free birds come from accidental breeding, from a pair that stopped getting on, or from a parrot that became too loud for an apartment.

Rescues cannot take them all. Parrot Partners, an Ottawa-area parrot charity, keeps its intake low and takes in a new parrot only after it has settled a former resident in a new home, and city shelters such as Winnipeg Animal Services have taken in more than 40 birds from a single call. That is why many owners advertise their birds themselves.

What does a free pet bird really cost?

Compare that with adoption. Toronto Animal Services charges C$5 for a budgie, C$20 for a cockatiel and C$100 for a large parrot, so a shelter bird can cost little more than a free one; see our guide on adopting a pet bird.

What are the red flags in free bird ads?

• The owner asks you to pay for shipping, a crate, insurance or vaccinations before you have seen the bird.
• The bird cannot be seen in person or on a live video call.
• A free parrot said to be coming from another province or country by courier. Under CFIA rules a pet bird enters Canada with its owner.
• A free African grey or macaw with no records of where it came from. Both are CITES Appendix I species, and you want proof of captive breeding or legal import.
• A native songbird, duck or goose. Possessing a migratory bird without authorization is an offence under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.
• Several birds offered at once with vague answers, or photos that appear elsewhere online.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre describes exactly this pattern: an ad for a low-priced or free animal, then fee after fee, and no pet at the end. Use the Report Scam button on a listing that matches these signs.

What should you ask before taking a free bird?

• What species is it, how old is it, and how do you know its sex?
• Why are you rehoming it, and how long have you had it?
• What does it eat, and what is its daily routine?
• Has it seen a vet, and is there anything in its health history I should know?
• Does it bite, scream, pluck its feathers or fear anything?
• Does it live with another bird, and should they stay together?
• Has it been near poultry, an outdoor aviary or wild birds?
• Is there a leg band or microchip number?

Ask whether the cage, carrier, food and toys come with the bird, and get the key answers in writing by message.

How do you meet the owner and check the bird safely?

Visit the owner's home where you can, so you see how the bird has been kept, and take someone with you. A healthy bird is alert, with bright eyes, clean nostrils, smooth feathers and a clean vent; be wary of a bird that sits fluffed up or bobs its tail as it breathes.

1. Bring a small carrier and a blanket, and warm the car first in cold weather.
2. Drive straight home and set the bird up in a quiet room away from your other birds.
3. Keep it separate for at least 30 days, as the CFIA advises for any new bird.
4. Book an exam with a vet who sees birds in the first week or two.
5. Wash your hands after handling it: the Public Health Agency of Canada notes that parrots and pigeons are especially affected by the bacterium behind psittacosis, which people can catch from droppings.

Where can you find free pet birds near you?

Search free pet birds on PetzLover by kind of bird and area, and save the search so you hear about new listings first. If an owner asks a small fee, our guide on taking in a rehomed bird covers the same checks, and owners can read our guide on giving a bird away safely to see what a careful handover looks like.